Blog & News

Hello, all!  At retreat this year I won some linen thread at the auction that I believe was part of Carolyn Purcell's "stash".  It's lovely stuff, I've done some hand sewing with it and just wound some onto bobbins and started making some lace with it.  It is Knox's Gimp Lace Linen Thread, 2 cord, 60.  I'd assumed that meant 60/2 but it seems much finer to me, finer than the Fresia 100/2 linen I've been working with lately.  Also looks finer than some Bockens 60/2 that I have. Can anyone enlighten me?  It's on wooden spools so maybe it's been around a while - has the terminology changed over the years?  Or is a different terminology in use in Scotland?  

Thanks for your help!

There is a wonderful four page article on netting (“A Chain of Netting”) and six pages of directions for making a net bookmark (“Bookmark to Net”) written by Rita in the new (Jul/Aug 2014) issue of Piecework Magazine published by Interweave Press. 

 

Opening of craft center is Sept 13th and 14th. 

If you are coming to demo at the MA Sheep and Wool Festival tomorrow morning, send me an email so I can email you a free parking pass to print out! I'll be leaving at 9 am so get it to me before then. - Carolyn W

Thank you to all of those wonderful, capable people who put our retreat together, especially Winann and Jill.  It's always a marvelous experience for everyone who attends.

Thanks to all of the organizers and volunteers who made the retreat such a success! It takes a lot of work to put on the event and your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Our annual retreat came to an end yesterday.  I certainly had a very good time, but even more important, from the comments I heard from many, it was a very good time by all. 

Both of our after dinner speakers were appreciated.  Barbara Doheny's talk on pins Friday night was interesting.  No doubt the explosion of bobbin lace around 1500 was sparked by the invention of a pin machine.  Patty Foley tailored her talk "Lace is Everywhere" to a lace-aware audience, and it was well received.  I have seen her general audience version before, and I would recommend it for anyone who might have an inkling of interest in lace.

Since the library was at the meeting, a lot of people had the ability to browse the collection.  Many of the books are now in use by people.  In looking at the checkout list, this was one of the largest lists I have seen for the NELG library. 

We had a great auction.  There was a lot pillows this year as well as bobbins and out-of-print books.  I was very please to see that some of these ended up with some beginning lace makers at reasonable prices.  The proceeds help support NELG for things such as the library and the scholarship fund. 

On the trip to Logan Airport, Ulrike Voelcker who had taught a class on Point Ground lace commented on how pleasant the experience was.  That made me feel good.

So, for all the people on the retreat committee who organized it, for all the people who donated items for the silent auction, for all the people who made bids on the silent auction, for the excellent teachers, for the staff at the Sacred Hearts Retreat and Spirituality Center, and for all the people who attended, thanks for making this a success.  I hope we will do as well next year.

Kudos to Patty.  A well done and informative look at lace.  Take a picture in September when Gary visits you at the Big E.

It's ready, much thanks to the Retreat committee for the last several months in preparing for the upcoming retreat.  There are a lot of plans, decisions that need to be taken care of - this part is done.  Now on to the last part - the final details that will make the retreat such a joy to those of you attending.  

It was recently posted on Arachne that Anova Books, the company that owns the Batsford imprint, are about to add the Read & Kincaid books to their Print on Demand service and also make them available as ebooks. The planned schedule is

Milanese Lace: An Introduction - July
New Braids and Designs in Milanese Lace - August
50 New Milanese Patterns - December 

This is great news for all fans of Milanese lace!

Jill