More Information - OIDFA Congress in Slovenia, from the woman in the bright pink hat.
First, there is Manca Ahlin, the New York City architect. She delivered one of the Congress lectures. After I discovered her last year while doing some lace research, she was introduced to Devon at the Ratti Center of The Metropolitan Museum. She is someone Devon can share with the new lace guild of young women in Brooklyn NY. A real professional, with an intellectual approach to lace and the willingness to explore using unusual materials for different architectural and household applications, art, and jewelry. Manca makes the most exquisite modern lace jewelry, and also designs large installations using bobbin lace designs and heavy cords or ropes of hemp or of synthetic materials. She was a Slovenian lace protegé as a child, and has found ways to continue using her lace knowledge professionally. One piece in Ziri fills an archway with a lace design, and then shoes are suspended from the top. These symbolize the means of employment in that town. Two potent quotes from Manca: Less is more. Details are not just details - they are the design. Manca challenged her audience to try making a large-scale lace on a trellis form on a balcony, which is what someone in a city might have to do. She described taking her design for a New York restaurant installation back to Slovenia so she could enlist her sister to help with the lace weaving, using rope - on the floor. This type of lace is not as easy to make as you might think! It requires the thought processes of an engineer, as well as an artist. And, it requires considerable strength and ability to withstand pain to knees and back. (Imagine tensioning rope!) Here are two addresses to start, which will take you to others: http://lace.mantzalin.com/ http://www.mrxstitch.com/adventures-time-lace-manca-ahlin/ -------------------------------------- If history is what you like, watch the 30-minute presentation below. The language is Slovenian, but you'll understand most of the story that takes you from past to present. Please do not give up at places where there is just talk or the crayon drawings of children. Take up your tatting, and it will soon be back to pictures of interest, some quite modern at the end. The twists and turns in Slovenian lace remind me of the steep roads and switchbacks that one must travel to get to some of the lace villages. Look closely, and you will see designs are inspired by the landscape, trees, flowers, rural buildings, fairy tales, animals, etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALQOUSg158c -------------------------------------- This one illustrates how a government-funded arts council can tell an ethnic lace story. Runs 12 minutes: https://youtu.be/0NdC4cOJgag --------------------------------------- Paragraph from an open book in the Malta national exhibit at the OIDFA Congress: "Put lace upon a woman's head and kneel behind her in church. See if you can concentrate on the sermon without wondering what she is like." This reminded me of America's first lady, the late Jacqueline Kennedy. She carried suitable lace in her purse so that she could cover her head when she entered churches and cathedrals during her travels. It is an idea for you, though times have changed. In Paris, prior to the Caen OIDFA Congress of 2012, my Scottish roommate and I made our way to Notre Dame. A bold sign on the door reminded men to remove their hats, something that would not have been needed just a few years ago. I was the only woman to be seen inside wearing a hat. Think about this. You can trim a hat with lace, as I did the bright pink hat worn continuously in Slovenia, and be found in a crowd. That hat was reproduced from a design by Mrs. Kennedy many decades ago. I removed a straw butterfly trim, and replaced with some tatting (a non-fragile lace) and a silk flower. Easy. Please wear lace. Jeri Ames in Maine USA - Lace and Embroidery Resource Center - 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/
