Blog & News

New England Lace Group is comprised of amazing individuals!  Besides all our members there are those of us that help pitch in to make the organization run.  I hope to highlight different members in in a quick 'nod' here on the blog and in our Newsletter.  Keep an eye out as the newsletter is in the works and you'll see this quarter's issue any day.

Of course with our new website, there will be some changed in the "way it was done".  I encourage each of you to let us know how we fair in making adjustments and improvements. We encourage you to let us know - email at NELGinfo@gmail.com so we can hear your thoughts.

So here's today's Nod -  Thanks to Gail, our Newsletter Editor and to Winann our Treasurer/Membership.  This past week we have had to adjust our procedures for mailing / emailing / and etc for the newsletter and membership application for the upcoming year.  I want to thank them for their thoughfullness in thinking through the changes we will be enjoying.  With these changes, hopefully, they will allow Winann and Gail a little more time to make lace!

Thanks Ladies!

Patty

MESSAGE FROM SUE VAN DYKE

Hi - I am a new member who, unfortunately up to now, has been unable to attend any meetings.  But I do have a question - does anyone have a simple pattern for a bunny?  My daughter-in-law, who is Chinese, is giving birth to my first grandchild soon, and as this is the Year of the Rabbit in their culture, I thought it would be fun to do a bunny in lace and then will attach it to gingham and embroider the birth information to make a unique birth announcement.

If anyone can help, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you.
Sue van Dyke

Thinking about all that stash yarn you have in the back closet.  Here's a way to color the world with your creativity!   I'm thinking you would need a heck of a ladder to get this accomplished.

Anyone knowing where this happened - I want to meet the artist!

Hi all,

CT Lace Day   Just spoke with Barbara M. and we are expecting a great day at her home this Saturday, 2nd of July.

Email Barbara to get further information.  Hope to see you there!

Patty

This past Saturday was NELG's Annual Meeting.  According to our bylaws, we have an annual meeting for the purpose of voting on any business and for the election of certain officers. 

It was a tough election with lots of absentee ballots!  Thanks to everyone that responded to the election and came to the meeting.  When it can down to it....  Mary Linden was elected to be our Member at Large and yours truly was elected to be the President.  While both of us take office offically on September 1st, we have already begun various projects for NELG. Mary will be orchestrating the Big E.  Applications will be due first - even if you are not sure you'll be entering, send in an application!  I would hope that we have lots of entries.  I'll be working with our Librarian Elisabeth on a new way of seeing our book list and preparing a much needed list of policies.  While that will be ongoing, we will begin to apply for our non-profit status.

Much thanks, let's hear it, to our outgoing President, Jill Hawkins and Member at Large, Barbara Morrow for a great job they have done over the last four years.  Thank you Jill and Thank you Barbara.

Patty

Hi all,

I'm back in town from my jaunt off to Singapore and Indonesia.  It was a long trip, amazing cultural, facinating history, and majestic temples and I'd go back in a heartbeat.  Everyone we met was really nice, though a bit curious as we did stand out in a crowd.  Food was good, not much wine or beer to be had, though fruit was plentiful and very delicious.  We had ten days of perfect weather - sunny, hot and humid with a light breeze.  We saw lots of active volcanos, from the safety of our plane and walked a bit through the devastation from the Nov 2010 eruption of Mount Merapi - so humbling. <click read more>

I was able to log into our web site and added three dots on our map!  Lace and lace making were almost non-existent.  I did find some ladies that did crochet - lovely work and were willing to share even with a language difficulty.  In Indonesia - it is weaving and of course batik.  At the Batik Museum in Solo (on the island of Java) we saw an extraordinary private collection of fabrics and were escorted through the factory to see how handmade batik is made.   

All in all, it was a great time.  I'll have some more at a later date.  In the mean time - It's Annual Meeting time - Hope to see you at the meeting in Sturbridge on the 18th of June.

Patty

Anyone lucky enough to be visiting London this summer should add a visit to Buckingham Palace to their list.  Kate's wedding dress, as well as her veil, shoes and the royal wedding cake will be on display from July thru October.    Check out this link for The Royal Collection:  http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/default.asp?action=article&ID=952.

If anyone visits the exhibit, please consider sharing your experiences with us!

Hi everyone,

Jill's been at work to continue with the many improvements we wish to add to the website.

Just this past week, she has begun the Member's Lace Gallery - take a look at the pieces.  Now really - submit a picture of any of your pieces. 

We have established the PayPal account for NELG.  This convenience will allow you, if you choose, to pay your renewal dues on-line.  With this improvement and the passage of the Bylaw admendment, your membership will renew when you pay your dues.  You'll receive the usual reminders in the Newsletter and now you'll receive automatic notices.  This will assist our Treasurer Winann in taking care of our funds.

Additional new features are scheduled to be added in the coming months.  Keep an eye out!

Thanks so much,

Patty

It's now completed - Retreat 2011 is a fond memory for over 40 of us that attended.  Much thanks to the Retreat Committee, Silent Auction Committee, Sacred Hearts, our members and our teachers Louise & Susie and vendor The Lacemaker Tracy & Bill. 

Retreat for 2012 is all ready set - watch our Calendar of Events  as we will be updating the information and we hope to see you next year.

Those in Susie's class worked in Withof and other styles of lace - it was truly impressive.  Susie gave us a lecture on Withof and Sr. Judith.  In Louise's class we worked in Millanese.  I was in Louise's class and worked on the beginner cresent moon.  I've some tying off to do and finishing the zig-zag filling.  All it in all, personally I wish we had another half day of lacing!

Thank you to everyone in making this a great event!

Patty

Ok Retreat attendees - it's time to double check that you have everything -  It's going to be a great weekend - hopefully this cloudiness will blow over by Friday A.M.

Lace:  table/stand, lace pillow(s), prickings, bobbins, thread, and other assorted items, personal light and extension cord, extra project to work on.  If you forget, the LaceMaker is our vendor and can help you with whatever you forgot or need.

Library books: Bring them back!

Personal stuff:  Extra pillow, flashlight!  it gets dark, snacks & any beverages for evenings, cork screw,walking shoes for the great paths from the house to the beach.

Remember we have our Silent Auction ----  What goodies will you be bidding on?

See you there!

Phone number for the Retreat House, in case of emergency only after 8pm, is (508) 295-0100.  Cell service is iffy.