Blog & News

Last weekend at the NELG meeting in Sturbridge Massachusetts, some how we got off on the discussion of postage stamps with lace on them.  I don't remember who brought it up, my apologies. Several days later I spoke with my philatelic dealer about this subject.

Many of us in the U.S. will remember the set of four that came out  in 1987 (Scott 2351-2354).  If we continue to look world wide, there have been quite few stamps that were either for the celebration of lace in its own right or where lace was used in the artwork of the stamp.

So it's given me an idea for a project for the group.  There is a great list at LaceFairy - Lace Stamps.  I've checked the American Topical Association for information regarding our love for lace and found a small bit of information, yet it hasn't been updated in awhile. 

So you may wonder why I have a dealer.  I, like many lace makers, have other interests and one of them is collecting First Day Covers ( for newbies it is the first day a stamp is used).   In my collection, I do have some postage stamps of Lace and now that someone else brought it up, it may be fun, in the down time between projects and redues, that we could assemble some of the stamps. 

Chime in - let me know your thoughts and we could set up a Forum on the subject and collect information for all to read about.

Now here's some think big ideas - present the collection at a stamp show and win a medal, prepare a petition to the Post Office to have another set of stamps issued to celebrate lace ( there must be a anniversary coming up ? ).

Thanks for all each of you do to promote Lace.

Patty

What a great meeting we had on Saturday.  It was the regular meeting of NELG held at the Joshua Hyde Library in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.

Jil reported on the various events that are coming up - less than a month to get your registration in for Retreat!  Reports from Winann, our Treasurer, and from Barbara, our Member At Large. Elisabeth reported on our Library and yours truly piped up about our new FaceBook page.

Once the regular meeting was closed, Jill gave a brief presentation on the new Website.  Many thanks were offered to Jill (and me) for a great job done.  We have many other thoughts and ideas ready for the site - Just keep watching.

Carolyn Wetzel began our program on Croatian Lace - it was quite good to learn about three distinct laces made in that region - one was bobbin lace, the other two were needle laces, and one of them was made from the fiber of an aloe plant.  Truly unique.  Thanks Carolyn - great job!

If you haven't been to a meeting in a while - we miss you!  So why not mark your calendar for March 19th - same place - same time!

Sometime yesterday we reached another on-line milestone.  Last weekend I started our Facebook page and we have gone over our 25 Likes to get an official page.  First - Thank You to so many friends, family, and of course, lace makers for helping us out.

I know, I know, I can hear the naysayers, but it's here to stay or this kid from Harvard, Mark Zuckerberg, wouldn't be raking in the bucks.  It is a method of communicating that is being used today. Do you remember when getting a website was the cat's meow?  Do you remember when a mobile phone was the size of a shoebox and had it's own carry case?  How about the "first laptops" - mine weighed in at 25 pounds!

So today NELG will embrace the new technology - if you could hear me I'm so excited!  We will still communicate via phone, email, our website, in person, this blog and now FB and eventually Twitter and any other device to get the word our about Lace! 

Thanks Jill for going along, thanks to our family and friends, and to Lace Makers worldwide.

Patty

Well, another new additiion was made to the Home page today - a map showing where our visitors are located!  Initially I'm sure that most of our "hits" will be from the New England area, but I am looking forward to seeing dots appear in other parts of the country.....and the world!  You don't have to do anything (not even click!) to have your visit added to the map.  Check it out often, to see how many red dots we have!

Enjoy this beautiful day and the (almost) Spring-like weather.  Yeah!  More ice will melt off my driveway!

Jill

If yesterday's present didn't knock my socks off, Laura Bensley emailed this a.m. and said she has the last two issues that are missing to the NELG newsletter collection.

Thank you Laura Bensley for taking the time to look through your NELG stash and find them. 

There is something special about having the complete collection.  It's those lace makers that took their time and efforts to bring all of us together.  In the long effort to scan them, make sure they are readable, find a internet host to store the issues (free), and eventually make them available on-line to our membership.  Jill, we are just about ready to cross another to-do off our list!

Again, Thank you.

Happy Lacing, Patty

Life is like a box of chocolates... you never know what you're gonna get.

Just recieved a note from Tina and with the newsletters being forwarded, we have only two missing.

We are looking for #24 and #48  - We would love to have a complete set.

Let us know if you have these issues!  email at nelginfo@gmail.com

Thanks,

Patty

Remindnig everyone that our NELG Monthly Meeting is only a week away. 

So far the weather has been holding up and we have been enjoying great sunshine the last couple of days.  It's still cold and we still have feet of snow on the ground. 

Sounds like we need to get together and enjoy our program on Croation Lace, win a door prize and make some lace.  We all know how I like to win a prize.

 Looking forward to seeing you next weekend.

Happy Lacing - **Christina**

As reported in the IOLI Bulletin and in our Newsletter by Jill, there is great news about hosting the international convention. 

Beginning with the 2013 event, any profit is split between IOLI and the host group, yet (and here's the change) any loss is borne entirely by IOLI.

This year 2011 is being hosted by our Friends in Maryland Chesapeake Lace Guild, the next year 2012, the Minnesota Lace Society is beginning their prerparation.

So what about bringing it to New England!  Yes it is alot of work, though anything worth doing is generally alot of work.  We have those great lace makers that have gone before us, so what do you think ?  Chime in here!