Dear Gabriele in Chemnitz I am reading all my back dated lace digests after coming home from a weeks lace course at the school in Schwarzenberg. I've just read your posting of Oct.16th and I want to tell you that I think the Erzgebirge region is LACE HEAVEN. My German friend Helga has been going there for 4 years and last October she told me that I was invited to go with her this October. I met Helga through tatting but she, like me, is also keen on bobbin lace. I did not know what to expect but I packed my pillow and the thread and number of bobbins the school had advised me about. Every day was filled with exciting lace things. The school was very good - about 20 in the class and a very good set of teachers. I am finishing off the piece I started there - it is a large triangle with candles in a Christmas arrangement. I am quite proficient at most laces and so my total lack of understanding of the German language didn't matter as I could see what had to be done. I couldn't have managed it on the roller pillow and hooded bobbin any more than the teachers could manage my flat pillow and spangled bobbins - but the lace result will be the same. I will put it on my web site when it is finished. I went round the lace museum next to the school and also visited the school at Annaberg (Where Barbara Uthmann 1514 - 1575 comes from) and then another wonderful but cold museum at Oelsnitz on our way back to Hannover (Near where Helga lives and where I flew to). At the last museum it was cold because the heating had broken down - I was not prepared for the cold - I had packed some summer dresses! Anyway in this last museum there was a very impresive piece of modern tape lace that took up a whole wall and had taken 6 lacemakers 6000 hours. I was also able to buy a pattern here for a piece I had admired in the collection - I had to pay 9.20 Euro but it's worth it for such a lovely design. We visited an amazing little lace shop in Lauter. it was packed with 4 lacemakers busy at work surrounded by lots of lovely pieces for sale and also thread, patterns and equipment. Everywhere were images of the lacemaker. I have been showing my photos to lacemakers here in England and they can all see what a wonderful place it is and I know it won't be long before some of them travel to your area.
Rosemarie Peel Nuneaton UK www.lacet-pubs.demon.co.uk - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
