So sorry to read about this happening to you, and for that matter any lacemaker who has had similar experiences. I haven't yet had the incident happen to me(crossing fingers and saying a prayer). But my time may come that I may have reacted just as you calmly have. In a public place and especially an event like this you can either make a spectacle of yourself and rant and rave at the mother and child and repremand what they have done, or as you did, just take a few breaths to calm your blood pressure and pick things up. I would have done the latter, but at the same time muttering to myself aweful things. I try to keep my composure while out in public demonstrating. Here is one thing that my BL teacher(may she rest in peace) always did at demonstrations. Her display was in a heritage tent and she would rope off the area with the displays a few feet from the public's hands, yet still close enough to see the samples. She too would be sitting behind the rope(sometimes, other times she would be outside for a more hands on demo) so it is a marker stating that "no one can come behind the rope". When she demos her piece that she is working on is always in front of her. When she has to show someone how to work the bobbins, she would put her work in progress behind the rope area. I inherited her tent, but I don't display it like she did. I just do my own thing that works for me. I sit in the front corner with pillow on lap or stand and display table is inside the tent for those that want to venture in for more detailed looks. Yes they do touch, but I encourage that sometimes(except when they have food on their hands), because I know what that is like. I have always been a hands-on person and have to touch everything of interest to me. I still am a kid at heart!! ;) When I am not at my pillow I do set it away from onlookers while I go teach someone or show something in more detail(like how to tat or explain further about the lace). My pillow is rarely a foot away from me. None of the pieces I have on display are that precious that I would be going "nutzoid" over. Still would mutter to myself if anything horrible would happen.
Now I don't know what type of display or set up you usually have at these events. But having a roped off section might deter some of these uncouth people that have no regard for another artist's work. I hope you can get it all sorted out. Hope I never have the opportunity to experience this. So far in my demonstrating area, I don't have well season lacemakers who think they can come up to another's pillow and start playing! Most of the patrons think I am tatting(which I always have with me) :-D Mark, aka Tatman in a sunny and FINALLY warming up to 40 degrees, Greenville, IL USA - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
