Blog & News

Dear Friends:

I demonstrated lacemaking at the Bolton Fair one week ago (Saturday only) with the Stow MM.  We had quite a bit of foot traffic, including some people who recognized us from Sturbridge OSV and another couple who would recognize us again in VT at Deerfield.

I have been passing out the NELG "cards" with the website on them and drumming up interest.  We've had a couple of truly interested lace-followers who have really sat down and tried lacemaking for a couple of hours.  I hope they will contact NELG.

Linda Sheff

Dear lacing friends:

I took part in this again this year, both Sat & Sun, this past weekend.  We had a lot of interest and I passed out lots of NELG "cards" with our website information.  We really didn't have a lot of child interest, but had quite a bit of adult interest.  So I gave some lessons to someone who had brought in her "lacis bobbin lace kit".  So I parted with one of my Piet pillows and a spool of lace thread to get her started.  Cherry is a spinner, knitter, felter and cook.  Again, we had a lot of interest.  The only thing that would have made it nicer would have been some other lacers.  I recommended Evelyn Gant & Fletcher Farms as well but honestly don't know if she is still teaching there.  I also met a couple of crafters who were really interested and are from MA and could go to the Sturbridge meeting without any problem.  I came back with some ideas for Sat programs as well.

Linda Sheff

Thanks to Clare Settle for sending me this link. 

Now on Saturday, there are losts of  vendors in the street and lacemakers demonstrating.  It is very festive and lots of beer.

There are not a lot of places for supplies or books and I think Holly's selection is very complete; truly holly does well by us.  Now the lace makers traditionally guard their patterns closely like family secrets although none are sharing now.

This group from Antwerp at my beguinsge were very fun and friendly and I did lace with them in the garden. Could not speak a word of flemish but we laughed a lot.  The teacher with them invited me to demonstrate with her. Patty, will have to log my hour demo time! The teacher does creative lace harlequin's dancers etc.  Her theme was musicians and music wow! !

I as there two days doing lace and many people stopped and I talked some language French, English, or pigeon Flemish.   As I was doing my tonder from Sweet Briar. they would say "ahh ahh fine tone" pronounced 'feen feen'! !

There were several lacegroups from around demonstrating from places I could not pronounce. I even met two teachers from Kantcentrum, they were demonstrating. It is a small lace culture like the USA.

Must go home to dinner, our big meal is in the middle of day. A guest there invited me for mussels today, a Belgian specialty and of course beer.

Ciao, until tomorrow,

Sr. Madeleine

The lace shop lady told me of two lace Expositions. Now armed with this info I knew my timing was perfect. I took tons of pictures.  The exposition was on the second floor of a famous brewery just around the corner from me! Beer with every meal, even in convent is cheaper and better than water!!!!

Back to exposition I went once and took all pictures and then went back to see it with my eyes!!! All on block pillows and BIG patterns with hundred of bobbins.  The pieces were all advanced torchon that seems to be the bruges specialty. I saw NO bruges flower lace and no spangles on bobiins.  For practical and working holders, they used knitting or corcheted primarily.

Now the best part of the day is that night, our dinner in my beguinage, hosted a group of lace makers from Antwerp!

Good Day,  Sr. Madeleine

Earlier this week, a question occurred to me wondering how far our website has reached.  Low and behold - it is now over 3,000 unique hits in just a little over 18 months. Our overall visits are almost 9,000 and looks like we will top 10K in a couple of months.

We have reached out to to countries so far, with just adding Egypt and countries in South America.  Here in the USA, it is truly astounding.  We have reached 45 states and the District of Columbia.  Ok reader participation time  - Guess what states we have not reached yet?

Thank you to Jill who is our webmistress!  She is settling in at the new home in England.  Yet with the age of technology, it is like she is right with us.  Cheerio!

Hi everyone,

Sister is taking lots of picutres - if you post comments to the blog, they will be sent to her.  It seems the posting from Bruges is trickly. 

Maybe we can convince her to do a travel log about her trip for a meeting?

Happy Lacing,

Patty

I brought my tonder pattern on my travel pillow and at night I do this. The doors to the outside close at 6:30pm!

In the day, I wander the network of streets and discovered that everywhere is a lace shop.  Then passing by a window with bobbins, a brugges holly shop! I knocked on the window as she was closed.  I must have been a sight akin banging on the window and making lace motions but she let me in and opened little shop. Imagine, small everything;  small is Europe.  Knave to go to service and lunch -  more tomorrow.

Love to all NELG

Sr Madeleine

Upon arriving and armed with my mapquest walking directions, I headed for the beguinage. If you do not know what that is, it is worth a click on the link.  Lace to suffice to say it is an 800 yearold quasi monastery. Protected by a group of Benedictine nuns living there.  The 12
Nuns run a small guest house for any who wants solitude and peace.

I pushed and pulled The Monster Suitcase. We arrived at the quiet and securely locked green door hoping someone would a) answer and b) would know who I was. The door opened and I was gloriously greeted by  Belgian Sr. Clare welcoming me warmly and drawing me in to their community and guesthouse.

Now all the windows have curtains with a stripe of lace done by Sr. Marie Anne. the lace sister. We talked lace over the next three days.  I slept, missed masses and generally am getting adjusted. She showed me her pillow block; seems to be the most common here with a lovely large torchon pattern. She uses a stand but many use folding tables like us. I haven't seen much lace now.

I arrived safely in Belgium airport, now 10 days ago. I remembered that my suitcase was way too big by European standards. Though the size was chosen by the size of my block pillow and wonderful accouterments. After, struggling valiantly down two flights of stairs to the Quay, I stumbled, suitcase and al.  With the help of the platform guard onto the train, others stepped more conveniently by with their smaller bags! The scene was repeated in Brussels, North Station. Where again I managed to just catch the Brugges train. This time setting  my suitcase in the spot between the cars.  The suitcase would not go above. The train was filled with day trippers to brugges

 I was on and the brugges stop arrived 1 hour after passing, many  meadows, many cows and many small tidy brick homes. Yahoo!