Blog & News

I want to thank all of you who have supported demonstrations in the last month.  This is a busy time of year for demonstrations that really help to get the word out to everyone that we believe lace is important.  It is always hard to determine who we inspire during a demonstration.  A few will show their interest in lace, but it may be some time before we know about that spark.  While our members do demonstrate at small venues which are important, I was particularly pleased that we were able to support two major events that overlapped.  Bryce Wolf and I were out at the Big E last Thursday to demonstrate.  It wasn't the best of days since it was cool and gray, but we did see more people that we expected.  I was also at Plimouth Plantation for the demonstration at the opening of their new crafts center on Saturday.  What a beautiful day for the group of us that came.  I'm sure that those who were there on Sunday also had a good time.

We are always looking to improve the demonstrating process.  Having been to two demos in the last week, I am thinking about it as well as gathering ideas from others.  You can expect that we will talk about ideas in November.

I am happy to announce that Bryce Wolf has volunteered to take on the position of NELG Clerk.  We have had many people record the minutes at our meetings for the past year, and I would like to thank all of them for contributions.  Bryce has held the position of NELG Vice President in the past and is currently on the scholarship committee as well as running the silent auction at the last retreat.  I welcome her back onto the board.

The Big E results are now available on line at http://www.thebige.com/fair/agriculture/documents/14ca004bobbin.pdf .  I'd like to thank all who participated as well congratulate those who placed or won awards. 

This is always an important way to show our interest in lace and inspire others.  Note that it isn't too early to plan for 2015.

I came upon a reference for searching the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.  You can search for different laces in the collection.  Unfortunately many are not photographed (only 36% is by my calculation), but it does give some information on the piece of lace when you click on the details button.  The details will also allow you to get a larger picture of the lace.  See: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/

Once again I will be taking entries from Eastern MA out to the Big E.  The dropoff date there is either Tues., 9/2 or Weds., 9/3 -- I'm not sure yet which date I'm going. Because I will be away on vacation at the end of August, Sharon Sacco has kindly agreed to accept entries & will then pass them along to me.  Call her first so that she knows you are coming.  Otherwise, you can bring them to me either Sun., Aug. 31 or Mon. 9/1 of Labor Day weekend.  I hope to see lots of entries!

Bryce

The BBC has an interesting piece on making hand made scissors.  This link has a video which is really interesting.  So, if you are interested in the process, see http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28581597

Seeking roommate for FLLG lace day Fri-Sat-Sun-maybe Mon nights. PM if interested - Carolyn

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.