Blog & News

I am sad to report that Jeanne Goodwin has passed away.  I knew her from NELG meetings as well as some demonstrations.  Despite her illness, she showed a strength of life that went beyond her condition.  I remember her as a positive person who did her best and frequently volunteered for NELG.

My greatest condolences go to her family.  She is a great loss, and I will always remember her well.

The Big E special theme this year is its Centennial.  There will be two awards per division, an adult and a youth.  Each exhibitor is limited to one special theme entry which needs to be  indicated on the entry.  So, if this interests you, it is time to get working on it. 

And, of course, please also get going on any lace entries for the Big E.

In light of the recent bombing, I had a brief contact this morning with Sr. Madeleine, who, as you may remember, is now studying in Brugge, Belgium. Her response:

Thanks I should  get a ditto pad. at least I know I have friends!!!! My tablet is dinging away.

I am safe thank God i was not traveling as I knew the departure lounge and that Starbucks very well drank many a coffee there waiting for check in or flight. Belgium is somewhat overwhelmed we are a little country and 20 dead and 100 injured is a lot. Ferrying the injured to Gent and Antwerp.

The famous fugitive mastermind from the paris attacks was caught a few days ago in Mollenbeek and is now in a Brugge prison not in the centrum Thank God and it is thought this is retaliation for that.

Anyway thanks for writing and share with anyone who asks about me.
Love
SM

I noticed a link to this blog article posted by Jane Viking Swanson this morning on lace-chat-digest.  While it deals with crochet and knitting, I think that those of us in the lace world will gain a smile from it. 

See:

http://blog.lionbrand.com/2016/01/06/franklin-habits-friendly-three-point-message-to-journalists-who-seek-to-write-about-knitting-and-crochet/?utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=::+Read+the+rest+of+Frankiln's+message+to+journalists+::&utm_content=Your+6+Favorite+Patterns+Featuring+Popular+Made-in-America+Yarns!&utm_campaign=Weekly+Stitch+

This is just a reminder to anyone who might have need for a little assistance in order to attend Retreat, the IOLI convention and/or other lace event. We do have a modest fund available to help.  However, do get your application in as soon as possible, and please read the guidelines. We especially encourage those who might be interested in bringing back a skill or program that will benefit NELG members!

Bryce Wolf & Barbara Morrow, Scholarship Committee

If you go to www.philamuseum.org/collections and search for  "bobbin lace" you  should see  a lot of lace.

In looking at the Lace Digest this morning, I discovered a beautiful blog, http://fils-aiguilles-passion.blogspot.com/ , which seems to do a lot of knitting, needle lace, and embroidery.  The blogger, Yolande, lives in France now, but she is originally from Belgium.  While there are a number of blogs in French that are very good, I normally do not mention them here due to the language barrier.  This blog is posted in three languages, French, English, and Flemish (my assumption).

Enjoy!

Gil Dye has posted a pdf of her talk on early lace at the School of Historical Lace in London on her website.  While subscribers to Arachne have seen the link, I would encourage all to take a look at it.  There is a lot of good information on how the materials were constructed, but the photography is just as important.  You can really see how these laces were made.  See https://earlylace.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/gold-thread-to-gold-lace.pdf

As snow is falling here, it is time to think ahead towards the demonstration season and the Big E.  As I have often reminded people, the Big E is one of our largest interactions with the public, both from demonstrating as well as the Big E entries.  We would love to have the display case full of beautiful lace. 

For myself, I am planning on what will go to the Big E even at this point in time.  I have one project that will definitely be there as well as two more projects.  I hope everyone will be able to contribute to this.  Remember that the size of the project does not have to be large.  Most entries in the past have won prizes that more than covers the entry costs.  Planning ahead will make getting the project finished on time easier.  Besides, wouldn't you rather work on lace than go out to slide on some ice?

Posted on Facebook by IOLI International Organization of Lace, Inc. 1/11/16

Museum Update-Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, in Boston, MA.

The velvet rope that kept viewers away from the 40 pieces of displayed lace has been moved so that one may see them close up. However, IOLI members are advised only TO VISIT ON A SUNNY DAY. The lace is in a dark corner. There is a lamp next to the display, but the guard is not authorized to turn on the lamp. Consequently you can barely see the outline of the lappets, and not the workmanship on a rainy day.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is one of only four museums in the US to have numerous pieces of lace on public display in the permanent exhibition, and arguably the most high profile museum of the four. The lace is on the third floor in the Veronese room. Photography is not permitted.

http://www.gardnermuseum.org/collection/artwork/3rd_floor/veronese_room/lace_panel?filter=room:1806