Hello friends,
Yes indeed I am a sleeper on the list, that occasionally bursts into action when an antique bobbin comes up for comment. I need to say that though I am not as old as many of my era, ( I am 80) I am clearly slowing down. I am just not as sharp as I used to be and though I still have an interest I bobbins (how could I not after all these years) I have decided I need to share my resources that I have collected over the years. I do have good physical health which is a blessing. (Like, I do not have to take any medications) I was disappointed that I had no reply from the Luton Museum offering them my resources. They were in the past very supportive of my researches, in fact "hosted" me for days as I studied their collection. I had always thought that I would like to give it to them, but there you are. My resources are photographic, I own very few bobbins of my own. I have not been good at housekeeping to keep all my resources in digital form, so to send "4" very large albums of annotated bobbins pictures to the UK, frankly costs an arm and a leg. I do have a friend in Sydney who is a collector, and (this is part of my problem) I can't remember her name!! I think, that, if she is willing I would be happy for her to be a custodian of my stuff, ( I really mean give it!) So good friend.. If you will forgive me. (!) please contact me, even if you say no! I would like to say special thanks to this list. In my early days we did collaborative investigations which I put into some kind of print. It was great fun and I have learned so much from you. Over the years (It has been most of 20 years!) A number of you have kindly let me use your bobbin photographs for articles and indeed have sent me pictures of your total collections. A very special thank you to you. Some have even sent me their bobbins and I hope (though I know not always) I have done these gifts justice. I have a partially written Dictionary of Antique English Lace Bobbins, probably 80 to 90% complete. I might hang on to that or at least give a digital version to someone who might like to have it. I was keeping it all to myself, but time has caught up with me and even though it is not finished, it seems to me to be worth sharing. It is a pity that the apex of bobbin collecting seems to have passed, but that interest was guided by the lovely Springett couple. Mind you some of the prices for special bobbins seems to have gone through the roof! You don't need to have a bobbin collection, bobbins are lovely tools, and yes the special ones have had a lot of work put into them and you should treasure them, but the most sought after (hanging bobbins) which are so collectable for their comparative rarity, interest ( and expensive) are, for the most part, dreadful examples of the art of the bobbin maker. (Ok, I am like the most of you, I would like to own one all the same!!!!!) I was first attracted to lace bobbins by seeing a beautiful pillow of bobbins, there were good ones, bad ones , old and new, but all of them were beautiful and I still think the same. I can't sign off ( I do not really think of this as a farewell, just a restructuring of my life) without saying special thanks to Diana Smith; if you want to know about bobbins. she is the one. I sometimes think of her as the power behind my office chair when I start writing. Lovely, lovely lady. Thanks. I will probably unsubscribe when I have most of my unfinished business sorted, but you can always drop me a note to chat about antique bobbins. My one disappointment is that I have done nothing about Continental bobbins. I do have them collected in digital form, by countries, and some names with them; I am not sure that I have them all correct mind you. Let me know if you are interested. Anyway, I love you all and thanks for all your support. Though I have not made bobbins for some time, I am making ukuleles and tenor guitars for my own use and I have started patchwork quilting, so I remain "Hobby Active" at least. Brian - 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/
