I'd delete this now if you aren't interested in the UK Lace Guild assessments.
I've done elementary and intermediate torchon assessments because, as an ex-teacher, I like to have a structure and goal to what I' doing. Also I'm basically unfocussed rather than lazy and I can be distracted into doing something else before I've finished one thing. It also keep the brain working, and you get a nice piece of paper as a bonus. I don't work very fast because of RA, and there are times when I can't make lace for several weeks or even a couple of months at a time. I'm just coming to the end of a seven week period of having t rest my hands and wrists. It took me almost a year to complete elementary and two years for the intermediate (admittedly with a couple of pieces for a group entry to the Myth and Mystery competition in that time). I'm not planning to try the advanced, but thought I might see what I can do for elementary Bedfordshire or Bucks Point next. You buy the log book for the type of lace (Torchon, Bedfordshire, Bucks Point, Honiton, Tatting, Braid? and Needle lace are the only ones I think) you want to do at any time, and that contains the requirements for elementary, intermediate and advanced assessments. You complete examples of the techniques listed, which can be as samples or completed pieces. You can include one or more of the techniques in one piece. Some of the techniques also require you to make pattern drafts on graph paper or a grid. You can only use computer aided drafting for advanced. Drafts, prickings and worked pieces are assembled int a portfolio, and, in the log book, you indicate the page number in your portfolio that the best example of each technique can be found. There are also two completed pieces to make incorporating a variety of techniques fr the level you are beng assessed at. The timetable is published in Lace magazine each year, and it's usually something like February to April request the entry form and send the entry fee. Paperwork comes back to you to complete and include with your portfolio and finished items, which have to reach the Lace Guild by a date specified in June. The work's assessed during July. These months are from this year and might differ slightly from year to year. I'm not sure if the log book I worked from has been revised since I bought it, but the same logbook was used to assess the intermediate that I took two years over as was used for the elementary. The fact that you've passed a level is recorded in the back of the logbook. Although the rules state that your name must no appear anywhere on your work, it does, in fact, appear on the front of your log book, but it's covered up with your candidate number for that assessment so the assessors don't know whose work they are assessing. I would have found it difficult to do the assessments without having someone to ask in person for advice, but I did get advice from the Lace Guild on some things for the elementary by email and from other Arachnians. You can also borrow a folder of some examples of previous work done for assessments as a guide. I'm not sure about the Torchon book, but the Lace Guild books on Bucks Point and Bedfordshire by Jean Leader cover the techniques for elementary and intermediate levels for those assessments. The Lace Guild web site has some FAQs: http://www.laceguild.demon.co.uk/ Happy to try and answer any specific questions based on my experience privately. Jean in Poole - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
