[lace] Beads & bobbins
Brian asks :" [hands up those who remember toasting their bread on the fire using a long toasting fork! Delicious!] Well, yes, My hand is held high!! The toast (or crumpets) were Always better toasted by the fire, - got a bit of a smokey flavour to enhance it. Lovely! Maybe The bobbin maker was trying to educate the lacemakers, and making sure that Pharoah was known to be the Egyptian equivalent of a King!!! I must get my other old bobbins out, and see if I can find any other strange names!!! Regards from Liz in Melbourne, Oz. lizl...@bigpond.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] Freemans Classification of bobbins
I said a week or so ago that I would post it on "weavers". Quite rightly they have asked that I get permission from the publishers before it is posted. I have written to Luton museum for said permission. They first published his book in 1958 and in a previous communication they seemed not to have any ambition to re publish it, and the Classification is only a few pages of the whole. But right is right and I will let you know what happens. I am not sure how big the PDF file is, but if a person is desperate for a copy then I will send it to them. No copyright issue with that. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] Meanings of beads etc
I love this thought, and I am so glad that there are people who do not want to to lose these ancient symbols and meanings. It is especially interesting to me and my colleague who are currently doing some work (mainly my colleague.. not so much me) on the decoration of East Devon Bobbins. What do all those symbols mean? I have learned that there are about 6 or 8 ways of depicting an anchor... each of which means something different. I am currently delving into the meanings of different types of lines (Starting with heraldic lines) We have never really got to the bottom of the Mother and Babe symbolism, what does it mean, when was it given or ordered, and as I raised some time ago... what if there are multi babes in the shank? All this is fascinating stuff. Never let us downgrade the value of history or the recording of it. I might add, however small the detail, as other who come after us may well build on what we know or think. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] Meanings of beads, weavings, embroidery symbols and some laces
Dear Lacemakers, This will be just a general overview. Beads of various types have been used to "protect" for many centuries. Some have old tales attached to them. Subject is well covered in bead books. >From "The Shining Cloth" by Victoria Z. Rivers --- "Paleolithic Western Asia may have been the point of origin connecting beads, eyes, and protective magic, for the earliest reference to the evil eye came from Sumerian clay tablets of the 3rd millennium BC." When I list the types of books in my library, it includes "related subjects". That includes beads, which seem to have had a much higher survival rate than textiles. And then, there are books about Goddess embroideries, and the symbolic meanings of them. Also, what has been exhumed from ancient burial sites in various parts of the world. Some books tell of the meanings of embroideries, such as symbols for snakes, stitched around all openings of womens' clothing: neck, sleeves, bottom hem -- to protect. During the 20th C. when various eastern European nations suffered so much cultural destruction, books began to come out that would describe patterns as "traditional (name of nation) embroidery". The truth is that the origins and meanings of the individual symbols are known. When you see a traditional middle eastern rug or embroidery or tapestry with what looks like symbols, know that those designs are ancient and did/do have meanings. When you use such design elements for inspiration when designing lace (per recent correspondence) they are called adaptations. Off the top of my head, I am reminded of some embroidery and lace -- very similar designs -- in older "ethnic" books. Lace is attached to an embroidered cloth that you can see was deliberately designed to go together. If the embroidery design told a story, so does the lace. All this, because of discussions about spangling beads for bobbins! It is complex, but magical. Unlikely to be found in most lace libraries, but definitely better for some of us to know about than not. I hope you appreciate all the creative people who have left evidence of their heritage to us, whether you agree or not with their beliefs. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center (It is one degree above zero fahrenheit as this note is being written in snow-covered Maine.) - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
RE: [lace] Square cuts
