Re: [lace] Teachers or no Teachers
I have to agree with Adele. There are so many factors that there is not a blanket answer. I will say that being around other people, teachers or not, seems to be helpful in a way that books and computers can not replicate. However, the ability to do things in chat rooms and the widespread use of video is changing things. I wonder how it will look 100 years from now? The fact that you are asking this question makes me wonder if anyone has suggested or made you feel "less than" because you are "self taught" or have "just learned from books?" I would say that, for the majority of people, having a helping hand to get started on the right foot is beneficial. I underscore the word most, because it isn't all. I talk to a lot of people from around the country and different parts of the world, and one thing I have heard repeatedly from people who "used to make lace" or "tried to do it" or were "turned off by it" is that bobbin lace makers are quite snooty. This could be good in the sense of us all striving to make the best lace we possibly can...but the context in which it comes up is not positive. I know SO many truly wonderful people who make bobbin lace that the first few times I heard it I dismissed it. It has come up too frequently to ignore, though, and I think that I can "see" the point of view they are coming from now. Anytime we look down on one another, this happens. Whether this is a tendency of bobbin lace makers or women in general is a whole other debate. But, I mention this because if we really want our art to survive, we need to embrace people learning. If you can learn from a book or from videos and you have the discipline to do it, then more power to you! Kim On Sat, Nov 24, 2018 at 3:41 PM Adele Shaak wrote: > Your lace may very well be as good as, or even better than, lace made by > someone who has had a teacher. Or not. > > Some people can have the best teachers and still produce bad lace. Some > donât tension well. Some have short attention spans. Some people canât see > as well as they think they can. Many people arenât good at comparing what > theyâre making with the examples theyâre shown. > > There are so many factors at work - are you conscientious, do you take > care to make your lace look like whatâs in the book, do you read > attentively and how well do you understand what youâve read, how well do > you follow the instructions, do you take the trouble to find thread the > right size for the pricking. > > Having a teacher means you get set up nicely with well-matched thread and > pricking and any mistakes or bad habits are pointed out to you. The secrets > a teacher passes on - well, theyâre not really secrets, just lace lore, and > what gets passed on depends on the teacher, the time available, and the > questions that are asked. A lot of learning stems from the other students > in the class - somebody might ask if they can substitute 100/3 for 60/2, > and the teacher might use the situation to talk about thread sizes and > things to think about when switching threads, or the teacher might just > answer yes or no. > > Each teacher has different strengths and weaknesses that may or may not be > a good fit for you. So you canât know for sure that youâd make better lace > if you had a teacher. And if you did have a teacher, you might learn better > from a different one. > > I guess what I want to say is that in-person instruction is a good way to > learn, but in-person instruction from several different teachers is even > better, and one person working off the grid in a cabin in the woods with > the single worst instruction book ever printed may still learn to make good > quality lace. > > Just my 2 cents. > > Adele > West Vancouver, BC > (west coast of Canada) > > > On Nov 24, 2018, at 2:53 PM, Ann Humphreys > wrote: > > > > Iâve never had a lace teacher. Iâve learned from books and videos. > > Will my lace not be as good as those who have had teachers. What are the > secrets that lace teachers pass onto their pupils? > > Just curious. > > Ann > > - > 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/
[lace] Lace Digest
Here is my two bits to help create a digest for you. I have been fairly quiet this year with lots of computer problems so haven't been writing much. I was busy with lace for much part of the year. I finished the 3-year Miss Channer's Mat project, and got a 1st at state fair. I also finished a 2-year project of a headpiece/lappet from the OIDFA book of Herrmansburg lappets. It got Best in Class at state fair, beating out the Mat by one point. Then I started, and finished, another lappet from the same book -- one of the easiest. It only took 2-3 months. In the spring I had three students, then added another during the summer. They are keeping me a bit busy, also. At the same time, I decided I needed to do something about my house. I had a new ceiling put in my dining room, then painted the dining and living rooms. A new carpet was installed. Sheetrock was put on the unfinished landing at the top of the spiral stairs, and a new door installed to the attic. The contractor also put in three new outside doors, some of which are still waiting for paint. The summer was so hot that I stayed in most of the time. I guess that's why so much lace got done so fast. The summer was topped off by a trip to Rome and Tuscany -- just a week's commercial tour. It was interesting but I would have like to have spent a bit more time in some places. The holiday season was celebrated early with a new car. It's a Nissan Kicks, with all the new safety features. I'm really enjoying driving it. There are two lace projects in the middle of the living room that I should go work on. And a lace pattern to design for a lamp shade that I want to make next spring. I would like to make some Temari Balls for Christmas. There's always something to work on. And so many patterns waiting for me! Have a very Lacy Holiday Season!Alice in Oregon-- where the weather has turned cool and damp. - 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] Professional or not.
