Re: [lace] Graph paper/Needle lace
- Original Message - From: Janice Blair Subject: [lace] Graph paper/Needle lace What I should have asked was what Catherine used on her base, i.e. the blue paper, which might be something to do with architecture. Catherine, please tell me what you use as the top layer of your base, and then if anyone knows where we can obtain it in the US, that would be great. Sorry Janice We clearly weren't on the same page with this one! The blue covering I use over my pattern/drawing is simply a dark blue, matt sticky-backed plastic. My eyesight is not what it used to be and as I mainly work in white, using fine gauges of thread, this gives a greater contrast as opposed to architect's linen or the pale coloured sticky-backed plastic. Somebody emailed me quite some time ago asking the same question. Doreen Holmes and myself bought a whole roll of it between us from Tim Parker (a lace supplier here in the UK who has now retired) but this would have been over 10 years ago and I only have a very small amount left. I 'Googled' Dark Blue Sticky-backed plastic and found a couple of companies in the US who sold it, but again only by the roll and I don't dare to think what it would cost in postage to ship it here! Unfortunately I didn't keep the addresses but suggest you try 'Googling' and see what you can find. None of them seemed to sell it by the sheet/small quantities but you may have better luck than I. I guess if several of you pooled your dollars or perhaps your local group or one of your suppliers could get hold of it, that would be the way to go. Good luck with your search. Catherine Catherine Barley Needlelace www.catherinebarley.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. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Architect's linen
DH was an engineering lecturer and taught, among other things, technical drawing. When the subject started to move to computers, he brought home what the college had because he didn't think computers would catch on (LOL) and knew the college would throw out what they had on the assumption that computers would be the way to go. Of course, DH was wrong and we had half a dozen full rolls of architects linen in the loft for several years until we moved, when he threw it out because it was never going to be needed again and that was long before I took up lacemaking or knew about needlelace. Somewhere at the bottom of a landfill in Essex are six full rolls of architects linen! Jean in Poole, Dorset, 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. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace: IOLI Convention
- Original Message - From: Ruth Budge Subject: RE: [lace] Lace: IOLI Convention So then I wrote to the boys' boarding schools, and found one very nice school who were in the process of building a beautiful new boarding house, and who were so excited about it, that they agreed to accommodate us for a reasonable sum of moneybeing able to rent out their facilities during school holidays was the icing on the cake for them. Clay Blackwell wrote: Maybe the next convention host could book us all on a cruise ship! It wouldn't cost any more, and might be a huge draw... Good morning all Geraldine Stott and myself both taught on a Caribbean cruise back in 90's organised by Gretchen Algier. We stayed in a hotel at Puerto Rico where we taught for two days before boarding the ship, and taught only on the days we were at sea. The ship docked at Barbados, St Thomas etc where we all were able to spend time, but it was so hot that we were happy to get back on board and enjoy the comfort of air conditioning. As for food, well I have never seen so much food in my life - one could eat 24hrs a day and it was out of this world! Mind you, the world economy was far healthier than it is now! I have also taught at Exeter University for Susan Cox of The English Lace School and at Norwich University for the OIDFA conference (2002 I think) and both were similar to Ruth's description of the boys boarding school. Our Universities here in the UK are generally very old buildings and sometimes the accommodation leaves a lot to be desired but some have improved over recent years and I think you will find that they are all delighted to be able to let out their facilities during the holidays. I think perhaps this is certainly worth persuing. Catherine Catherine Barley Needlelace www.catherinebarley.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. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Graph paper/Needle lace
A search on eBay found 37 listings of glossy and matt sticky back plastic in various colours. I didn't delve too deeply but there seemed to be various prices and quantities. Diana in Northamptonshire on another spring like day (it can't last!) Sent from my iPad - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Dark blue plastic, or not
Of course the other way to get a darker-than-the-usual-lace-blue plastic would be to draw the pattern onto the right shade of blue paper and cover it with clear matt sticky plastic. On previous trips to Canada we have found this quite easily in the dollar stores. For bobbin lace I have changed to the orange film which I originally brought back from Spain (where orange or red card is quite common) but which is now available from one of the leading UK suppliers. People who have tried it after seeing my pillow have been amazed at how much easier it is to see the threads. Jacquie in Lincolnshire. Sent from my iPhone - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Blue film
The last time I looked, the blue film from Europe was available from main lace suppliers in the USA, like Van Sciver and Lacy Susan. Browse your favorite suppliers' webpages. It's available from some European suppliers but shipping is quite a bit since a roll is heavy. I bought a roll some years back and have kept the local lacemakers supplied but my roll is running low now. When I bought it, and paid the shipping, I figured that the cost per square inch was almost identical to the selling price by USA suppliers. You won't save anything by buying a whole roll. Just shop your favorite supplier and get it a few feet at a time. A roll is a lot for one person. The sticky part will go bad before one person can use it all up. Buying a roll by a lace guild to serve all the members would be more practical. Our guild did that once and I think it served our needs for several years before it was used up. For a single lacemaker, buy a yard or two from a supplier. An alternative that's used by several people here is to print the pattern on blue paper and use clear sticky shelf paper on top. The clear stuff is available in most Dollar Stores and many other stores. Alice in Oregon ... where it's been very gray and cloudy but is supposed to improve for most of this week. - Original Message - To: Janice Blair jbl...@sbcglobal.net, lace lace@arachne.com Sent: Mon, 22 Apr 2013 06:54:36 - (UTC) Subject: Re: [lace] Graph paper/Needle lace What I should have asked was what Catherine used on her base, i.e. the blue paper, which might be something to do with architecture. Catherine, please tell me what you use as the top layer of your base, and then if anyone knows where we can obtain it in the US, that would be great. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Lace: IOLI Convention
So much so, Catherine, that they make big business and charge the earth for it! In researching possible venues for The Lace Guild's AGM and Convention, I went to the Academic Venues Show in London last year, where many of the UK universities had displays to show off their facilities - all far too expensive for the Guild's needs. Our vice-chairman teaches an after school lace club at the school we used this year, which was able to suit our needs, and allowed us to charge less than in previous years, it was just a pity the main hall where the AGM was held didn't have easy access for those who couldn't use the stairs. If we could find a school with good public transport access, good accommodation nearby, with two large halls and classrooms on one level, good food and good pricing that would be perfection! In message 275AE199CB3C4D1089EB0689D0BD5E01@UserPC, Catherine Barley catherinebar...@btinternet.com writes Our Universities here in the UK are generally very old buildings and sometimes the accommodation leaves a lot to be desired but some have improved over recent years and I think you will find that they are all delighted to be able to let out their facilities during the holidays. -- Jane Partridge - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Lace: IOLI Convention