I sort of suffer from the other extreme of this. Because I used to work in London near two fabulous bead shops I would spend a portion of my mad money each month on beads (you know mad money ... the stuff you put aside to treat yourself with so you don't go mad!). Because I didn't need to buy a full necklace of beads I could squander some of the mad money on exquisite beads that I would buy just 2 beads as my centres for a pair of bobbins and then put them on relatively cheap bobbins. Yesterday, my husband and I were looking at the piece I'm currently working on which has over 70 pairs on it and he commented that this was a picture of my life as I could trace lace events back over 20 years (can I really be that old!) and I was looking at a pair of bobbins that cost about 3 or 4 pounds to buy but that have the most beautiful sparkly japanese centre beads on them ... each bead cost over a tenner but they are lovely. L Kind Regards Liz Baker thelace...@btinternet.com --- On Mon, 24/1/11, Margery Allcock wrote: From: Margery Allcock Subject: RE: [lace] Square cuts To: lace@arachne.com, laceandb...@aol.com Date: Monday, 24 January, 2011, 22:14 Liz Baker (thelacebee) wrote: > I saw a well known lacemaker at a fair who had spangled > every bobbin exactly the same - she thought it was out of > this world and I was aghast!!! When I used to do demos at shows, I had a good collection of identical bobbins, all spangled identically ... I did it out of mischief, really; several times people watching had said to each other "How does she know which one to move next?" "They're all marked with different beads - that must be how." I wanted to find out how they thought I knew which one to move next. Margery. == margerybu...@o2.co.uk in North Herts, UK == - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] lace photos
Well, now I feel positively, absolutely inadequate! What stunning work!!! Clay On 1/24/2011 2:44 PM, Lorelei Halley wrote: Hello Here are some Russian (I think) bobbinlace clothes, evening wear. http://picasaweb.google.com/116123880781256601574/201002# - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
RE: [lace] Square cuts
Liz Baker (thelacebee) wrote: > I saw a well known lacemaker at a fair who had spangled > every bobbin exactly the same - she thought it was out of > this world and I was aghast!!! When I used to do demos at shows, I had a good collection of identical bobbins, all spangled identically ... I did it out of mischief, really; several times people watching had said to each other "How does she know which one to move next?" "They're all marked with different beads - that must be how." I wanted to find out how they thought I knew which one to move next. Margery. == margerybu...@o2.co.uk in North Herts, UK == - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] square cut beads
Hello All! Perhaps I didn't Google far enough, but I didn't find much when I looked for "square cut beads". There were lots of hits for square shape, flat beads with facets--sort of like "cushion cut" in gems. Tracy doesn't seem to have them on her Lacemaker site & at Shipwreck Beads, they appear to be classified under "cubes". Shipwreck has some lovely ones but the pesky holes are located on the "sides". To solve the issue with unsightly spaces between cubes/square cuts, some modern versions have a different hole placement. When the holes are located at the "corners", they lie nicely next to one another & make a nice spangle. Just a thought & certainly "not" traditional! Sincerely, Susan Hottle, Palm Beach Gardens Florida - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] lace photos
I suspect it is the St Peterburgh equivalent of the Institute of Fine Arts where we studied in Moscow. The pieces shown look as if they might be the Graduate Show. In Moscow, the graduation pieces (in all the specialities) are *donated* to the institute's collection; I'm not quite sure how far up my back my arm would need to be to encourage me to donate those bits of lace. Also of great interest are the pieces in frames on the walls behind. They are the working drawings for the lace, which is what the designer will give to the 'factory' for the lacemakers to copy. They are drawn onto the coloured paper from the original draft, and each thread path is handpainted in with gouache paint and a fine brush. When you first see them, you have to be very close before you realise they aren't lace. Jacquie in Lincolnshire - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] Square cuts
I use square cut lacemaker's beads in my spangles (these are the one's that look like they've been made with a cheese grater because a file has been pressed into them) and I have previously bought hand blown squares from the bead shop that used to be in Covent Garden that were Italian and Japanese made. I usually put a small seed bead between each bead to 'mask' the wire but that's just my preference. If I'm going to get a big gap then I use a larger seed bead but again, that's just my preference. As has been said before on this list - how you spangle your bobbins is your own preference. I saw a well known lacemaker at a fair who had spangled every bobbin exactly the same - she thought it was out of this world and I was aghast!!! Each to their own and don't let anyone tell you what is right or wrong. In the words of Rikki Lake ... You go girl! Kind Regards Liz Baker thelace...@btinternet.com --- On Sun, 23/1/11, laceandb...@aol.com wrote: From: laceandb...@aol.com Subject: [lace] Square cuts To: lace@arachne.com Date: Sunday, 23 January, 2011, 13:14 Having read all the comments about square cuts etc, I must add that apart from the ones I have on antique bobbins, I don't use them. I don't like them for spangles as they don't sit together as well as round beads do, and they leave a gap of wire between them (do I fill it with a tiny bead? do I leave the wire showing?). Easier just not to use them at all :-) Jacquie in Lincolnshire - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] Modern "Square Cut beads."