Firstly, before I ask my curly question â I am SO pleased to hear your wonderful âLace, not Laceâ is going so well, Devon. You have put so much into it, and I am thrilled for you that it is such a success. Now â the IOLI competition has classes for 2 groups of people â Teachers, and Non- Teachers. I have been a Teacher in Bobbin Lace and Needlelace â only. I am a Learner in Tatting and have never taught that craft. So â do I enter a piece in the Non Teacher class, - or would Tatting be classed as âLaceâ and I am therefore put in the Teacher class? I have written to the competition convenor, but not had a reply yet. I asked a few people at our Lace Day yesterday, in Melbourne , just for curiosity, but no-one had a clear answer. Most thought I would be classed as a Non- teacher, though. My thought , at the moment, is to do an âOwn Designâ, and then they can put it in either section, as the Teacher class must be an Own Design, and the Non- teachers have 2 classes to chose from â Own design, or someone elseâs design!! But it is an interesting question â if you teach one type of lace . â does that class you as a Teacher for all Laces? Regards from Liz. 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] Teachers or no Teachers
in my opinion, your creativity is going to be the same whether you read how to do it or have someone tell you how to do it. i have had few teachers (but excellent ones) for lacing and just muddle thru. i believe videos are the same as teachers as they are just as varied as the teachers themselves in their own perspectives. but i am not a purist nor do i tackle all the different lace techniques. i make and enjoy the sense of accomplishment. should my work not be perfect or technically traditional, so be it. it is the pleasure i achieve from just enjoying the effort. i am sure your masterpieces are awesome. just enjoy and take any opportunity that presents itself to you that you are able to do for your own growth in the manner that you feel works best for you. thanks for the opportunity to step up to the soap box. Hugs, Lin and the Mali [image: http://www.amazing-animations.com/animations/goodmorning15.gif] It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble, It's what you know for sure that just ain't so. ~~Mark Twain On Sat, Nov 24, 2018 at 2:56 PM Ann Humphreys wrote: > Iâve never had a lace teacher. Iâve learned from books and videos. > Will my lace not be as good as those who have had teachers. What are the > secrets that lace teachers pass onto their pupils? > Just curious. > Ann > 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/ > - 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] Teachers or no Teachers
Your lace may very well be as good as, or even better than, lace made by someone who has had a teacher. Or not. Some people can have the best teachers and still produce bad lace. Some don’t tension well. Some have short attention spans. Some people can’t see as well as they think they can. Many people aren’t good at comparing what they’re making with the examples they’re shown. There are so many factors at work - are you conscientious, do you take care to make your lace look like what’s in the book, do you read attentively and how well do you understand what you’ve read, how well do you follow the instructions, do you take the trouble to find thread the right size for the pricking. Having a teacher means you get set up nicely with well-matched thread and pricking and any mistakes or bad habits are pointed out to you. The secrets a teacher passes on - well, they’re not really secrets, just lace lore, and what gets passed on depends on the teacher, the time available, and the questions that are asked. A lot of learning stems from the other students in the class - somebody might ask if they can substitute 100/3 for 60/2, and the teacher might use the situation to talk about thread sizes and things to think about when switching threads, or the teacher might just answer yes or no. Each teacher has different strengths and weaknesses that may or may not be a good fit for you. So you can’t know for sure that you’d make better lace if you had a teacher. And if you did have a teacher, you might learn better from a different one. I guess what I want to say is that in-person instruction is a good way to learn, but in-person instruction from several different teachers is even better, and one person working off the grid in a cabin in the woods with the single worst instruction book ever printed may still learn to make good quality lace. Just my 2 cents. Adele West Vancouver, BC (west coast of Canada) > On Nov 24, 2018, at 2:53 PM, Ann Humphreys wrote: > > I’ve never had a lace teacher. I’ve learned from books and videos. > Will my lace not be as good as those who have had teachers. What are the > secrets that lace teachers pass onto their pupils? > Just curious. > Ann - 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] Teachers or no Teachers
