Blog & News

Congratulations to all who entered the Big E Creative Arts Competition! See results on their website now. All blue and red ribbons!

I had heard a lot about this Dress Diary book because I follow Kate Strasdin on social media. But I didn't expect it to be hugely relevant to lace. Well, I should have known better.

First, her diary starts with Honiton lace on her wedding dress (scroll down on that first link to the last image). There's a whole chapter on lace making, partly because Kate is a lacemaker and this diary came to her via her local lace group! It's a lovely tribute to lace culture.

Then there are more lace samples, and just today I scanned the QR code in the book to get to this page with additional fabric samples, and there I also found black lace!

16 stunning Victorian textiles from The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes

In a separate interesting twist, on that page is a swatch of a Mrs Balestier. Mrs Balestier = Maria Revere, daughter of Paul Revere. She was friends with Anne in Singapore, it turns out. 

That said, it's mostly not about lace, but it reminds you of the importance of textiles and the economics around that. And I like it as a reminder that history is not sepia-toned. Some of those fabrics are just wild! 

Apparently, there will be many pickle-flavored food offerings at the Big E this year! Who knew? 

See this link: https://www.thehour.com/living/food/article/the-big-e-new-fair-foods-2023-18300978.php?sid=5ba858bf3f92a454704faea5&ss=A&st_rid=ff38f303-d407-45d6-9408-171792c0b85b&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CT_HR_MorningBriefing

OIDFA-USA is selling notecards with images of Ipswich lace on them. 8 cards (w/envelopes) for US$10.00. Carolyn W will have a set for you to see at the September NELG meeting and we can take orders together to save on shipping. 

Jackie Miller's husband passed away last week. In the past, she attended NELG retreats and Connecticut lace days, so you may remember her.

Please let me know if you would like Jackie's address.

Here is Ed's obituary:   https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thehour/name/edward-miller-obituary?id=52585034 

Jill

Short video of some lacemakers and bobbin winding.

https://youtu.be/Bc4CxgjHwtE

In the Guardian, a photo tour of European locations painted with lace. 

I want a building in Ipswich MA so bad....

Lace-inspired murals celebrating European folk traditions – in pictures

This is to encourage anyone in the Eastern MA area who might be considering submitting an entry to the BigE Lace competition. Please do so! Once again Sharon Sacco and I will be accepting entries for delivery to the BigE in September. Fill out the form, pay the modest fee, and attach your label. We will also be handling pickup at the end of the fair. Entry forms must be submitted by Aug. 14; we must receive your item(s) before the drop-off date of Sept. 5. If you have any questions, feel free to contact either of us. We hope to see lots of wonderful lace!

Bryce

"An Expensive, Rustic Brand Faces Backlash for Its ‘Poverty’ Aesthetic" is a recent article in the NY Times about the elite clothing maker, Magnolia Pearl. The clothing is sold to Hollywood stars and other elites, through stores such as Free People.

In one photo the model is fingering some lace, almost as if the lace were being used as a necklace. A close look at the lace reveals that it is feet and feet of tatting! A beginner's tatting pattern at that, just a simple ring with three picots.

It's a gifted article so anyone can read it, even if they don't subscribe to the NY Times.

Enjoy!

Jill

(Information shared by former NELG member, Esther Paris)

I found this curious book in the Digital Commonwealth archives. Who was Eunice Coffin MD? And why did she have this lace, I wonder?

https://digital.clarkart.edu/digital/collection/p16245coll1/id/101325

Looks like it's knitted and crocheted stuff. 

This is sort of the same Coffin family, probably, as the Ipswich/Newbury ones--but the family split in the early 1700s and a famous branch of the Coffins went to Nantucket.