Re: [lace] Your story
I first saw pictures of lace being made in my father's encylopedia when I was 5 (yes, I was the swatty kid who sat and read the encylopedia at home - it's one of the reasons I have over 5000 books in my house). I really wanted to make lace because I was enthralled by the mathematically potential of the stuff but couldn't find anyone to teach me. Years later, when I worked for a major telecoms company there was an annual craft fair for our area of the company (yes we had a company craft fair - pretty impressive) and I was exhibiting some of my jewellery (I got first prize two years running!!) and there was a lady there demonstrating lace making. I asked if she taught and she told me that there was going to be a group started for the company and I could join. I was outside that telephone exchange on the first session waiting 20 minutes early and have never looked back. I think it's pretty sad that access to crafts was so limited when I was a child. There were adult education classess in lace making but you had to be over 12 to access them and if there was an over subscription of adults, kids under 18 were bumped off the course. I learnt to play classical guitar as a child and in order to complete my music examinations I had to join the adult education classes as my school didn't recognise the guitar as an instrument (I think that's a bit like Euro sceptics here who pretend the next thing after the english channel is america and africa (sorry bad UK joke)). One year there was a big surge in people wanting to learn the guitar so the powers that be told my mother I couldn't continue having lessons as I was only 13 and adults took prescident (they also paid more). My teacher informed the liberal arts college that I would be attending as people dropped out, didn't pay or were basically just untalented and she knew I'd stay all year. There were some moans about HS (number of people in the room) but she just ignored them and signed me up. 25 people at the start of the year in September, by the Xmas concert - 13. The college liked to shout about how many people had passed their exams at the end of the year and I remember being slapped on the back by one of the big wigs when I collected my certificate and being told how 'good I was' and as I went to open my mouth to say something about not being allowed on the course my father dragging me away with the words 'time and place'. I still get dragged away when I want to say something that's going to embarrash people ... not good the dragging away but good that I want to say it. Kind Regards Liz Baker thelace...@btinternet.com My chronicle of my bobbins can be found at my website: http://thelacebee.weebly.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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
Re: [lace] Your story
On 23/11/2011 21:14, Lora wrote: What is it about lace making that keeps you interested and how has that changed over the course of your learning? I first saw bobbin lace being made at Haddon Hall about 3 years ago. My daughter persuaded me to have a go and I was hooked. I loved the rhythm of moving the bobbins back and forth. I went to Knuston Hall to do a torchon course and have also attended the Edinburgh Lace Course, other than that, I've learned from books and the internet, with help from occasional meetings with lace making friends. It seems to be the process of making the lace that I love rather than the end product as, unless I'm making the lace for someone or something in particular, it goes into a drawer and is mostly forgotten about. I love the challenge of working out stitches that are new to me, and how to make a pattern work. I also enjoy spangling bobbins - putting together pleasing combinations of colours of beads. I think if it ever became easy I'd give up, but looking at all the wonderful pieces of lace here and at meetings, there are so many different types of lace that I'm never going to get to that stage. I do also like the idea of keeping alive a traditional craft. Lesley Marple, Cheshire 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
Re: [lace] Your story
Are you sure it's a 'health' and not a 'wealth' warning Jan??? LOL Sue in East Yorks On 26 Nov 2011, at 22:04, jan tregidgo wrote: Missenden Abbey ran three classes that weekend, (March 1980) led by Miss Dawson, Miss Miller and Margaret Tite. I was in Jean Millers class and she got me going.. I did bandage, little fan and even started sheep's head during the weekend... I was hooked and haven't stopped since! I warn all new lace makers that it needs a government health warning as it is 'very addictive.' Jan Tregidgo - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
Re: [lace] Your story
