What the heck is Rosa Libre? It's a new lace whose origins were strongly influenced by this Arachne forum. From time to time the topic arises on this forum discussing the relative health of lacemaking as an art form. My feelings about this topic were many (don't get me started) but the relevant bit is my observation that "healthy" arts are ones where the communities are studying old techniques and then reinterpreting them in light of their own lives and times. In light of this, I decided to try to create a "new" lace.
But what to do? I started out by mentally forming my "wish list" for a lace that met the demands of our busy 21st century lives: * small numbers of pairs * minimal adding and removing of pairs * can be worked in one or many colors * patterns can be scaled to any size thread * large pieces can be made by assembling work from many people * few (or at least easy) sewings * motifs that can be joined together to build larger pieces * easy for novices to design their own patterns * celebrates my enthusiasm for lace * small bits can be made quickly * provides lots of opportunities for personal interpretation These ideas eventually formed in my mind as a free lace which would draw most strongly from my favorite floral laces: Rosaline Perlee, Rococo, and Duchesse. It was also dramatically influenced by the multi-dimensional appeal of Lenka Suchanek's wire lace, and the colors and sheer exuberance of the embroideries of Mexico. After a still-continuing trial-and-error (mostly error) period that generated heaps of what I call my "happy mutants", I arrived at some motifs that meet my criteria and also look good. The most distinctive character that evolved in the motifs is a 3-d quality--the flowers have an interior ruffle (like a daffodil, only not as pronounced), and the leaves have what Tamara calls a "fin" that gives them a wonderfully real look. I also developed a (really new) way to use the bobbins to give the flowers a center that echoes the beautiful needle-lace pearls of Rosaline Perlee (without resorting to a needle). I've put a couple of pictures on the web at: http://www.bitbetter.com/lace/rosalibre.htm This lace will be first introduced at the October Annual Ithaca Lace Day. For more information on the Ithaca event, go to Holly's web site: http://www.vansciverbobbinlace.com/index.html Wow--I better get busy if I'm going to have this ready by October!!! Back to the pillow... Cathy Belleville Los Altos CA [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