I enjoy attending a week long lace conference. It gives time for classes and other activities. The shopping opportunity is great. The type of facility will make a difference in cost for rooms and classes. Also for food. Some years my budget just can not support a hotel conference. Lacemaking is not a speedy skill. It's even slower when learning a new style or technique. A one day class/workshop barely gets the basics explained. Our local group likes to schedule workshops for 2.5 days (15 hours of instruction). A basic class at IOLI is 12 hours for a half day class or 24 hours for an all day class. A person who is new or works slowly may choose to take just one 12 hour class and have the other half day to work independently on the project. Some of the more complicated laces allow for all day under the eye of the instructor. The week also gives a chance to see some of the local sites, exhibits, and shopping plus just meeting and getting acquainted with other lacemakers. In some cases, just getting away from home/family/job/etc is a great morale booster. The drawback is the cost. Travel (plane) costs are beyond our control. Some years it's higher than other years. Attendance does seem to be down some in the years that travel costs climb or there's been a security scare. Some people attend only the conferences that are near where they live. The IOLI Conference changes each year to a different area of the country so is not always near the same people. It's nice when it's close enough to drive to, because a person has a chance to take more things. In recent years, if my memory is correct, the conferences have varied from 125 to 300 people. It's hard to predict so tentative plans have to prepare for 300 but be organized to break even on expenses with 125. This affects the teachers in the extreme. Enough have to be committed to serve the 300, but many have to be cancelled if only 125 registrations come in. People who live near can bring an ice chest or cooler with food, so the expense of restaurant meals is reduced. These days, many hotels furnish a small refrigerator and a microwave in each room. A quick shopping trip can stock up the basic foods. The hotel room cost can be shared with a friend or two. This can cut the hotel bill in half or thirds, or even fourths if you have 3 compatible friends. There's no way around the basic registration fee and hourly class charges. You can control whether you take 12 or 24 hours of class. Even with the economies I've mentioned, a week conference adds up to a large expense amount. I made a rough calculation that it would cost me $1500-2000 if I attended this year's IOLI. (A scheduling conflict made it not practical this year but I can always dream, and start saving money for next year.) Booking a school/college can be more cost effective but the housing facilities are not as elegant, and no room service. I've known a few lacemakers who were fussy about this, but I spend so little time in my room that 'fancy' is not important. Our local regional conferences are held at colleges during summer break. They are 3 days with room, food, and classes in close proximity. These usually have fewer than 100 people. A larger IOLI conference might not fit as well. It would be an idea to explore, though. While a cruise conference sounds neat, I have doubts it would be any less expensive than a hotel conference. Are there any cruise ships tied up to a dock somewhere that could be used like a large hotel? If it's not moving, there shouldn't be any fuel costs. Location is a key to any conference. Lace conferences take so many classrooms that's it's a real challenge to find a place. When we hosted IOLI, we explored all kinds of ideas, and the only place we came up with was a hotel... and only one hotel in all of Portland had enough room for us. Many hotels are built to hold lots of people, meeting together in large rooms, not divided up in a multitude of classes. Ideas are welcome. Keep them coming. Alice in Oregon tired of winding bobbins. Glad I've reached the end of this batch. - Original Message - From: Karen Thompson karenhthomp...@gmail.com I am curious what other lace makers think about the IOLI Convention format since the enrollment seems to be down this year. What could the reason be? Is it too long to have a full week? and therefore too expensive both in terms of days off and hotel and meal expenses? Or why do you think? Karen in Washington, DC on a beautiful sunny day - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace: IOLI Convention
Catherine Barley Needlelace www.catherinebarley.com - Original Message - Subject: [lace] Lace: IOLI Convention So much so, Catherine, that they make big business and charge the earth for it! In researching possible venues for The Lace Guild's AGM and Convention, I went to the Academic Venues Show in London last year, where many of the UK universities had displays to show off their facilities - all far too expensive for the Guild's needs. I do appreciate how difficult it is to find an affordable venue, particularly when one has no idea how many lacemakers to cater for. Finances are tight for everyone at the moment and we lacemakers are an ageing community, in that the majority of us are now pensioners with no wage coming in and very little by way of interest on our savings! However, each individual has to take this into account and decide whether it is the tuition/class that is their priority or the food and accommodation at an affordable price - we can't have it all! Unless one has been involved in the organisation of such an event, the average lacemaker has no idea how difficult it is to find an affordable venue, easily accessible with all the requirements needed for disabled access, suppliers space, classrooms etc. and some are very quick to find fault, but let them try and do better. Catherine - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace: IOLI Convention
In the Uk have you tried the Girlguiding Training venues - there are 5 houses. Foxlease nr Lyndhurst Hants is my local one - thereare many rooms good basic food and a few downstairs bedrooms and plenty of large rooms for lacemaking. -- Kind Regards Rosemary Hemmett mailto:rosemary.hemm...@virgin.net - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Dark blue plastic, or not -- now red card
I am on my first piece of lace using red card and I can attest that it is MUCH easier to see the threads. Must be something scientific about wavelengths or something. Nancy Connecticut, USA From: Jacquie Tinch laceandb...@aol.com To: Arachne lace@arachne.com Sent: Monday, April 22, 2013 3:34 AM Subject: [lace] Dark blue plastic, or not ... For bobbin lace I have changed to the orange film which I originally brought back from Spain (where orange or red card is quite common) but which is now available from one of the leading UK suppliers. People who have tried it after seeing my pillow have been amazed at how much easier it is to see the threads. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] IOLI convention
Once you get beyond one styrofoam pillow, beginner bobbins and a manual, lace can get pretty expensive. I cannot speak to needlelace, as I don’t do it. There are other pillows, decorated bobbins, the gorgeous Midlands bobbins, and, above all, books. And taking classes, especially in the US, where it’s always for a weekend, or a week, can get expensive because of food and lodging expenses. Those who can commute to weekly classes don’t appreciate their advantages, in my opinion. The ideal way to learn lace. Some of us have been blessed with generous lacemaking budgets, and some of us have not. Personally, while I am presently quite comfortable financially, it was not always so. Raising 3 children while married to a United Methodist minister does not guarantee the elegancies of life. That tradition just continues, which means when I go to the yearly Ithaca, New York, Lace Days, I camp. More money for books, even though it is frequently below freezing in the morning. I have only been to two IOLI conventions, and they were within driving distance. When I went to IOLI in Bethesda, Maryland, I camped. I commuted to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 2004. On the other hand, I went to the OIDFA meeting in Caen, France, because I speak French, and I was able to lure DH, who doesn’t appreciate all the beauties of France, to Normandy afterwards. Camping. Each one of us is different in her/his preferences. I think a cruise is actually not a bad option, as room and board can be downright inexpensive. I took a Royal Carribean cruise in January that cost $75 a night per person, double occupancy, with a window, for a week long cruise. Very nice. They certainly have enough meeting rooms, if you bring or they supply lamps. I also think a school in the summer might be a good option, as again we wouldn’t have to worry about classes in bedrooms. Food might not be world class, though. And schools are planned with youngsters without walkers or canes and with roller blades and bikes in mind. Such a place would also, unfortunately, need to be near an airport, as train service in the US is pitiful. And there may be lots of logistical problems with obtaining a block of cabins on a cruise before the money and participation is definite. No one is going to come up with the perfect solution, as there is none, but I do think consideration should be made to keep costs for accommodation as low as possible to permit more people to think it is within their budget. IOLI chapters have an understandable preference for their own jurisdiction. It would be interesting to know what percentage of attendees were commuters in the various areas. Does that percentage remain constant, or does it rise for conventions closer to the coast, where population density is greater? Does the overall attendance rise as one gets closer to the coast? Which convention had the largest per centage of attendees under the age of 50? I must admit I am more drawn to lace events that are within driving distance. If we’re at a school, and it’s cheap, will the cost advantage work to lure enough ‘youngsters’ to offset those with walking problems who don’t come? Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, where the cold spring and sunshine continue. Frost for the last two mornings. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] IOLI Convention