Hi all, I first saw lace being made as a 6 year old at a local wool shed market. I remember arguing with mum all the way home...I wanted to learn to do that but she argued it was only old people who did it and by the time I was old enough, there would be no one left to teach me. As far as I was concerned that was even more reason to teach me then! By chance, an Indonesian lesson in May 2006 led to an invite to the local lace meeting. Then I just wanted to learn all I could. Now I enjoy passing the craft on to others, children and adults alike! Every new piece of lace is interesting because I love the challenge of nutting out what is happening, and I am really enjoying a play with designing - despite the fact that there are still enough designs out there to last me a life time! I love Beds, Bucks and Torchon, but want to explore more Withof in the future. I will keep coming back because the more you learn, the more you know you don't know. Warm regards, Laura Forrester @++ laura_ros...@yahoo.com http://lauraslace.blogspot.com/ http://funkyglassbeads.blogspot.com What is it about lace making that keeps you interested and how has that changed over the course of your learning? What about you? What sparked your interest and what keeps you coming back? - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
Re: [lace] Your story
Hi Lora, I first saw bobbin lace being made by a woman demonstrating at a needlework (!) exhibition in Devon, UK, in 1987. I wish I knew who that lady was because I would thank her several times over: I watched mesmerized for 20-30 minutes. When she noticed that others had come and gone but I was rooted to the spot, she offered to let me try (on a real piece of lace, not a try it pillow!!). I remember it was in a cloth stitch area, and moving the bobbins felt like something I had done in a previous life. When I came back to the States I eventually found some demonstrators from New England Lace Guild and started myself with real equipment. (I had made a piece from a needlework (! again) book, using an insect pinning board for a pillow and long wood screws for bobbins--it certainly wasn't as aesthetically rewarded as using lovely bobbins on a regular pillow. The piece came out alright however--a heroic effort!) I like the simpler pieces because of rhythm and sound of the bobbins, and because, like you, it frees my mind (especially my subconscious) to deal with stuff that would make me frustrated if I was obsessing about it. The more difficult laces (especially for me Binche or Old Flanders) are complicated puzzles that result in a beautiful result, during which I am totally concentrated on the process and can take a vacation from real life. I make more samples than complete pieces because I like the process and am interested in the look of the sample. That said, I have two pillows with handkerchief edgings on them (UFOs) and have done yardage for insertions in clothing. Thank you for the interesting questions. And if anyone from the UK remembers demonstrating in Devon in 1987--unlikely I know, but I'd love to get in touch with you. Nancy Connecticut, USA From: Lora lorabutter...@btinternet.com To: Arachne Lace lace@arachne.com Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 4:14 PM Subject: [lace] Your story What about you? What sparked your interest and what keeps you coming back? Lora In a cold dark village in ayrshire What is it about lace making that keeps you interested and how has that changed over the course of your learning? - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
Re: [lace] Your story
- Original Message - What is it about lace making that keeps you interested and how has that changed over the course of your learning? I have always been interested in creative activities. My mother put fabric, needle and thread in my hands as a small child. She didn't care if all I did was cut it in pieces as I attempted to make doll clothes. In Brownie Scouts (age 7-8) I learned to embroider. Sometime around then my grandmother taught me to chain stitch crochet. (I think I was driving her nuts that day and she did it just to keep me occupied.) Over the years, I embroidered, crocheted, knitted, sewed with a machine, did woodworking, painted pictures, and did fancy freemotion sewing with my machine. I was over 50 when I saw bobbin lace demonstrated in the park at an Art Festival in the next town. I was intrigued but busy. I saw her again the next year and decided I had to find out more. At that time, a class was offered in the local fabric store so I took it. And haven't stopped since then. Bobbin lace caught my creative fancy. Watching a pattern come to life and grow is fascinating to me. It's both a pleasure and a challenge. There's a feeling of accomplishment and delight when I look at the result of my efforts. I like to show off what I've made but I think it's the making that's more important. I seldom wear my lace, though the scarves I've made recently get wore at times, or maybe a collar. I'm as likely to wear a piece of antique lace from my collection as my own lace. Lacemaking has expanded my life. I can work very happily by myself, in my home. DH got me a computer and insisted I Search on it. I typed in Bobbin Lace. and nothing's been the same since. I found Arachne, and a world of lace knowledge and friends. It took me to England in 1998 for the Arachne conference. And then to OIDFA in 2008. DH keeps telling me I should go to France for the Congress next year. I'm thinking on it. I have fun exploring the different varieties of lace. I currently have projects started in Binche, Flanders, Kortelahti, Tonder, Old Flemish, Guipure, and Hinojosa. They sit waiting as I do a series of pictures of lacemakers for OIDFA. I frequently do projects in Torchon or Bucks or Beds also. And the various tape laces get their turn. The lacemaker pictures have been mostly tape lace with some Torchon thrown in. There's so many facets to lacemaking that I don't believe I can try all of them in my remaining lifetime. The next IOLI conference has at least two lace classes that I'm not familiar with, and the OIDFA Congress has one I'd never heard of. I recently acquired an Italian bolster pillow that I'd like to learn to use. It would be fun to take on group demos. If/when I stop making lace, it will be because my eyes or fingers have given out, not that I've become bored with it. Alice in Oregon ... where my cat is screaming in my ear to feed him, so I'd better do so if I want any peace. - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
