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NELG loves to hear about what is going on in your life.  We hope that everyone will take a try at letting us know what new activities are going on. 

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  • Tonder lace festival

    June 03, 2013 6:36 AM | Jill Hawkins

    Off to Denmark tomorrow morning - VERY early (our flight leaves at 7 am!!!).  I'm very much looking forward to spending some of this weekend in Tonder for their triennial lace festival and meeting up with Barbara Morrow for dinner on Friday night.

    Also looking forward to catching up with Nikki Nelson, Tina Allen and Bobbi Donnelly - I'm sure there will be more lacemakers from the US that I know!

    In addition, there will be a book launch on Friday evening at the Tonder Museum for Bobbi's new book: "Spiderweb and Dreams".  It is a book on Danish Cross Cloths from the Museum's collection.  Can't wait!

    Jill

  • A picture is a thousand words

    May 31, 2013 8:10 PM | Deleted user
     "You don't make a photograph, you make it." Ansel Adams
    ... so he said.  It's true.  Over the last several years, we at NELG have made an extra effort to collect pictures from events, local gatherings and especially when we are in the public showing our lace.

    Last weekend, several of us were at the MA Sheep and Woolcraft in Cunnington.  Thanks to Carolyn W. and Sr. Cathy and yours truly for braving the real cold and wet conditions.  It paid off, as it does as we met lots of people, heard stories, and we able to show many individuals about lace.  The bonus was the Hampshire Gazette reporter Sarah Crosby came by to take pictures speak with us. Follow this link below as it shows us working the demo.  It appeared in the Hampshire Gazette today.  There was a blurb. a quote, and some great pictures!  

    ... so he said ... and so we did.  


    Thanks to Sarah Crosby for the article and pictures.

  • I should have worn my wellies

    May 29, 2013 1:07 AM | Deleted user
    "Every child is an artist.   The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."  Picasso
      A great quote for all of us to remember.  This past Saturday, while at the MA Sheep and Wool show, I was taking in the sites in between lots of rain drops when I came across this young child.  He had his wellies on and was stamping in a puddle of water and giggling to his hearts content.  Watching this young child lifted my  heart and before long I contracted his infectious giggling. 

    Some time ago, I was sent the following website Design, Decoration and Craft at The Textile Blog.  Thanks Clare this is a treasure!  It is written by John Hopper and has been on the web for over five years.  That is pretty good in the life of a blog.  While it is not primarily a lace site, what I have found is looking at other textiles for inspiration for lace designs.  It is written well and you can listen to each of the current blog posts if you turn up the volume.  

    The current entry May 28th - discussed The Contemporary Maori Inspired Pattern Work of Mitch Manuel.  How absolutely interesting as a pattern is dismantled and reassembled into an new pattern.  The possibilities are endless.  

    if you go to the subject area of the blog and scroll down you will find the listing of lace entries that exist on the site.  The first one Lace as Traditional and Contemporary Craft is a great entry and explores that contemporary will become as common as the traditional and the two shall live side by side in harmony.  

    So ..  do you have your wellies on?  Time to get them out, dust them off and celebrate the fun of jumping in a puddle.  So go and experiment and have fun with your lace!

    Love your Lace,
    Patty



  • Creativity...... Lace in ATC

    May 27, 2013 10:21 AM | Deleted user
    Wikipedia says creativity that  it  "refers to the phenomenon whereby something new is created which has some kind of subjective value (such as an idea, a joke, a literary work, a painting or musical composition, a solution, an invention etc.). It is also the qualitative impetus behind any given act of creation, and it is generally perceived to be associated with intelligence and cognition."

    These statements ring true when we talk about our Lace. There is a mystery that unfolds when we re-create a piece of lace - what was going on in the lives of lacemakers when it was first developed.  Our recently concluded ATC challenge called for lacemakers to take two different pieces of thread and create a card.  On the link above you can see this year's entries.  Bravo to our lacemakers for allowing your creativity to grow and to share them with us.