Should the tour day be kept in the middle of the week where it requires extra nights and meals whether you want to participate in a tour or not? Should the IOLI think about having the Convention every other year? If so, alternating years to OIDFA? I feel bad for all the organizers, who put in an incredible amount work. If many of the classes have to be cancelled it is also bad for the vendors. -Karen in Washington, DC - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] RE: SLC convention
Thank you, Janice, for the great information! As this is the first convention I have attended, I don't know what to expect and feel a bit lost when needing answers to questions. And now for a crass commercial announcement . . .Another event that convention attendees may enjoy is Bach's Missa Solemnis which will be performed at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night (there is a tour of the Cathedral scheduled for Wednesday). I realize that this is the same night as the annual general meeting, but perhaps there is someone interested in going to this concert. The choir is the American Festival Chorus, a northern Utah choir, conducted by Dr. Craig Jessop who retired from directing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir after 8 years and promptly went the Utah State University where he founded the American Festival Chorus and become Dean of the College of Arts. I have been performing with the choir since its inception 5 years ago. For those choral music geeks out there, it may be interesting to compare the American Festival Chorus at the Cathedral under Dr. Jessop, former Tabernacle choir director, to Dr. Mac Wilberg, present director of the Tabernacle choir in the Tabernacle. Both choirs are made up of volunteers. Rebecca in Utah Hi Rebecca, No-one has been informed that they have the class of their choice yet. If someone has been contacted by the Registrar, it is usually to ask what their second choice may be because their first choice class is full. If they then assume they will get their second choice, they are probably correct. Some members in the host group of Beehive Lacers may have been told by their committee that their registration is okay, but that is not official yet. No decisions will be made about final placements until the end of May. Registrations are still coming in, although slower than in the initial period and we are hoping to be able to provide as many classes as we offered in the Bulletin. Please do not assume that classes are full or cancelled, take a chance and send in your registration and come and join us in Salt Lake City where we hope to provide everyone with great classes and another wonderful convention experience, plus the chance to see and hear the Tabernacle Choir rehearsal in the Tabernacle. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] IOLI Convention
The IOLI convention is so much larger than other lace events that it poses a problem. On the one hand people are saying that an educational facility would afford more classroom space, which would certainly be a positive. But, the thing that is always the biggest challenge, it seems, is that you have between 125-300 people, largely older people, some disabled, each laden with bags, and frequently wheeled conveyances, attempting to board elevators at exactly the same time, at least four times a day. The events are spaced often with only about 15 minutes between them and it is quite a challenge to get to the room to drop off and pick up equipment in these intervals even with most people staying in the same building as the classrooms. I don't know about other college campuses, but at the one I went to, it was about a 15 minute walk back to the dormitories from the classrooms and I never tried to do it with a wheeled bag. The college I went to had about 125 people per dormitory, so you would need two to three dormitories. The dormitories each had a single meeting room, but none would have a bunch of classrooms right there. But, I confess, I am not really familiar with other campuses. Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] IOLI Convention
Hello, I am going to convention this year because it is being held 45 min from my home and I'll likely take the local train. I saved up my mad money for a year to just cover the registration costs and it still ended up being more than I thought. If I had travel expenses on top of hotel than I couldn't go. This is the first con of any kind that I've payed more than $150 for registration/classes. I've worked on Con committees before so I know they can be expensive, but I was kind of sticker shocked when I wrote the check. My one disappointment is that for the cost I can only take two classes. It was VERY frustrating to me that I couldn't take 3 or 4 classes. I guess I'm used to the other cons where you can take a dozen classes over the weeks time. with minimal extra expense. I was also a little frustrated about being required to pay for banquets. I don't think I'll even be able to go to them. Yes, for those staying in the hotel it's great, but like the Sunday night dinner...I wish I could have opted out. As it is It's going to be a tough week for my family with me gone so much. The time of year is BAD - right as school is starting (and daughter's birthday). Honestly I'll probably never attend again...It is just too much money for two classes and the time of year. *** I would not go on a cruse con even if the cost was lower. I abhor cruse ships. My sister was an entertainment director on a number of cruse ships for several different lines and the stories she tellsNO, I will never set foot on a cruse. As always, Robin -- Never, ever, let anyone tell you what you can and can't do. Prove the cynics wrong. Pity them for they have no imagination. The sky's the limit. *Your* sky. *Your *limit. Now, let's dance. *~Tom Hiddleston* - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention
What would be an example of a Con that costs $150 or less and where you could take a dozen classes? What kind of classes would they be? How long would each class be? Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention
A half-serious thought: Perhaps a campground for lacemakers? One very big lace-in in a field in summer with the classes in the airy tents used for summer craft fairs and heritage events. Hmm, Lacestock... (with nice facilities). It seems there is a compromise whatever the venue for a major lace event? On Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 8:28 AM, dmt11h...@aol.com wrote: What would be an example of a Con that costs $150 or less and where you could take a dozen classes? What kind of classes would they be? How long would each class be? -- Bev who solved a problem with a Binche pattern and is moving forward with it, in Shirley BC, near Sooke on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention
Yes, I In a message dated 4/22/2013 12:18:19 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, welshw...@gmail.com writes: Many SciFi/Fantasy Conventions are much less than $150, and have the programming (classes) as part of the entrance fee. Now, there are a few differences though: * Most of the programming (at least at the Cons I've gone to) is one hour slots, either panels (4 or 5 people talking about a subject, interacting with the audience) OR an Author reading his/her novel. There are very few hands on how to workshops, and when there are, they are usually two hours at the most. * As I understand it (since I've never been on a committee that runs a Con), most of the presenters don't have to be paid for their appearances. Of course, the !Big! !Name! draws are comepensated with a stipend, but that's only usually 2-4 people. The other people (the ones who are presenting in a panel or reading their books) may get their rooms and entrance, but don't also receive any money. * There are some SciFi/Fantasy style Cons that are now charging on a tier level. Tier 1 gets you in the door and into the vendor room, and a few panels with people who only have a local following. Tier 2 gets you all of Tier 1, and into some of the panels with more well known people, and maybe a book reading from that famous author you love. Tier 3 gets you Tiers 1 and 2, as well as into the panels and presentations with the !Big! !Name! people you'd go all fangl about (if you fangrrrl, that is). A bunch of the ComicCons are doing this. (Personally, I find that those kind are too expensive for me, and I end up not going, even though local ones are supposed to be good.) The main difference,of course, is that the SciFi/Fantasy Cons are not set up to give intensive, hands on workshops. While they do impart knowledge, they aren't showing 10 or 15 people (or whatever the class limit is) how to make a pillow, how to prep a patterns, how to make the pad (for needle lace). While the larger ones do rent all of the conference rooms in a hotel for the weekend, they also don't need 20 classrooms each day. For a good example of a Con I go to regularly, that costs well under $150 for the Con (hotel and food extra though), check out Mile Hi Con in Denver, CO. (http://www.milehicon.org/Default.aspx) As it's 6 months out, they don't have the programming finalized yet, but this gives an idea. Basically, you can be busy from 8 in the morning until 10pm or later with different programming if you want at this con, all for $40-$46 per person for the whole weekend. Bronwen, who isn't a promoter or on the committee for MHC, but who attends as often as funds and her husband's work schedule allows. On Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 9:28 AM, _Dmt11home@aol.com_ (mailto:dmt11h...