Re: [lace] Your story
I signed up for a class without knowing what I was getting into. I was hooked immediately. I am drawn to complexity and lace is certainly complex. I also love that lacemaking is so old and I believe that old skills need to continue in order that they don't just disappear. Nita in sunny Calgary during a chinook (a chinook is a warm wind that blows in during the cold months. It raises them temperature and melts the snow. Last week it was minus -25 C. and today is it 3) On 23-Nov-11, at 2:14 PM, Lora wrote: What is it about lace making that keeps you interested and how has that changed over the course of your learning? For me I first decided to take up lace after discovering that this beautiful fabric I admired could, and still is being made by hand. The process appealed aswell as the symbolism of weaving webs out of nothing more than plain ol' thread I originally wanted to make lace for myself to use, bookmarks, trims, handkerchiefs. But as time went on, it became a meditative process, no matter how many thoughts were racing through my head, questions and musings, sitting at the pillow allowed time to think and explore these thoughts without becoming distressed or confused when I tied myself up in knots (not to mention the threads, although getting them in knots was definatly frustrating! :-)) ) And I tend to keep very little lace for myself, deciding to start projects with a specific purpose in mind: a cravat to give as a gift, a fan to be auctioned off for charity, etc What about you? What sparked your interest and what keeps you coming back? Lora In a cold dark village in ayrshire - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003 - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
RE: [lace] Your story
Hi All, I came to lace through my interest in things Ecclesiastical - have my original receipt for joining the Australian Lace Guild, Nov 83, which was needed to do the original Correspondence Course. The text of the course has been revised, and revised again each time Rosemary Shepard republishes her book. Can remember being 5-6 when I started knitting and using Mum's treadle machine and learning to knit. My mum was only a basic seamstress (20 years old, 80 miles from the corner store and having babies), but taught me what I asked when I asked. The real inspiration to go further came from my grandmother Alice, who taught me to crochet aged 9 when she was dieing from liver cancer. Crochet has always been my most productive area, but I have my second Eeva-Liisa picture on my big pillow and have to finsih a Russian Lace reindeer to go on a blue velvet dress for eldest granddaughter (6) who lives in Canada. Did a lot of embroidery in my teenage years, but in the last 30 years, patchwork has occupied a regular amount of time. Lace still has a special part in my creative life and the biggest regret that I have is not having more opportunity to teach others some of the skills I have acquired over the years. If it is a thread related craft, I have either tried it or have information in one of my books. Had already made the decision to work towards my Teaching Certificate in Crochet when I heard this week that Betty Franks collapsed and died a couple of days ago in Brisbane. Oh to be able to display the same generosity and quiet confidence. I met Betty for the first time in October at the Australian Lace Guild Workshop/AGM week. Mary Carey Campbelltown, NSW, Australia - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
Re: [lace] Your story
Had already made the decision to work towards my Teaching Certificate in Crochet when I heard this week that Betty Franks collapsed and died a couple of days ago in Brisbane. Oh to be able to display the same generosity and quiet confidence. I met Betty for the first time in October at the Australian Lace Guild Workshop/AGM week. I'm so sorry to hear about Betty Franks. I chatted recently to her about her Flanders workshop that she did in Sydney earlier this year that many people really enjoyed. She was delighted to hear that I had heard only good things about it. A long time ago she was also a lace supplier. She will be sadly missed by many Australian Lacemakers. We are losing a generation of generous women who helped establish the Australian Lace Guild and kept giving for decades! Anna from a wet and cold Sydney - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
RE: [lace] Your story
Lora, I am convinced that because I am a Gemini I very quickly get bored with one particular thing , but because lace has so many types to learn, I am still smitten after over 20years of lacemaking and cannot ever see myself getting tired of it. Sue M Harvey Norfolk UK - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
