"How can lace supply businesses provide the ongoing support needed by a (shrinking) lacemaking community?
In regards to Clays message I truly have no answers but I do have to question the word "shrinking" in regards to lacemakers. Our group, Lacemakers and Collectors Exchange, in the Chicago area has experienced a rapid growth in the last year and a half. We are now over 40 members which is higher than we have ever been in membership. Our ladies do numerous demos and our group has held beginner lace classes every year and last year we held extras due to outside requests resulting in budding lacemakers joining the Guild. These are basically free classes and only charging for the one held during our Lace Day. Yes, some students are never seen again, but most continue on. We have had a website that was updated frequently with photos, events and patterns and will continue to try to have a nice website. Maybe we are behind the national trend by just now coming into our own with lacemakers. I don't know. At our Lace Days held only every other year, we do try to have 2 lacemaking supply vendors present. That helps a great deal for our 'newbies' to see what books, bobbins and threads are available and it encourages them to learn more about the laces. Lots of these lacemakers, new and old, cannot attend IOLI Convention for family, financial or work reasons so this is our way of getting the word out to our members about what is available for purchase. How many times have you bought a book sight unseen and end up disappointed. It pays to see first hand the books and supplies. With our wonderful vendors, Tracy and Susan now giving up the business, we certainly hope at least one of the remaining vendors will try to be present at our next Lace Day. Jane O'Connor [email protected] New Lenox, IL USA Good friends are like stars, You don't always see them, but they are always there. ________________________________ - 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