@aol.com) wrote: What would be an example of a Con that costs $150 or less and where you could take a dozen classes? What kind of classes would they be? How long would each class be? Devon - To unsubscribe send email to _majordomo@arachne.com_ (mailto:majord...@arachne.com) containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to _arachne.moderator@gmail.com_ (mailto:arachne.modera...@gmail.com) . Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/ -- Per pale argent and purpure, two phoenixes counterchanged sable and argent each rising from flames proper. It is sometimes the most fragile things that have the power to endure and become sources of strength. - May Sarton Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living.- Albert Einstein Out of clutter, find Simplicity. From discord, find Harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. - Albert Einstein And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. - Anais Nin Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. - Henry David Thoreau - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI convention
One more quick note: And schools are planned with youngsters without walkers or canes Yes, and also, when they built the college or school people were generally smaller. I have attended conferences (Not IOLI) where quite a few people had trouble getting into the shower stall, let alone showering in it. In general, it's not the registration fee that keeps me from coming to a conference. It's that typically I can afford either a large travel cost or a large hotel cost but not both. I know the conference organizers work hard to keep costs down but they can't help where I live! Adele North Vancouver, BC - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Blue film
I do use blue cardstock and clear contact paper for my bobbin lace and I have used blue sticky back film from our vendors but I don't think it was ever as dark blue as the kind Catherine uses. I will have to look out for some. At present I draw my needle lace patterns on clear plastic with the ink side down towards my fabric pad. I will look out for a darker blue at convention this summer. Janice Janice Blair Crystal Lake, 50 miles northwest of Chicago, Illinois, USA www.jblace.com http://www.lacemakersofillinois.org Hello Spiders All, I have been known to print/photocopy patterns and prickings onto coloured paper, and then use the clear film, but clear film generally available in the UK is very shiny, and really needs to be rubbed down with a green pot scourer before using, as the glare tended to give me horrendous headaches - nowadays, I do purchase the blue film, sometimes chunter about the cost, but I do feel it suits me best of all.But of course - horses for courses, and do use whatever suits you best! Carol - in North 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. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention
Hi Bronwen, I think that you're comparing apples to oranges here. At a lacemaking convention, people are paying experts to travel (many from Europe), stay at the hotel and have their convention costs covered, as well as a teaching stipend. The best and most sought-after teachers devote their careers to designing and teaching, and do not do that for free. On the other hand, at Sci-Fi cons, it's a great deal more like a trade show where speakers are sharing information, but also selling something. They are eager to do this because it furthers whatever it is they are promoting. Most times these speakers are being paid to be there by the company for whom they work. So I don't think you're ever going to see a lacemaking convention that is $150, all inclusive. Clay Sent from my iPad On Apr 22, 2013, at 12:18 PM, Bronwen of Hindscroft welshw...@gmail.com wrote: Many SciFi/Fantasy Conventions are much less than $150, and have the programming (classes) as part of the entrance fee. Now, there are a few differences - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Blue film
Hi Arachnids, The light blue sticky-back film used over a soft blue paper pattern gives a medium blue result. It would pay to experiment to get the colour combination that works best for you. Clear matt sticky-back film is available from bookshops as it is used for covering books Joepie, in East Sussex, UK. -Original Message- From: Janice Blair Subject: Re: [lace] Blue film I do use blue cardstock and clear contact paper for my bobbin lace and I have used blue sticky back film from our vendors but I don't think it was ever as dark blue as the kind Catherine uses. I will have to look out for some. At present I draw my needle lace patterns on clear plastic with the ink side down towards my fabric pad. I will look out for a darker blue at convention this summer. Janice - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] IOLI convention/Cons?
Oops, sorry about the previous accidental post. I had been wondering if we were comparing the IOLI Convention with an event like Comic Con in San Diego that draws 130,000 people to it and has a regional economic impact of $162.8 million. I have never been to one of these, but it seems as though it is something that is largely supported by vendors, principally the gaming, movie, and other entertainment industries. While it is fun to see your favorite author reading, isn't he really there to enhance the sales of his books? So, he may be willing to appear for only the costs of his room because he feels that it is good advertising that will eventually pay him back in book sales. It would appear that Comic Con is an event where advertisers are eager to participate and provide entertainment in order to make contact with a huge consumer public which they believe will generate a large profit down the line. Unfortunately, the IOLI Convention is just the opposite. It exists because there is no commercial organization interested in providing lace classes to those who want them. Instead, our group of roughly 1300 people has to band together to provide them to ourselves, pooling our resources and efforts to bring teachers from various different countries that we might not otherwise get to see. We set the prices at a level that is pretty much break even because we see it as a service to the members, not a profit making endeavor. Certainly the way our convention is organized now, one takes few, but long classes. I always try to take a 24 hour or longer class, because the process is so slow that you don't get very far in 12 hours. I can see that for someone who is deciding how to spend their entertainment dollar, a con would seem like better value. Undoubtedly they are a lot of fun and there is a lot of creativity by the participants. Is there anything about these cons that we could learn that would improve our Conventions? I can't imagine any deep pocket advertiser who would want to make contact with us, but maybe I am lacking in imagination. The IOLI convention has short presentations. The banquets and luncheons are frequently presentations such as lace slide shows or other lace based entertainments that happen to have some food at them, not events where the dining is the primary pleasure. There are also other such short presentations such as the teacher showcase, sometimes evening lectures and performances. Last year there were so many evening lectures that they had to be held one after the other. There was one on the Sybil Carter mission lace, there was one about Swedish Freehand lace that included dressing a bride, and there was one about contemporary lace that included slides from the Love Lace exhibit in Australia. All were fascinating, and these presentations were among those things you got in return for the registration fee. But would a convention that was entirely short presentations be satisfying? I almost wonder if the use of the term convention is starting to be a liability and perhaps it would be better called a mini-university, or retreat. To put us on a plane where people are comparing us to a huge commercial con is obviously not a good thing. For those who have been to these Cons, is there anything that they do that we could do to improve our convention? Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention
