Blog & News

Since we can't go on any field trips like the Gardner Museum for a while, I was taking a look through the state of MA digital archives today. I was impressed to find some old lace texts, but I particularly enjoyed looking through these historical lace samples in the Clark University collection.

https://digital.clarkart.edu/digital/collection/p16245coll1/id/101333

I found the "book view" version to be most helpful.

My source was DigitalCommons, which is where I found a bunch of the other old texts. https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search_field=all_fields&q=lace

Since we cannot meet in person at NELG Retreat, we'll be having a Virtual Retreat in Place on Saturday, May 16 from 11am to 3pm. Drop by to make some lace and visit with friends! There is no set program.

The meeting will be left open all day, so please join whenever it's convenient. You are also free to drop in and out; simply use the same link to rejoin the meeting.

Members will have received the link to the event via email. If you did not get the email and would like to join please contact us at nelginfo@gmail.com.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Jill

Holly Van Sciver shared the news that this year's Ithaca Lace Day is cancelled.

"It is with great disappointment that the FLLG has voted to cancel our 40th Annual 2020 Ithaca Lace Day and rescheduled it for Columbus Day weekend 2021. As much as we are all anxious to celebrate with each other, given the uncertainty about a second wave of coronavirus coming in the fall, along with the demographic and nature of our event, we feel that we cannot assure our attendees and teachers a safe event.

The good news is that we will have another year to plan and celebrate our event's 40th anniversary with joy instead of angst."

I hope everyone is staying safe.  While our retreat in May has been cancelled, I am wondering what everyone is doing.  For myself, I am working on the carp-dragon piece I started in 2012.  I suspect that I will finish it this time. What I love about this piece, aside from the design, is that it takes a lot of problem solving.  The order of the bobbins is fairly complicated, so it takes some concentration.

So what are you doing to cope with this social distancing that is fiber related?  Are you working on an interesting (to you) piece of lace?  Are you sewing something?  We would love to hear what you are doing that is fiber related now.

Long-time NELG member Carloyn Samonds, passed away on Friday, March 6. You can find her obituary and also sign the guest register on the Douglass Funeral Services website: https://douglassfuneral.com/wp-content/plugins/funeralworks_obituary_plugin/ajax-obituary2.php?Counter=1975&mn=25#guestbook

Jill

I have looked at a lot of tatting blogs over the years.  They all have their interest, but many of them seem to fade over time.  I found Lilas's blog yesterday.  She does write tatting books and sells patterns.  But even if you aren't interested in the commercial part, the blog is well worth looking at.  (Okay, so I admire anyone who decides to tat with sewing thread.)  You can find her blog at http://lilas-lace.fr/ .  It is both in English and French.

Interesting article about NeSpoon - a street artist who spray paints lace designs onto various structures to beautify areas and preserve and celebrate lace patterns popular in particular places.

You can see more of her work on her portfolio page at https://www.behance.net/NeSpoon.

Jill

Some of the lace collection in the Smithsonian American History Museum is now online and more will be coming. Click on individual pieces to learn more.

Enjoy!

Jill

If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning how to make bobbin lace, there will be a beginner class at the NELG retreat in May in North Andover, MA. This class is subsidized 50% by NELG, so is a really good deal.

For more information, please visit the Calendar page.

There was an interesting discussion today on the dearth of lace information in Wikipedia. I noticed this when I was trying to learn the history and styles as well.

Maybe there's an edit-a-thon that could be organized somehow. Add some great photos. This would be a way to introduce new people to the hobby and connect them with the organizations.

Twitter thread [no pun intended] starts here:

https://twitter.com/GretchenAMcC/status/1227060591350566912

Every so often, you end up down a Wikipedia rabbit hole that reminds you how Wikipedia's editorship being 85-90% male creates huge content gaps for certain topics, especially those more typically associated with women Today's example: Battenberg lace

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battenberg_lace