Blog & News

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.

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

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's here - arrived in my mailbox a few days ago.  Once again it is a great issue.  There is a something about tatted, crocheted, knitted, bobbin and needle lace.  Something from personal stories to those from fiction and historical.

For everyone who has ever been interested in the vast and varied traditions in lace and lace-making, a new exhibition opens on May 9th through August 3rd in the third-floor glass cases of the Hartford History Center at the Hartford Public Library, and the new show underscores the idea that everything old is new again.

I was forward this link on Marcella Pattyn 1921 - 2013 from Jeri via Lace News.  The article is in the Ecomonist - written smartly and I hope you enjoy it as much as I.

I have been making a hankie for my niece.  It is from "Guipure-und Cluny-Spritzen" which you can get with translation (for us German-challenged types) from the NELG library if you don't own a copy.  This is Genoa lace, although done on a finer pricking than recommended with 50/2 EC.  The pattern is said to date from about 1610.

What amazes me is that there is a Velazquez portrait at the Metropolitan Museum of Art of Juan de Pareja who was Velazquez's "Moorish slave".  This is a beautiful portrait.  Juan has a lace collar that is not painted in great detail, but from what I can make of it, the lace that I am making could be very similar, at least in style.  Here is a link to the Wikipedia entry where there is a fairly good picture of it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Juan_de_Pareja

If you are wondering where to have your fleece or roving made into yarn, we have a new mill in Connecticut.  https://www.facebook.com/fitchfibers  Stop by and meet Fitch Fibers!  They will be having an open house as part of CT Tourism Day on June 8th.

My neighbors to the north in Massachusetts are also enjoying great weather today.