Hello, everybody! I'll combine my answer to this question with my re-introduction to the group:
Back in 1987, I discovered that the Emily Griffith School in Denver was offering a class in handmade lace, so I signed up, and began bobbin lace lessons with Gretchen Allgeier, who owned Beggar's Lace at that time. (I still have my original receipt) I had always loved textile crafts, but really fell in love with bobbin lace, especially because I loved the puzzle aspect of it. (real brain work!) I started out in Torchon, and then moved on to Bedfordshire lace, still my absolute favorite of all styles, though I am very intrigued with the point laces, especially Binche. I have tried to get into the tape laces, but just can't abide all those fiddly sewings! Then in 1996, I adopted my beautiful 9 1/2 month old daughter, Lara, from China, and all other hobbies and interests, including lacemaking went into storage for the duration. Well, now she's 10 1/2 years old, and I am finally thinking that it's time to pull the lace pillows out of the closet and try and start back up where I left off before. One surprising thing to me -- my pillows must have been breeding. I can't believe how many pillows I have! What could I have been thinking! All the moving and storing hasn't caused as much damage as might be expected - so far, 2 broken bobbins found, both commemorative bone bobbins. The other night I unwrapped a big project in process - the Bedfordshire thistle bookmark designed by Jean Leader. I was in the middle of the 2nd thistle, and now need to work up courage to try my first tally in about 10 years! Now we're living in Arizona, and I'd like to find some lacemaking friends. That was one really terrific thing about making lace in Colorado. The Rocky Mountain Lace Guild has the most wonderful people in it! Are there any bobbin lacemakers in the Phoenix (preferably NE) area? I have heard about an upcoming lace day in Tempe, being hosted by 'Lacey Ladies' but I haven't been able to make contact with any of the members, so I don't really know whether that will work out or not. But we are planning to attend the event and hope to find some other bobbin lacemakers. If anybody has any contact information for Arizona lacemakers, please let me know! My next question is about books -- I'm a real book hound, and love my lace books! I've been visiting the Van Sciver website and am greatly tempted by these titles. If anybody can offer feedback about any of these, (good or bad) I'd really appreciate it - (I'd also like to know which books are in English, what type of binding, how many pages, # patterns, etc.) A Celebration of Bedfordshire LACE - The Thomas Lester Collection Guipure-und Cluny-Spitzen Patterns for Lace at the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford, from the Thomas Lester Collection Traced Parchment Patterns for Lace Guipure du Puy Cluny de Brioude Right now I want to rebuild my technical skills, especially in Bedfordshire lace. Then, I really want to try and develop some skills in designing lace, which leads to my next question -- Is anybody using Lace 2000 software program? If so, what do you think? Is it still being supported? Is it worth the money? Again, I've love to hear any feedback, good or bad. The other day, I did a Google Blog search on bobbin lace, and would you believe it? The first blog I pulled up included a link to a lace website, and when I clicked on it, it turned out to be my own website! (unfortunately, not updated in years and years. I feel pretty guilty about that, too, but won't make any promises about getting it updated anytime soon.) Lisa McClure http://www.tussah.com/lace/ - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
