Some years ago (more than I care to remember) I visited the shop kept by
Iris Martin in Clickers Yard, Olney - she sold various sundries, old and
new, for lacemaking, some of my first bobbins came from Iris when she had a
shop in the main street near to Harry Armstrong's old lace factory.
Anyway I digress - I found and purchased - if I recall for about 50p
(approx. $1) - a small old *'OXO' tin inside of which was obviously some
long ago lacemakers pin decorating kit. It contained a small piece of
sealing wax, which was also used as a decoration to cover the ends of the
pins, there was also a short length of wire thread with tiny beads to keep
them tidy, together with quite a number of 'long tom' pins some already
decorated with beads some topped with sealing wax others with goose grass
seeds - I did read somewhere that if you soak the goose grass seeds in milk
they become paler and if soaked in vinegar they darken, I have tried both
but there was no obvious difference, maybe it takes a few decades for them
to mature!
I still have the tin (and contents) as it seems so personal to some long
gone unknown lacemaker.
Diana in Northants
*In a former life it contained cubes for making gravy.
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