I discovered bobbin lace and began to learn in 1980, but life got in the way. I learned 3 times, the last time in 1999. I didn't take a class until 2004. I live in the US, so it is basically unheard of to have weekly lace lessons. You take a class for 2-3-4 days at a time, then go home and build on it. I depend on my lace group, which meets once a month, for help with problems, or to help others with problems. The advantage of taking classes is what information the teachers drop in little bits and pieces. Books are great, but there are things I have learned which I've never seen in books. "Look at your lace, not at your hands." "Keep your bobbins even." And of course the ability to solve problems with an expert, and someone to look at your work and see things that should be improved that you haven't noticed. This sort of thing will naturally improve your lace, and this stuff is never in books. It's spread by word of mouth. PLUS, talking and being with other lacem! akers is always a wonderful experience. They understand. Lyn from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, where Thanksgiving is over, I didn't go shopping, and now it's time to prepare for Christmas. And it's pouring rain outside. "My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails." Ann wrote: > >I’ve never had a lace teacher. I’ve learned from books and videos. >Will my lace not be as good as those who have had teachers. What are the >secrets that lace teachers pass onto their pupils? >Just curious. >Ann >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/
[lace] Teachers or no Teachers
I’ve never had a lace teacher. I’ve learned from books and videos. Will my lace not be as good as those who have had teachers. What are the secrets that lace teachers pass onto their pupils? Just curious. Ann 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 Digest
Not doing much on the internet at the moment, I managed to complete all my Christmas lace pieces, then found I had missed 4 so got back into that and then sat trying out another piece but with beads in . I learned what I had done wrong with that one, putting all the beads on the tatting ball thread rather than most of them and some added with a crochet hook, so will try that one again later. I layed this piece of white tatting with gold beads down on a red tablecloth which showed contrast nicely and I husband liked it, asked who it was for and when I said nobody just a trial thing he said how nice it would look on clothing. So I just laid it up on the shoulder of my top and he loved it. He then laughed saying how well I had trained him over the years, lol.I bought some metallic crochet cotton to try out something to attach to our led church candles. The thread is difficult to work with so I have abandoned that for now. I am now taking a break from tatting and back to my bobbin lace pieces, completing a garter wanted for summer next year but I do hate leaving things to the last minute. I am pleased with this and now I can get back to making some more leaves to go with pink petals for a brooch pin which is a gift to a local friend. Yesterday I got stuck looking through old photos hunting for one for my sister and scanning lots of them for some projects I have decided on for during next year. I will probably start playing with them over the Christmas holiday period and winter weather time, those days when you cant or dont want to go outside. Fun to put together photos from down to years to music that fits the the person and their lives. I still have a copy of one we did for my parents. For you Janice, February is not so far away and you will have plenty of work to get you lace made before that. Sue T in Dorset where we have winter for 3 days and then warming up a bit for a few days as well. My spring bulbs are poking their noses out of the soil, so I hope they didnt get damaged during the recent hail storms and any snow/frost sneaking around at the moment. The last Lace Digest I received was dated November 7. Is the list just quiet because of the holiday here in the US, or are you all busy working on your lace.  I have just completed 12 stars in rings for my knitting group. Last year I made them my cat bookmark which they liked. I hope they like this ornament. It is an old design off my website that I have tidied up and put in silver rings. I have been working on a competition piece for the Winter Lace Conference next February in Costa Mesa, California.  I am looking forward to the conference as I missed the Freeway Lace Guild Lace Day and my September and October meetings at Silvergate Lacemakers in Rancho Sante Fe.  It seems ages since I saw my lace friends. The meeting next week at Silvergate will be a Christmas pot luck lunch and a gift exchange.  Last year there were lots of hedgehogs in the exchange in all shapes and forms. I wonder what we will see this year. Janice Blair Murrieta, CA, jblace.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/