Clay: I completely understand, and put that in my email. The questions were, What would be an example of a Con that costs $150 or less and where you could take a dozen classes? What kind of classes would they be? How long would each class be? Yes, I know this is a lace list, but there are many Conventions out there, which do educate on some level. Even what you call the trade show style (though I'd quibble with that assessment, but it's not important, really) informs and exchanges information. My starred points, however, showed a difference in what the IOLI convention is and what the SciFi/Fantasy Cons are. I even stated The main difference, of course, is that the SciFi/Fantasy Cons are not set up to give intensive, hands on workshops. While they do impart knowledge, they aren't showing 10 or 15 people (or whatever the class limit is) how to make a pillow, how to prep a patterns, how to make the pad (for needle lace). I was just answering the question as I read it, not inferring that the person asking was just wanting to know about Lace Cons. Also, I want to make it clear -- since it seems I didn't in my last email -- that I'm NOT saying I think teachers shouldn't be paid for giving their classes! I was just trying to show how Cons in other genres can keep the costs down, and also showed a version where the ones who brought in big name celebrities could afford to pay the celebrities. If we don't think it's wrong to pay to see our favorite actor/author/whatever, then how much more is it RIGHT to pay people who are experts in their art, not only travel money but also a good fee to teach something we want to learn? Bronwen, who's obviously not had enough caffeine this morning if I couldn't convey that last, most important bit, clearly On Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 10:57 AM, Clay Blackwell clayblackw...@comcast.netwrote: Hi Bronwen, I think that you're comparing apples to oranges here. At a lacemaking convention, people are paying experts to travel (many from Europe), stay at the hotel and have their convention costs covered, as well as a teaching stipend. The best and most sought-after teachers devote their careers to designing and teaching, and do not do that for free. Clay -- It is sometimes the most fragile things that have the power to endure and become sources of strength. - May Sarton - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention
Beg to differ, Clay. Most of the panelists at SF/F cons are not being paid to be there by anyone. They are self-employed authors, for the most part. Possibly, for the larger conventions, editors might be reimbursed by their publishers for attending, given the contacts they make with authors and potential authors. World Con, where the Hugo Awards are presented, has a fair publisher presence, for networking with authors and some contact with rank and file fans. But most conventions draw upon regional authors and publishing industry contacts, and educated fans, with their not being reimbursed by anyone; the writer, artist, and any other Guests of Honor will have their travel expenses comped and their room/meals comped. Where we get into apples and oranges from a legit perspective is that SC/F conventions have much greater attendance, and thus the expenses of the con are spread out through a much larger group of people. Orycon, which takes place in Portland, OR, costs $65.00 at the door; the earlier you buy your membership, of course, the lower the price, down to $25.00 if you bought at the prior year's convention. Orycon has an attendance of several thousand people, for a three day convention. This year is Orycon 35, it's been around for a while. Norwescon, held in the Seatle/Tacoma area, is slightly spendier, with pre-reg starting at $50.00 and increasing from there. Norwescon 37 is next year, so it's a couple of years older than Orycon. That's the fan run conventions, by fans for fans. Then you have the major media conventions, where for profit companies such as Creation Entertainment hire actors and other celebrities to attend, which cost rather more and serve a very different clientele. These are the big Star Trek cons, Xena, Stargate, Dr. Who, and various other television SF/F programs. Much more Cult of Personality. Yours, John Mead, who use to help put on Orycon, back in the day. On Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 9:57 AM, Clay Blackwell clayblackw...@comcast.netwrote: Hi Bronwen, I think that you're comparing apples to oranges here. At a lacemaking convention, people are paying experts to travel (many from Europe), stay at the hotel and have their convention costs covered, as well as a teaching stipend. The best and most sought-after teachers devote their careers to designing and teaching, and do not do that for free. On the other hand, at Sci-Fi cons, it's a great deal more like a trade show where speakers are sharing information, but also selling something. They are eager to do this because it furthers whatever it is they are promoting. Most times these speakers are being paid to be there by the company for whom they work. So I don't think you're ever going to see a lacemaking convention that is $150, all inclusive. Clay Sent from my iPad On Apr 22, 2013, at 12:18 PM, Bronwen of Hindscroft welshw...@gmail.com wrote: Many SciFi/Fantasy Conventions are much less than $150, and have the programming (classes) as part of the entrance fee. Now, there are a few differences - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/ - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention
Hello, While I was thinking of those kinds (like NewYork ComCon or SanDeago ComCon) I was also thinking of writers retreats and literary conferences I've been too/worked on. GenCon and Life the Universe and Everything are the ones that come to mind. I really didn't mean to start such a negative vibe I was just trying to say that for me I can't afford the cost to make convention an every year thing. I would correct that the SF/F Cons are like trade shows. They are not; con committees seek out and pay to have guests come. I have worked on a number that have pulled in major talents in their field - authors and artist - who dp do long workshops with new talent and they DO charge fees for their time. The convention pays all their cost plus a stipend. However, the costs were often covered by sponsorship that the conventions were able to get - ie all the advertisers. I've never worked with a talent who was brought in by a company. We booked them and found the money to pay them. IOLI does not have sponsors so I understand that the costs must be passed on. That is the reality - lace isn't as big a world as comics/fantasy. But the reality also is that many who would like to attend (even locals) just can't when it's $500+ before even taking in travel/lodging cost. *shrug* thems the breaks. Robin -- Never, ever, let anyone tell you what you can and can't do. Prove the cynics wrong. Pity them for they have no imagination. The sky's the limit. *Your* sky. *Your *limit. Now, let's dance. *~Tom Hiddleston* - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention
Thanks to Bronwen for explaining the other cons. They may be as apples to oranges, but people actually are comparing the cost of a Comic Con to our convention. The previous poster is not the first that I have heard express this thought. As John points out, the attendance at such an event is much greater. A reading or panel discussion can be done in front of an auditorium full of people. A bobbin lace class with a hundred people would be a problem. I wonder if we are failing to properly describe our conventions. We rarely include the information about the short presentations in our registration materials. I realized in my previous post that I had forgotten to mention that meals like the Sunday dinner may seem to be an avoidable expenditure, but they provide an opportunity to run through changes in the schedule, various hotel policies and other announcements with hopefully the entire group present. People who are planning to miss the meals covered in the registration may find they have missed important information. I recall at the Colorado convention they kept re-iterating the need to drink lots of water and remain hydrated. I think they achieved their goal of not having a single person pass out due to altitude adjustment problems. Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention
