I spent last Saturday demonstrating at a Heritage Festival in Fincastle, Virginia (whose "county limits" reached to Wisconsin in Colonial days) and had lots of comments about what price I sold lace for.. My comment often was, with a laugh, "If you ahve to ask, you can't afford it." Or, " I don't sell lace, I give it away." This thread was discussed sometime ago and there was a wonderful reply given by a Renaissance lacemaker to a person who wanted to buy her lace. He had seen the lace on her husband's costume, and was offended by the cost. She took it step by step and I laughed until I cried reading it. Whoever you are, are you still with us? Was it Celticdreamweaver? Can someone reproduce it from the Archives? Happy Lacemaking,Betty Ann in Roanoke, Virginia USA
Carol I've had a few people ask about bobbin lace commissions in the past. I've found it to be futile to waste any time in discussions. When you charge a living wage -- a true representation of what it means to you -- the price rapidly gets way beyond what people are willing to pay. And they get indignant and outraged, insisting they can get yardage at the fabric store for some pittance and they can't, absolutely cannot, grasp why handmade lace costs so much. The public just has no understanding at all about how much lace cost when it was a necessary part of dress for the very wealthy -- as in the 18th and 19th centuries. I once did some careful calculations on the cost of queen Victoria's wedding lace -- it amounted to the annual wage of 20 ladies' maids. People with money nowadays will pay thousands for a designer dress and think it reasonable to show it off to others who can recognize it for what it is. Lace used to be like that. But not now. I've given up trying to explain this to people; it is a waste of breath. So I just refuse to consider it, which leaves them baffled. But at least it doesn't get my blood pressure up. Lorelei - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected] - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]
