Original morning message of 2/9/15 from Sharon I recently (foolishly) volunteered to finish a Beds edging for a local woman. There was only about three inches to complete and then join as a trim for a tray cloth ... it had been made with a horrible linen thread and had sat on the pillow 25 years. Doing the lace was no problem, it was a bit of a challenge joining the new end to the old beginning since the lacer had started with a half stitch lozenge shape and had left enormous starting loops ,,, overcoming those problems, I was then horrified to see that the original starting point was an entirely different colour from the end ... it must have picked up a bluish stain ... It runs for about 2 inches. I've tried washing it in cold water to see if the stain would lift out but there was no luck, it will just have to stay ... the lace has shrunk ,,, Dear Sharon, Please avoid apostrophes - they make your messages difficult to read, probably because of a setting that needs to be made to your computer. I have edited them out of two letters from you, to make this reply easier for our Arachne lace restorers to read. Conservation and restoration are not for the faint of heart. It usually requires hours of work - specialized work that cannot be imagined or understood. Like you, most people who volunteer to help someone with a sad lace story are not appreciated adequately. Completing lace, days to clean and block, trips to buy supplies, payment for the supplies, etc. are often the forgotten ingredients to success. It would be a good idea to at least consult a professional who does this work for payment, so the favor you have taken on is really understood. However, a professional conservation/restoration facility usually requires a fee be paid to even have an expert look at something requiring help. Though I do not know what is available in Vancouver, years ago I went to The American Textile History Museum's Conservation/Restoration Lab (by appointment) in Lowell Massachusetts with an Appenzell table cloth suffering from severe acid burn and very fragile. A personal visit enabled me to learn their restoration policy, practices, and fees. (This is the museum that almost closed a few years back because of bad management by men. It was rescued in the nick of time, and is now under the Smithsonian Museum's umbrella.) If you belong to a lace group, a group educational visit to such a facility in or near Vancouver would be eye-opening and educational. And, you would have a better idea of how great your gift of time and expertise really is! Wishing a successful outcome. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center ---------------------------------------------------------- In a message dated 2/9/2015 5:22:47 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes:
I've started pinning out the lace for the tray cloth. The piece should be 14 inches by 18 inches by two and a half inches wide. It had shrunk down to one and a half inches wide. Fingering it out didn't work so I'm now pinning all the (expletive of your choice) picots, not to mention foot side pins etc. Brass pins bend too easily because of the tension pulling the lace into shape (this time I'm grateful it's a linen because it's strongest when wet)....also hoping my steel pins aren't the kind that rust. Unless I can get to a shop tomorrow to buy some more cork board (yes, I've covered it in plastic) to expand my work area. I calculate it will take four days to block. Having said that, I must say the blocking I've done already looks marvelous, it is even better than when it first came off the pillow. It is very gratifying when you can take something that looks crappy and make it beautiful...but I will never take on another project like this again. Sharon - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