So, as luck would have it, while thinking about this, I found a reference to a QuiltCon that will be happening soon, while I was reading my feed on Facebook. http://www.quiltcon.com/conference/pricing-policies-and-rules/ Here is how they seem to have worked out paying the instructors as well as keeping the Con affordable for those who don't have a lot of money: *Admission Costs*: Lecture pass: grants admission to the lecture hall Show pass: grants admission to the vender hall and quilt show Workshops: purchased a la carte * Lecture Passes:* - Four-Day Lecture Pass $199 includes a four-day show pass - Thursday, February 21 Lecture Pass $50 includes a day show pass - Friday, February 22 Lecture Pass $90 includes a day show pass - Saturday, February 23 Lecture Pass $90 includes a day show pass - Sunday, February 24 Lecture Pass $50 includes a day show pass *Workshops:* - Full-day Workshop $150 includes a day show pass - Half-day Workshop $75 includes a day show pass *Show Passes:* - Four-day Show Pass $30 - Day Show Pass $10 *Spend $179 or more and get a free 4-day show pass.* *Spend $399 or more and get a free 4-day show pass and a goodie bag.* I don't know how well this works, but it does go along with the Tier levels I mentioned some SciFi Cons doing in a different email. As an art convention, this shows a way to be able to pay the teachers, while still making it semi-affordable for the person who can't raise $500 plus travel expenses, food, and lodging for a few days. Bronwen -- It is sometimes the most fragile things that have the power to endure and become sources of strength. - May Sarton - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention
Another thought: At the one and only convention I've attended, a highlight for me was the IOLI AGM. I really found the proceedings interesting. It might not be the most popular part of the entire convention, but isn't it a priority of the event? The options, especially classes, would make it more attractive to attend, if one had the means. On Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 11:01 AM, dmt11h...@aol.com wrote: I wonder if we are failing to properly describe our conventions. We rarely include the information about the short presentations in our registration materials. -- Bev in Shirley BC, near Sooke on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention-Quilt con
This is quite interesting, since it is a comparable group. I do note that they have sponsors including some sewing machine, thread and fabric companies. They are encouraged to extend their reach to this emerging market of quilters. Their Four Day lecture pass $199 (no goodie bag) is comparable in price to our basic registration of $190 for seven days which includes three meals, a convention bag, pin, and name tag as well as vendor access and access to all lectures and events. Their classes, none of which exceed one day in length cost $25 an hour, compared to $15 an hour for ours. Unlike our convention, you actually could attend lectures and panel discussions all day and forgo workshops. The price seems to be set so that going for one day of weekend lectures costs roughly half of what going for all four days costs. Like our convention the workshops are a la carte. If you took 12 hours of instruction it would cost $300 to our $180. Despite the sponsorship, in every case the per unit cost is greater at Quiltcon. The difference seems to be the divisibility of the experience. You could go for one day and attend lectures all day for $90. You could book a full day (6 hour) workshop for $150, which would include a day pass to the vendors. (It is not clear whether there would be any additional charge as a registration.) At our convention, as Karen points out, you have to stay for 5 days to complete a single 12 hour class. Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] membership
Where do I write to get renewal on my membership. I have let it lapse for a long time and want to renew it. How much is it now days and do they accept Pay Pal? Wind To Thy Wings, Sherry celticdreamwe...@yahoo.com http://celticdreamweaver.com/ http://celticdreamweave.blogspot.com/ Nata 616 - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] membership
Dear Sherry Assuming that you are referring to IOLI membership, the information is here: http://www.internationalorganizationoflace.org/membership.html Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] cpmferemce -many classes
Someone questioned how a person could attend many classes at a conference. I used to belong to a sewing organization that held an annual seminar for half a week. Most of the classes were 3 hours long so people could go to two a day. The main point to consider is that these classes taught a single technique each. 3 hours was long enough to present it, practice, and move on. Our lace making techniques/styles take much longer. Yes...some things can be presented in one-two-three hours, and these short classes are available the day before the main classes, on the break day in the middle of the week, and the day after the main classes end. Some people can only come one day, so may register just for that one day and take part in the special short classes. As mentioned, taking a weekly class is most ideal for learning and practicing the lace techniques. Most of us are not near such classes. Taking a concentrated course in one week is the next best way. For many people, these conferences or a book are the only options for learning a new lace style. If you want a live teacher, these conferences or workshops or retreats may be the only option. If you belong to a group, you might import a teacher for a local class for a weekend, and split the costs. It could be close to the IOLI price for a 12 hour class, but without the hotel and the rest of the fees. Commercial hotels are expensive. Schools usually are less expensive but have less luxurious rooms and facilities. Many schools can readily hold only a smaller size group than IOLI often has. Watch for smaller retreats/workshops for less expensive opportunities. It's an interesting experience to attend at least one big conference, though. I wish our economy made it easier for people to attend them. Alice in Oregon ... where the sun finally came out but the wind is still chilly. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] needlelace
Catherine Your point de gaze parasol is spectacular! I greatly enjoyed see the stages of working. Thanks, Liz, for telling us about this. http://www.catherinebarley.com/186037417 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. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] IOLI convention
campground: mosquitoes, thunderstorms, tornados, 105 degree F heatwave... 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. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] RE: IOLI Convention
Meant to send this to the group but my computer was not co-operating so I am sending it again: ? I thing what everyone is ignoring here is that for those of us in the US, or others near by, is the distance issue. As travel becomes more expensive it is just not easy for someone to pick up and travel long distances. For me to go to the convention this year would mean traveling almost two thousand miles with all of its expenses before I even figure in the hotel and convention costs. Maybe what we need here is to split the convention into two conventions. With one for the eastern side and one for the western side you could rotate classes and vendors every other year so everyone has a chance to attend more often. They would end up being smaller conventions maybe but that might make it easier also. My other problem with the convention is the timing. For those of us (admittedly not many) with children still in school it does present a problem of timing. As our schools begin earlier and earlier, with the sports teams starting even earlier, it makes it impossible to attend. Younger lacemakers do have to take such things into consideration when planning to attend a lace event. If you want to attact new, younger lacemakers you need to consider this. Any high school/college age lacemaker would most likely not be able to attend if they could afford it due to timing restrains from school. Everyone wants to attract the new lacemakers so they can carry on the art but most of your accomidations are centered on the older lace makers. How about we do both when planning the next convention? Both groups could learn from each other. Amber Forest, VA - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
RE: [lace] conference - many classes
Hi from Australia. Our conference runs 2 or 4 day classes with Wednesday being a day of rest or practice or time to explore the local environment. One can take 2 x 2 day classes or a 4 day class all week. In addition we offer short 2 hour classes at night which teach a small project or technique. Perhaps our smaller numbers in Australia are an asset in that it allows us to use schools for accommodation. Mostly our smaller numbers are our difficulty. Interesting comparisons. Our current school accommodation is quite comfortable and modern, with heating, secure and lockable rooms, well lit, elevators, warm carpeting, group sitting rooms, group kitchens for tea, coffee, and refrigerators and ensuite bathrooms and we feel very spoilt the way they look after us. Annette, in Wollongong Australia -Original Message- From: owner-l...@arachne.com [mailto:owner-l...@arachne.com] On Behalf Of lacel...@frontier.com Sent: Tuesday, 23 April 2013 5:55 AM Someone questioned how a person could attend many classes at a conference. I used to belong to a sewing organization that held an annual seminar for half a week. Most of the classes were 3 hours long so people could go to two a day. Commercial hotels are expensive. Schools usually are less expensive but have less luxurious rooms and facilities. Many schools can readily hold only a smaller size group than IOLI often has. Alice in Oregon ... where the sun finally came out but the wind is still chilly. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI convention
