Hi Alice, Yes - I realise the difficulties of you in America and Australia, New Zealand and Canada, which is why I did emphasise just how lucky we in the UK are! The distances you travel are prodigious - some of my lacey friends here don't really want to travel more than 25 miles to go to a Lace Day in the next (or next-but-one) county, but I'm sure if we had the difficulties you had, they'd be chomping at the bit to travel for hours to see other lacemakers and suppliers.
But - here in the UK the Lace Guild advice does seem to work! For one hundred lacemakers, I'd ideally want one general supplier, one well-known bobbin maker (preferably one who can also supply beads, like Jennrich!) one 'small' bobbin-maker, possibly very local to the Lace Day venue, and 'one other' selling something quite different - rubber stamps, lace and bobbin bags, antique gear etc. And if I then think of someone who takes up little space but whose wares I have a distinct penchant for - such as Malcolm Fowler's glass bobbins - then I squeeze him in too. Its all a bit hit-and-miss, but so far - and touch wood! - seems to have worked reasonably well. The end pages of the Lace Guild newsletter is ideal for giving ideas for suppliers - and they also give good advice on speakers and Insurance, so we are very, very lucky here. And I am sure we all realise just how fortunate we are, when we see so many suppliers at Suppliers Fairs and events. Carol ----- Subject: [lace] Lace Day suppliers We have only ONE general supplier in > the Northwest -- a region as big as 5 or 6 Englands. We are always > grateful that she is willing to drive 4 hours to bring her stuff to our > Lace Days. Of course, she gets lots of business. > > To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]