[lace] Lace in Monica Ferris books
I've just finished reading 'Blackwork' and will pass it on to Eve Morton to read. When she's finished with it, I've decided to send them all to Alex Stillwell, which will pass them on to her lace friends to read as well. I disagree with Lori and think they do need to be read in order because the characters develop from book to book. The lace content in 'Blackwork' refers to a mantilla or scarf for an older woman to wear at her wedding. Described as a gossamer thing of pale ecru, fifteen inches wide and almost fifty inches long. It was made in inch-and-a-half-wide stripes, with tiny hearts in the central band that ran the length of the thing. It was made of ten lengths. I can't actually picture it in my mind, probably because, from that description, it could be any type of lace and would look totally different if made in say torchon than Bucks Point. 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
Re: [lace] Lace in Monica Ferris books
It is not uncommon to read descriptions of handmade droschel mesh which mention that it is made in strips that are one and a half inches wide. We have some pieces in the museum that are like this, but very few. It was being done at about the beginning of the 19th century when machine mesh was becoming quite common. I think the droshel was a labor intensive alternative that was suitable for royal commissions. Can I picture a mantilla or scarf of Monica Ferris's description made with droschel strips? No, I cannot. But I suspect that she read that description somewhere and decided to incorporate it. I have read only one Monica Ferris book. I seem to recall that it involved a lacemaker putting a signature butterfly in all her pieces. This seemed to me that it would be technically much more difficult than was implied in the book. It was my conclusion that Monica Ferris is only superficially knowledgeable about lacemaking. I think Monica Ferris's field of expertise is mystery writing, not lacemaking. I don't think I would spend a lot of time trying to figure out what the lace looks like in her books, since I think that she doesn't really have the same depth of knowledge of lacemaking that the people on this list do. But, perhaps people who have read all of her books would disagree. Do you find that the lace details ring true in Monica Ferris's books? Devon In a message dated 1/1/2011 4:23:17 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, j...@nathan54.freeserve.co.uk writes: I've just finished reading 'Blackwork' and will pass it on to Eve Morton to read. When she's finished with it, I've decided to send them all to Alex Stillwell, which will pass them on to her lace friends to read as well. I disagree with Lori and think they do need to be read in order because the characters develop from book to book. The lace content in 'Blackwork' refers to a mantilla or scarf for an older woman to wear at her wedding. Described as a gossamer thing of pale ecru, fifteen inches wide and almost fifty inches long. It was made in inch-and-a-half-wide stripes, with tiny hearts in the central band that ran the length of the thing. It was made of ten lengths. I can't actually picture it in my mind, probably because, from that description, it could be any type of lace and would look totally different if made in say torchon than Bucks Point. 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 - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] Lace in Monica Ferris books
I agree with you, Devon. The butterfly 'signature' struck me as so improbable as to be impossible. I think she likes the idea of using lace as part of her needlework 'theme' but has never even observed it being made. Having said that, I enjoy her books as they are good light reading. Patricia in Wales _scotl...@aol.com_ (mailto:scotl...@aol.com) - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] Lace in Monica Ferris books
No, I don't think the mentions of lace in her book ring true. I do, however, get the impression that she is very knowledgeable about needlepoint--yarns, canvases, techniques, etc. Nancy wishing a safe, prosperous, and very happy 2011 to all fellow lace enthusiasts! From: dmt11h...@aol.com dmt11h...@aol.com To: lace@arachne.com Sent: Sat, January 1, 2011 8:27:05 AM Subject: Re: [lace] Lace in Monica Ferris books ... But, perhaps people who have read all of her books would disagree. Do you find that the lace details ring true in Monica Ferris's books? 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
Re: [lace] Lace in Monica Ferris books
Actually, quite a few years ago when she had only published three of four of her books, I wrote to her and encouraged her to do something with bobbin lace. She replied that she needed to learn more about making bobbin lace before she attempted that, but was very interested. She had learned about a lace day somewhere, and was planning to go to that. Now that I mention this, I can't remember how on earth I found her via email! Maybe she had an email address in one of her books? So, evidently, she learned enough to write her book, but did not get into depth. Still, I enjoyed her books for a long time. One year, my collection of paper-back copies of her books was a raffle item at Lace at Sweet Briar, and if I remember correctly, there were quite a few tickets purchased for that collection! Clay On 1/1/2011 9:42 AM, Nancy Neff wrote: No, I don't think the mentions of lace in her book ring true. I do, however, get the impression that she is very knowledgeable about needlepoint--yarns, canvases, techniques, etc. Nancy wishing a safe, prosperous, and very happy 2011 to all fellow lace enthusiasts! From: dmt11h...@aol.comdmt11h...@aol.com To: lace@arachne.com Sent: Sat, January 1, 2011 8:27:05 AM Subject: Re: [lace] Lace in Monica Ferris books ... But, perhaps people who have read all of her books would disagree. Do you find that the lace details ring true in Monica Ferris's books? 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 - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] Lace in Monica Ferris books
I agree that when I read the book with the lace hankie in it, I hard a hard time imagining how to sign your lace with a symbol. Maybe it has been done before in some types of lace. I also heard of her interest in lace and emailed Monica to offer a table at the Rockford convention in 2008 where she could sign her books. In my lace group we often pass them around after reading them. I did not hear back from her, but maybe the Minnesota group who are hosting the 2012 convention could contact her as she lives in Minnesota. Maybe she would like to take a beginning course so that she has the basics before she writes another one including lace in the theme. :-) Lace content. I have spent the day working on lace designs for future pieces on my laptop, and hit Saved when I should have renamed the design. Fortunately, what was lost can easily be restored as I printed out my design before making the changes. Happy New Year to everyone. Janice Clay wrote: Actually, quite a few years ago when she had only published three of four of her books, I wrote to her and encouraged her to do something with bobbin lace. She replied that she needed to learn more about making bobbin lace before she attempted that, but was very interested. She had learned about a lace day somewhere, and was planning to go to that. Now that I mention this, I can't remember how on earth I found her via email! Maybe she had an email address in one of her books? 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
Re: [lace] Lace in Monica Ferris books
Hi All, I have read all the MF books but I can't remember the exact specifics about this hankie. However, Hallas Needle lace often has a fish in the pattern so a motif could be used to sign a piece of NL. Monica Ferris is now on my hardback purchasing list (I'm a member of Barnes Noble and wait for a coupon before I order) Anyway, I have Buttons and Bows and am looking forward to a good read when the holiday distractions are past! Jane in Vermont, USA jvik...@sover.net Janice wrote: I agree that when I read the book with the lace hankie in it, I hard a hard time imagining how to sign your lace with a symbol. Maybe it has been done before in some types of lace. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
Re: [lace] Lace in Monica Ferris books
Even better - my local library subscribes to various downloadable audiobooks, so I can listen to the Monica Ferris books and make lace at the same time (and all for free!) Sue - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com