Doable with the right equipment. Never a tornado. Well, OK, a warning in Kansas, Dorothy's home, but we went into my cousin's house, then to her basement, which was what she did, too. Heatwave was over by the evening. Mosquitoes are nothing, even in Maine. Screened porch to the tent. Thunderstorms, yes, but I am no wimp, and the tent is waterproof. If it gets too bad, you can always sleep in the car. And, I have good equipment. 4 weeks camping in France seeing lace places in 2007. Solo. Wonderful. French wine or cider every evening, and a budget that enabled the 4 weeks. With rental car and daily restaurants. In France, when it got too cold, it was June, stayed in a hotel. No bedbugs, my own equipment. Coffee made my way. Breakfast the way I want it. Money for books, or restaurant. No stale air from no ventilation. No need for air conditioning. By day, busy at IOLI Convention, peace and quiet after dinner. OK, not enough light to make lace far into the night. Always a comfortable bed, as I bring my own. Money for books. Yes, the bathroom is shared, but they're clean. Works for me. Works for others, but certainly not for all. I am NOT suggesting Lace Days at the campground. lrb -Original Message- From: Lorelei Halley Sent: Monday, April 22, 2013 4:44 PM To: lace@arachne.com Subject: [lace] IOLI convention campground: mosquitoes, thunderstorms, tornados, 105 degree F heatwave... 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. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/ - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI convention
Lyn I'm all for camping. My family did it when I was a teenager, and I enjoyed it. But camping and lacemaking out of doors sounds like a really bad idea. You may hit a 5 day stretch of good weather. But I spent about 8 years doing outdoor craft shows every summer. When bad weather hits you have a disaster of major proportions. It is not physical discomfort to the person at issue. It is destruction to one's equipment caused by wind which is the worst. Or rain soaking into the pillow. Or a thunderstorm so intense that the tent pegs come loose from the ground and the whole tent or canopy collapses, with attendant damage to books, pillow, prickings, metal tools which get wet and rust. This happened to the family tent one year. We spent the night in the car. Bad weather was due to continue. So we left. At home, drying out the tent and all the sleeping mats and such was a nightmare because summers are so humid. At the craft show high winds took the entire canopy down. At another, heavy rain leaked inside my glass display cases and ruined the velvet pads. 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. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] IOLI Conventions
The main purpose for holding a convention by IOLI is to have the Annual Meeting which is required in our byelaws. If everyone present at the convention decided to skip it, we may not have a quorum for any votes that are needed as it is based on a percentage of convention attendees being present. The classes are what we all go for, along with the vendor room, anything else is cream on top. Cruises have been considered but for everyone that would love a lace cruise, there is someone who would not like to be on the water. I would love to give it a try. I know we looked into using a college in 2008 but there was nothing with accessibility to an airport, and long walks between bedrooms and classrooms. Devon did a nice comparison of costs. Recently I was considering taking craft classes in the summer locally, but the teaching fee was $120 for two hours, plus a high kit cost, so I decided I did not need to learn another craft. One other thing to bear in mind when you stay somewhere other than the convention hotel is that the use of the hotel meeting rooms are usually tied into a set number of bedrooms booked and it can be worrying when planning a convention that you might not meet the minimum room numbers and face a penalty. That has happened at some past IOLI conventions causing them to make a loss. IOLI conventions try to break even, not gouge the attendees to make a profit. I know it worried me when I signed the hotel contract in 2008 and faced a $20,000 penalty on my credit card if we did not meet the goals set by the hotel. This year is the first of a co-hosting situation with IOLI carrying the worry. Janice Janice Blair Crystal Lake, 50 miles northwest of Chicago, Illinois, USA www.jblace.com http://www.lacemakersofillinois.org - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] RE: IOLI Convention
Amber wrote: I thing what everyone is ignoring here is that for those of us in the US, or others near by, is the distance issue. ... Maybe what we need here is to split the convention into two conventions. . My other problem with the convention is the timing. For those of us (admittedly not many) with children still in school it does present a problem of timing. If you want to attract new, younger lacemakers you need to consider this. Any high school/college age lacemaker would most likely not be able to attend if they could afford it due to timing restrains from school. Everyone wants to attract the new lacemakers so they can carry on the art but most of your accommodations are centered on the older lace makers. How about we do both when planning the next convention? Both groups could learn from each other. Dear Amber, et al, I don't think there are that many people who attend IOLI every year. The convention travels around the country, depending on the lace group presenting it. I suspect, although I have no evidence, that those on either coast have more attendance because they are closer to more people, who would be more likely to come, but wherever it is, it draws the 'local' people. Would late July work better? It may be that moving the date a bit in the summer would entice some who don't come to IOLI. One nice thing is that there is little complaint about the cost of the teachers. They work very hard for not a whole lot of money. Thank you teachers, you are a dedicated bunch, much more interested in passing on your knowledge than making money. At issue is the cost of the other aspects of the IOLI convention. It would be very interesting to see if a change in venue, perhaps to a school, would result in more or different people coming. Expensive conventions have had classes in bedrooms. Even fancy hotel food will not please everyone. Reduce the cost, and people have said they would be more likely to come. What criteria can be dispensed with in order to reduce the price, and will this reduction increase attendance? No one has the answer yet. Let us always remember that nothing that is done will please everyone. Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA where I want spring to warm up. My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI convention
Dear Lorelei, We got our wires crossed. I was referring to camping for accommodation, not for the full convention. Under no circumstances do I think the IOLI convention should be held out doors. Too much could go wrong. Fine for some for accomodation, not fine for any other aspect of IOLI. While I highly doubt that the very few who would camp would affect the break even point of the convention, roomwise, it might enable some to actually attend, because the cost would make the thing more doable. I mention it as an alternative, not as the main method of accommodation. I am presently planning on camping near the Maryland Sheep and Wool because I am taking a class on Friday, the day before the main event, making a 3 hour trip each way impossible. It's the first weekend in May, putting it in Camping Season, and so I have reservations in a state park where evidently a number of other attendees will be. On the other hand, I cannot convince anyone else I know, with the possible exception of DD to join me. And as far as I know I do not snore. Go figure. lrb Lorelei wrote: But I spent about 8 years doing outdoor craft shows every summer. When bad weather hits you have a disaster of major proportions. It is not physical discomfort to the person at issue. It is destruction to one's equipment caused by wind which is the worst. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] RE: IOLI Convention