Just got back onto the lists after being away for a while and can answer this one. I have many square beads made with a glass makers file produced by Tuffnell Glass. Strange as I have just got down at the weekend my boxes with my spare lacemaking bits in them (usually stored in the loft) and was looking at a handblown Xmas ornament kit I bought from them back in 2005. They are still on the web at http://www.tuffnellglass.com/ but I can't see any square cuts. L Kind Regards Liz Baker thelace...@btinternet.com --- On Sun, 23/1/11, Brian Lemin wrote: From: Brian Lemin Subject: [lace] Modern "Square Cut beads." To: lace@arachne.com Date: Sunday, 23 January, 2011, 4:38 I have started writing the article on restoration of lace bobbins, and have started with the spangle, being the most frequent restoration that is undertaken. Most historical beads are produced by modern bead makers, but I do not know if I have ever seen modern "square cuts" with the file indentations on them. Have you? Are they around? If so where? Thanks - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] lace photos
I saw that one too. The texture from all those packed together leaves is beautiful. So evenly sized and shaped too. Claire Allen www.bonitocrafts.co.uk Crafty stuff I want to show off. On 24 Jan 2011, at 20:39, Sue Babbs wrote: > And on this site, there is an amazing piece full of leaves: > http://picasaweb.google.com/116123880781256601574/201002#5554724157628063074 > - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] lace photos
And on this site, there is an amazing piece full of leaves: http://picasaweb.google.com/116123880781256601574/201002#5554724157628063074 The comments below it suggests that the work is done by high school students! See: "This degree of high school students of folk arts in the city of St. Petersburg. Woven from flax." Sue sueba...@comcast.net -Original Message- From: Lorelei Halley Here are some Russian (I think) bobbinlace clothes, evening wear. http://picasaweb.google.com/116123880781256601574/201002# Lorelei - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] lace photos
Hello Here are some Russian (I think) bobbinlace clothes, evening wear. http://picasaweb.google.com/116123880781256601574/201002# Lorelei - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] Turkish eye beads
Years ago I spent 6 weeks in Turkey with a family. The mother, in particular, believed that the evil eye beads would protect a person from the evil eye, though I'm not sure what that means. They had a little girl who was just walking, and they fastened an evil eye bead or charm with a safety pin on the back of her shirt where she couldn't reach it. Years later, when I had my first child, they sent me an evil eye bead charm, too. When I started making lace a few years ago, I found an evil eye charm on a bracelet they had given me. It's now hanging on a spangled bobbin. Ruth Dubuque, Iowa, USA where it's cold with snow flurries I have many of the Turkish eye beads that I collected while on holiday but do not know if they are supposed to protect you against the evil eye or whether they are supposed to be just lucky, have heard different descriptions of what they are meant to do from the Turks that sold them . The only problem with them is that many of them are not the right shape to use on bobbins, but I love them anyway. Sue M Harvey Norfolk UK - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: strange bobbin names Was [lace] Re: Old bobbin
It makes me giggle when someone in the far future looks at a pair of bobbins that I have and wonders why they say "Security" on them! They were a gift from a friend and former boss who used to call me Security. I was his secretary (Office Manager, but really a Secretary) and kept control of who got in and who didn't. He snagged my Roseground catalog once from the house with help from my DH and I received the pair of bobbins for my birthday. He had no idea what he was ordering, but he had seen me working on my lace quite a lot. He called it my "knitting." Diane Williams drswilli...@yahoo.com Galena Illinois USA My blog - http://dianelaces.wordpress.com/ From: Joy Beeson To: lace@arachne.com Sent: Mon, January 24, 2011 10:56:22 AM Subject: [lace] Re: Old bobbin Or it could have been a pair of dogs. Or, "King" being a dog's name and "Pharaoh" being, I vaguely recall from somewhere in this thread, a horse's name, perhaps King was a coach dog. (The Egyptian finds are the most probable, but where's the fun in that?) -- Joy Beeson http://home.comcast.net/~debeeson/DaveCam/ west of Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] Re: Old bobbin
On 1/23/11 9:03 PM, Sue Babbs wrote: Ah! but you don't know which word to read first. SO king may have been the last name i.e. Pharaoh King. I can see some parent with a weird sense of humour choosing to call their child that. Maybe his middle name was Tsar! Or it could have been a pair of dogs. Or, "King" being a dog's name and "Pharaoh" being, I vaguely recall from somewhere in this thread, a horse's name, perhaps King was a coach dog. (The Egyptian finds are the most probable, but where's the fun in that?) -- Joy Beeson http://home.comcast.net/~debeeson/DaveCam/ west of Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
[lace] Follow up to square beads at Swanley
I have consulted the oracle as suggested, and it is even known which year I was at the Swanley lace day (I only went once in the 80s) as I was 'caught on camera'. The glass bead maker was D Ledger (Dennis? or maybe Derek?), but I had remembered correctly that he was elderly then so 25 years on it is unlikely that he still makes them. Jacquie in Lincolnshire - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
RE: [lace] Square cuts: Database of beads
Thank you Brian for that site, I have been through it (took ages) and have identified many of my beads that I previously did not know the origin of the style. I have many of the Turkish eye beads that I collected while on holiday but do not know if they are supposed to protect you against the evil eye or whether they are supposed to be just lucky, have heard different descriptions of what they are meant to do from the Turks that sold them . The only problem with them is that many of them are not the right shape to use on bobbins, but I love them anyway. Sue M Harvey Norfolk UK - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com