Oh, Liz, I enjoyed your "pricing ritual" story!
Some of my experiences and answers regarding lacemaking and its sense and
its pricelessness:
The only place i make lace in public is an old farm house, where I use to
spend my holidays on horse riding. Its a family place, and between lessons on
horse back for my children or me i enjoy sitting in front of the 150 year old
red brick building, under old trees, making lace in peace.
And I enjoy the opportunity to "demonstrate". Mostly children are curious,
always two or three become so fascinated, that they are sitting beside me for
hours, watching, and asking if they could have a try...
Since my second trip to this place, i always bring a small styro pillow, a
simple straight or snake pricking, some simple bobbins and coloured thick
cotton thread. There was never a week without one or two finished pieces.
So, answer to first "standard question" ("isn't that too difficult? i'd
never learn this...) is no more neccessary. i just point at the red-cheeked eight
year old boy (yes, as often as girls) beside me, who never knew that bobbins
even exist, and who now is able not only to make lace, to see wether he made
an mistake but even to retro it..
*g* I spread the virus...
my answer on that question #1 for children is always: "well, do you think
reading is difficult?". They understand.
for women interested in textile crafts (as most women in Germany know how to
knit): "it's just like knitting, where you have knit and purl. here it's
just cross and twist. one stitch after another, don't worry about the number of
stitches in a row, the number of bobbins on the pillow."
question #2: why are you doing this, what is this lace for?
i try to explain that I enjoy the making itself. and ask, wether they ever
made a puzzle or solved a crossword in a newspaper - and what they do with it
afterwards.. and that I enjoy solving my thread puzzle, and have beautiful
lace as an add on.. and that I only sometimes make lace for a certain purpose.
The main purpose is joy.
(my old song: I'm useful on the job, as mother, as housewife, and in many
other aspects. lacemaking is my recreation time, and has not to useful for
anyone but for me. and for me, it is)
question #3: how can you be so patient?
I need patience to do the things I don't like.. (ironing e.g.), not for the
things I enjoy. Sounds logical enough for most people *gg*
question #4: do you ever sell your lace?
If people, like in this holidays, have the opportunity to watch my
lacemaking more than a few minutes, the question mutates, including the answer, to:
"this can't be sold, it's unaffordable, isn't it?".
Which I confirm, saying that I keep my lace or give it as a gift for dear
and knowing people.
Thinking about that, I could imagine to make lace for period costumes. For a
theater which is really trying to choose authentic wear for the actors for
example... For a dressmaker like Bjarne or those who wear his clothes...
For not much more than the thread and the wine during the lacemaking hours..
just for the feeling, this piece of lace will be valued as it should in his
historical context.
Does this make any sense to you, fellow Arachneans?
bye for know - grey sky, cold, rainy, ugly outside. lacemaking weather.
grey inside: deep grief about the murder of Anna Lindh
Eva, Haltern, Germany
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