I'm not familiar with how IOLI rotates the annual conference. In the science fiction fan community, Worldcon rotates between East Coast/Midwest/West Coast, with bids from elsewhere in the world acceptable at any time; Canada being considered part and parcel for the standard rotation. Anyway, every three years Worldcon will be at least theoretically close by, for certain values of close by [West Coast tends to be in southern California, or so it seems, definitely not in OR/WA/BC]. Next level down, at least for my part of the country, is Westercon, which perambulates around the West Coast, and has made it to Seattle, Portland, and other parts North, as well as Reno, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. I've been to one worldcon, I was working in Chicago when it was last held there, I've been to several Westercons, because they happened in Portland while I was living there. I guess what I'm wondering is if IOLI has any type of regional rotation on where the convention occurs? I gather it's happened in Portland, OR, so it can be hosted by upper mid-sized cities. Are there areas that just will never have a chance to see IOLI unless they travel mega miles? I'd guess the upper mountain states are on their own, but is Minneapolis possible? Calgary? Of course, this presumes a lace presence in the area, unless a group formed which was willing to organize from afar, which has happened in the science fiction community. How bad is it, in regard to certain areas never being within daytrip range of IOLI? What is the average attendance? I'm hearing the figures of 12 and 24 hours for classes, which I'm presuming are spread out over several days, because I'm not up to 12 hour days any longer, and I'm only 52, so how many hours/day are we looking at? Do people sign up for multiple classes, or just one? And are there smaller, regional conventions? What's the break even point, in regard to attendance staying at the venue? And the accessibility needs? I guess, what are the differences from the SF fan conventions I attended for many years, and also the SCA things I've been involved with, although the latter aren't good comparisons, although more of them are happening in hotels these days as certain events just get so big. Yours, John Mead Tacoma, WA, but formerly Portland, OR, and Chicago, IL - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Sticky backed roll
I buy the sticky backed plastic in a roll of about 1 metre long in the supermarket - in with the pens paper section. School kids use it, and there is usually a selection of colours to choose from. I like the jade green colour best, - softer for the old eyes!, but I also have some blue here. No fluorescent colours, though! They would be terrible to work on!!! I sometimes get it in the newsagents, too. Regards from Liz in Melbourne, Oz. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] IOLI Convention- answers for John
- Original Message - From: John Mead johnbobm...@gmail.com I guess what I'm wondering is if IOLI has any type of regional rotation on where the convention occurs? ... Are there areas that just will never have a chance to see IOLI unless they travel mega miles? I'd guess the upper mountain states are on their own, but is Minneapolis possible?... How bad is it, in regard to certain areas never being within daytrip range of IOLI? What is the average attendance? I'm hearing the figures of 12 and 24 hours for classes, which I'm presuming are spread out over several days, because I'm not up to 12 hour days any longer, and I'm only 52, so how many hours/day are we looking at? Do people sign up for multiple classes, or just one? And are there smaller, regional conventions? What's the break even point, in regard to attendance staying at the venue? And the accessibility needs?. -- IOLI depends on a group hosting the conference... finding a location, planning the activities and classes, etc. Groups that wish to host apply to the board or a conference committee (I forget which). The board(?) then selects the location. They like to vary the area from north to south, east to west to middle, etc, but are limited on which groups are applying. They do a fairly good job of rotating the areas within this limitation. Occasionally two years in a row are on the same coast but not often. Los Angeles was 2009, Portland was 2010, Minneapolis 2011, somewhere on the far East coast in 2012, and Salt Lake City this year. Next year is Sacramento. I would guess that 2015 will be on the east side of the USA but I don't think it's been announced. Areas that don't have an active group will not see a conference in their city so there could be lacemakers who always have to travel a distance to attend. In the past, there have been conferences in San Diego, Puerto Rico, Calgary, Costa Mesa. Seattle, Tulsa, Denver, Chicago you can see that they are spread all over. As I mentioned before, attendance varies from 125 to 300. It's hard to predict. Classes are usually Mon, Tue, Thur Fri either 3 hours or 6 hours each day. Wednesday is usually a rest day from class trips, shopping, special short classes, lectures, etc. Sometimes a particularly difficult class series will go all 5 days of the week for 30 hours of class. A person can choose how many hours a day they want to spend in class. I usually suggest to lesser experienced lacemakers to take only one class and spend the other half day making progress on their lace. If they really want to take two different classes, make them very different... like one bobbin lace and one tatting or knitting or lace finishing. Yes, there are regional conferences at times. There's a yearly on in New York in early October, I think. Clay has sponsored the Sweet Briar Retreat week in Virginia for several years now. (I got to go twice.) The Northwest groups have a regional conference every five years or so... whenever one of the groups decides to host one. (Next one is in 2015.) Costa Mesa has a February Winter Retreat (been there twice, also). I read about retreats by the Heartland Lace Guild, and sometimes other groups. A group just has to decide to do one, book a location and a teacher... and go for it. Usually at the regional and smaller retreats, a person takes only one class and spends 6+ hours a day on it. The break-even point on a conference can vary with the venue. A teacher is needed for each 10-12 students. A small workshop of 40 people would have 4 teachers. A large conference of 300 would need about 28 teachers. Teachers have to be booked for the maximum students possible, and then reduce the number of teachers to reflect the actual attendance. The teacher's contract reflects this possibility, and the teachers don't buy their plane tickets until their class has been assured. Generally the classes will pay for themselves. The student fees will cover the teacher expenses. The snag with large hotels is the guaranteed minimum fee they charge to reserve the tentative needed rooms. The hotel contract usually needs signing by January, but the reservations don't come in until February. It can be really scary for the person whose credit card was used... but now IOLI itself assures that fee, so the host group is not facing the debt if attendance is low. Hotels often have a required number of bedrooms to be rented to let the group have meeting rooms at low or no cost. If the number of people staying at the hotel falls below that minimum, then classroom rental fees may be in effect. If a large proportion of attendees stay somewhere else, it can really affect the cost to the host group. That's why you often see an extra fee for a non-resident attendee. A similar thing is often true about the food service catered to the group. Hotels may require a
[lace] Conventions
Here in Australia, we have a set up somewhat similar to the IOLI convention - though a lot smaller! However one big difference is that the 12 hour classes are held on 2 full days - not 4 half days. This means that people can go for a shorter time and get in their whole 2 day class without the expense of a full week. Ie - Monday and Tuesday, or Thursday and Friday, - in stead of Monday, Tuesday,. Thursday and Friday mornings or afternoons. We, too, have Wednesday off for tours, sightseeing, or whatever you choose. This might be something to think about another time, - some people could perhaps, manage half a week at Convention, and the Aussie way would give them a full 2 day class. Regards from Liz in Melbourne, Oz. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] IOLI Convention (Karen's questions)
Karen Thompson karenhthomp...@gmail.com wrote: Should the tour day be kept in the middle of the week where it requires extra nights and meals whether you want to participate in a tour or not? Many of us use Wednesday to catch up on 'homework' so we're ready to go farther at the next day's classes. Recent conventions have also had Wednesday mini-classes that are fun and interesting. This gives us a break from our other classes and provides four options (tours, mini- classes, homework, or just relaxing) for attendees. Robin P. Los Angeles, California, USA robinl...@socal.rr.com Parvum leve mentes capiunt (Little things amuse little minds) - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