    Henri Matisse said "Creativity takes courage".  
    Thank you all for participating in this year's Lace Challenge.

  • Alencon lace video

    May 25, 2013 10:57 AM | Sharon Sacco (Administrator)
    In looking for something this morning, I found a video on Alencon
    Lace on this site.  This video is in French, however the photography is very detailed.  It shows how Alencon was made, from the pricking to cutting it off of the pattern, removing threads and smoothing the lace.  The site is in English.  See: http://visitnormandy.wordpress.com/2010/11/16/alencon-lace/

  • Your Art

    May 24, 2013 3:23 PM | Deleted user
    Back from the NELG retreat where lace, your art was abundant.  Threads crossed and twisted, a knot here and a knot there, and a needle was rethreaded.  

    One thing about a gathering of such, you have the ability to witness great work come to life.  

    As we go into the weekend.....  go to your lace...... and create.  Emerson said "Every artist was first an amateur".

  • Sweet Briar Opening - Act Fast!

    May 21, 2013 3:11 PM | Bryce Wolf
    Clay Blackwell informs all registrants that a last minute slot has opened in Susie Johnson's "Lace a la Carte" class" at the Sweet Briar retreat in June.  If anyone is interested email Clay immediately!

  • MA Sheep and Wool demo

    May 20, 2013 10:07 PM | Carolyn Wetzel
    There is still more room for lace demostrators at the MA Sheep and Wool festival this Saturday! We have a nice indoor location to show off our work on Saturday from 10:00 - 12:30.

  • Isabella Stewart Gardiner and recent newsletter

    May 16, 2013 9:33 AM | Devon Thein

    I did an internet search the other day on lace and isabella Stewart Gardiner. I was surprised to see that they had had a lace event that I was unaware of. It seems that they had a young woman, Katherine Traylor, demonstrate bobbin lace on April 18th. There are some photos on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151426756425963.1073741828.23619335962&type=1 and you can read a write up on the Isabella Stewart Gardiner website. I believe that people had to pay for this event. Was the NELG involved in this? If not, may I suggest that it implies that the ISGM is possibly re-evaluating the value of the lace in its collection and might be receptive to overtures? I would really like to see more done with the lace there.

    I have been enjoying, as always, Jill Hawkins adventures as she tries to penetrate the mysterious and insular lace culture of England. Six people pining to join the Bradwell Abbey lace group, but unable to qualify? Christine Springett teaching on the QT? What next?

    I was also interested to read of Sr. Madeleine's adventures in Bruges. How I envy those who will have a chance to see the slide show of the Marys. Is there any chance that this could be turned into a "long essay" on Ning? Jeri's essay on the French Chateau laces is a hit, and I think this has similar potential. Also, since it is likely to be quite visual it is a good candidate for Ning. Lorelei likes close-ups, and Sister Madeleine says that she took a lot of them.

    Lastly, I note that I receive the newsletter in print format, and i have dutifully checked my membership profile and see that I have an email address on record. You are welcome to convert me to internet newsletter status.

    Devon Thein

  • Count Down.....to 2013 Retreat

    May 15, 2013 12:07 PM | Deleted user
    Our committee, headed by Winann & Jill and it's members, have wrapped up all what is needed to have yet another successful retreat for NELG at the Sacred Hearts Retreat Center in Wareham MA.

    It begins this Thursday evening with dinner then classes begining bright and early on Friday thru Sunday.  We will have a vendor and you are welcome to come to shop - at no additional charge.  

    Our monthly meeting will be held on Saturday at approximately 12:30pm and there is no charge to attend the meeting.  I'll have lots of updates about the group, insights about our upcoming demo season, of course Creative Arts / Big E has great news, we will announce the winners of our ATC contest - see Lace Challenge 2012 - for exquisite and creative work by our members.

    I'm looking forward to seeing everyone there......  so let the lace begin,

    Love your lace,
    Patty

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