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Blog & News

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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  • Information from Alex Stillwell

    June 18, 2013 1:20 PM | Sharon Sacco (Administrator)
    I was asking Alex about using some of her material in a meeting.  She has a website, www.alexstillwell.wordpress.com , which is worth looking at.  On it she also has a link the Arizona Library where you can download a number of lace books including her Teneriffe book.

    She has also recently republished "Torchon Pattern Drafting", and there is a book on Floral Bucks that she is working on.

  • Sad news

    June 18, 2013 5:05 AM | Jill Hawkins

    For those who are not friends of NELG's FaceBook page, Lois Rostanzo posted the following message late yesterday: "Ladies...sad news today. Lee Daly's husband, Jeff, died in a motorcycle accident this morning. Please remember Lee and her family in your prayers."

    Lee has been a member of NELG for very many years.  Those wishing to send condolences, may find her contact information in the Member Directory.

    Jill

  • Opps? Or is it Really?

    June 14, 2013 9:49 PM | Deleted user
    "We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents." Bob Ross
    So one great person says.    Have you every started a project only to find out that the pattern, directions, or even the picture used doesn't make sense?

    Even with the greatest focus on a pattern I have found that ... it just wasn't working. Sometimes .... I have discovered a new way, a new look, and surprise myself.  Last fall I was attempting to tatt and talk - LOL, I found it difficult and gave up on the pattern I was following.  I threw caution to the wind, and began to tatt what ever came in my mind.  What I did learn was an amazing freedom to .... just do it.  Often times, lace makers come into a situation where there is a decision that needs to be made.  I hope that after consideration, when the puzzle doesn't seem to have an answer, you too will throw caution to the wind and just do it,

    Love you lace,

    Patty

  • Lost and Found - Retreat

    June 10, 2013 4:17 PM | Deleted user
    Thank you to everyone that attended the retreat this year.  It's just about a month since we all parted with new techniques in hand, inspiration abounding and hopefully feeling a bit rested.

    As we were cleaning up - I was walking out the side door to the main parking lot and found this little critter under my foot!  He's been sitting on my desk since my return and has been whining that he's lost his 'mommy'.

    Does anyone know who he belongs to?  In this picture, he's getting a great view from the top of a water bottle.   If not, he's found a home right here!

    Remember to Love Your Lace,
    Patty


  • Lacemaker's estate sale at 6/15 meeting

    June 10, 2013 1:38 PM | Bryce Wolf
    As was mentioned in the meeting announcement, we will have a guest who will be offering for sale quite a number of items from her lacemaking mother's estate. Many of the items will be French -- LePuy pillows and bobbins -- and continental.  There will also be midlands bobbins (both wood and bone, new and antique), threads, pins, some books, and various small tools, etc.  A little fun shopping, and perhaps something for us all to think about when the time comes to catalog and/or disperse our own collections!

  • We are finding or losing?

    June 09, 2013 1:59 PM | Deleted user
    "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time." Thomas Merton

    I have spoken about our art, our lace, our time with the shuttle, pillow and needle in other postings.  Each of us take our time to be with ourselves and our wondrous threads.  We engage in a library of books to find the pattern, the technique and to raise up our inspiration.  We meet with lace makers to discuss, learn and develop our art. 

     Each of life paths take us near and far.  Sometimes our journey throws something 'new' at us.  I call this an opportunity and I recommend that we must take and ponder this 'new' information.  I was looking around on blogs, FBs and the such, all related to lace in some way.  There was a recent discussion about making a particular type of lace with variegated threads.  This excited me as it was about using color for our lace - color other than white or beige/tea stained.  The discussion was concerned that there was little control of where the colors went or changed.  I left the discussion, sadden as there was more 'talk' about what it wasn't and not what it was ; a great piece of lace and very well executed.
    Whether you enjoy traditional or contemporary lace - I ask you to consider, to ponder the 'new', whatever it may be and how it brings, TO YOU, it's message.  It will enable you to find and lose yourself in the Art ..... of Lace.

    Love your Lace,
    Patty

  • Sr. Claire's lace project

    June 04, 2013 11:27 AM | Mary Linden
    I just finished the star. Note that the pattern calls for 6 bobbins of white and 4 of gold,  not pairs. Also do a few sewings when the pattern crosses, it will be make the lace more stable (thank you Claire Settle). I bought my perle 12 cotton from a Joann's store and I did 2 twists around the pin. The pricking was copied on a light blue cardstock and didn't require prepricking or a film cover, just jump right in and have fun.

  • 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



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