Thank you for the kind words, Jeri, on my tribute to Gabrielle. I appreciate them.
I knew her at first as Gabrielle Pond, but I think the De Mestre was used when a more formal name was required. David: Gabrielle most definitely had children. I believe her sizeable collection went to Sothebys for auction, so that her family weren't saddled with the task of dealing with it after her death. She retained some of the laces for her pleasure and gave some away as gifts occasionally. She was indeed a talented watercolour artist, and I kept her Christmas card from I forget which year (around 1993 or 1994 I think), as she'd had one of her watercolours made into a card, and it's just a lovely piece of artwork (wish I could see the bigger version). I believe she signed her Work with the De Mestre Pond signature. Her little book was one of the first books published in the early 1970's I believe that dealt with lace, and was part of the revival. Gabrielle was an incredible and inspiring woman and lace was just a part of her amazing life. She did an awful lot for Australian lacemakers and was instrumental in getting the ALG's Triennial Award going. Hope all our lace friends from the Midwest to the East coast and parts south are staying safe and riding out the storm/blizzards safely, and that our poor friends in Queensland who got through the floods, are now surviving Cyclone Yasi's Category 5 strength fury in safe havens. Helen, in sunny Duvall, WA. - 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
