Why, THANK you, Miss Bev, for your nice response to my note! It was doubly nice, because I had walked away from the computer for a while, and was just returning after seeing no indication on the TV News that Harry Potter is on the horizon, coming to save us from the REAL Voldemort... whose divided soul seems evident in so many people in control these days.... sigh.... AND, my intention, on getting back online, was to write to you!!
We all have our own allegories and fantasies... While we decompressed from LASB last Saturday (Michael Giusiana was here, we had worked a lot during the afternoon to hammer out a long-range plan for future retreats), I started fading fast. In retrospect, we now know that I had picked up some kind of infection which I could not shake until, a week later, I was spiking a fever of 104! A call to the Dr. on Monday resulted in the order for antibiotics, which I've been taking for two days now, and feel like I'm gonna live. Anyway, back to the story... Michael needed to unwind. I don't like TV (except as a source for the news) and I had not kept up with a lot of things that interest me on the internet for over a week. So when he and DH decided that watching a video was in order, I was more than inclined to let them go their own way. When what they zero'd in on was "Dune", I knew I needed to "do my hair". I've never been able to sit through that film once - let alone numerous times, as they obviously have. Must be a guy thing, and considering the fact that Michael had just spent the week with 15 adoring female students, with only my DH and Susan Wenzel's DH as male company - sporadically - during the week, I was as happy not to see it as they were to see it. I could hear the sounds of the video as it progressed, and I could hear their animated voices as they talked from time to time... So while they male-bonded and watched the tale of spice and water in places far away, I wrapped myself in my own little cocoon of arac hnid m usings... feeling far within, and where I needed to be. You are in for SUCH a treat!! Michael is unlike any other teacher I have ever encountered in my (relatively brief) years of making lace. I think it comes from the fact that he has to focus on his profession for nine months out of the year, and packs a year's worth of work and enthusiasm into his summer months. He is enormously generous, and your participants will be bowled over by the wealth of information that he distributes to every single person. (Well, first off, his subject is Belgian lace, and he is within a day's drive of all of the most wonderful stuff in the world - not to mention the most wonderful teachers, years ago, and even now!!) When I first started taking his workshops, the handouts were fairly random, and consisted of scans of old lace, scans of old prickings, and some diagrams for lace. There were no technical notes, nor were there any lists of resources. In the past few years, he has added a Study Guide which he developed which lists suggested proje cts fo r people at various stages, as well as samples to be worked, and discussion material. It takes a lot of self-discipline to stick to this study guide, but he is definitely impressed with the students who make this effort. I did, for a year, and can appreciate the value of the work. This year, each person received - in advance - a FOUR-disk boxed set of files!! Some were simply beautiful pictures of beautiful laces. An entire disk was devoted to massive files of laces selected for reconstruction work this summer. And one disk actually contained PDF files of "Binche Lace" (his first book, with Linda Dunn); a color diagram supplement of the flawed diagrams in that first book; and "Binche 1", his now OOP second book, which was such a delightful piece!! So for any students who are beginning Flanders and Binche for the first time, this disk alone was a treasure!! Another disk contained his updated Study Guide, and some bonus diagrams. Even those who have worked with Michae l befo re were overwhelmed by his generosity! Michael zero'd in on the security guard on-campus on our walk back from lunch our first day, when I asked a question about when the buildings would be secure. He directed his answer to Michael, (and with me walking meekly, four paces behind), Michael had learned more about him in a 5-minute walk than I could have pried out of a client in ten sessions!! AND, he had arranged to have our, normally open - (though I had been told it was secure!), building available to his students after hours. Michael always left for an hour or so for dinner, but was back, and would stay until 8:30 each night. Most of his students were there until well past that time! Now it's important for you to know that I have been known to "go ballistic" with cretons who do not even acknowledge my presence because I'm a woman. But because we "had an agenda", and Michael was definitely in the role of "Alpha Male", I was able to pretend I was "just" a woman. As Michael later put it, "we're all whores in this together". Hmmm... yes, to an extent, that's what it's like to keep everyone happy all week! And he definitely did his part. Our venue was especially delightful because of that special attention from security, and the knowledge that there was no distance between the classroom and the Inn except the well-lit breezeway. People were very comfortable and the tranquility was a balm. And pillows and "stuff" could be left in place from one day to the next. Just like home. I am so pleased that he will be in PNW next year! He seems excited too, although he knows he has a LOT of work to do to get to that point!! He doesn't just trot out last year's "stuff" for the "new bunch". He will take you - where you are - and create a memorable experience for all of you. You're in for a treat. Not only would I like to be in the PNW, but I would love to be a fly-on-the-wall to see you and your group and their week with "the big guy". You'll have some periods between now and then where there will be lots of communication, and then nothing. You'll have a question, and it will be hard to get more than a "yes" in response. (I'm serious... be sure to save your questions, because sometimes when you get a one or two word response, you wonder... "What did I ask him??") But in the end, you'll get all you need and then some. Just remember... he deals with other people's kids at school every day!! And they're military brats at that, so there are times when he just... can't... spare... the time... or a smile. You'd never know it in the summer though! Don't hesitate to ask me for more as you get further into the planning... I don't have more "inside" stuff to offer (he's a very private guy, and I respect that), but more tips and pointers about what we did right and what we'll do better... Love, Clay -- Clay Blackwell Lynchburg, VA USA -------------- Original message -------------- From: bevw <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi Clay and everyone I echo this On 7/31/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: The main attraction to the Beswick winder, for me, was the engineering that went in to the little thing! It is not only small, but comes apart into three pieces (no screws or clamps required to assemble!), and the parts fit snugly together in their own little storage bag. The handle even folds up into one of the sections! It is a clever, clever design. When I got mine some years ago I didn't even see the 'pins' at first inserted into one of the pieces, uncovered by means of a small shaped hinge that swings only one way. This winder can be self-clamped to a surface or pinned right to one's pillow with the long pins. If nothing else it is fun to bring out at a lace meeting and demonstrate how to wind from a small spool of thread (which perches on a built-in spindle!). Many of my bobbins aren't shaped suitably to fit this winder and lately I've been winding directly from a massive skein of fine silk thread, for which I need an umbrella swift. The dear little winder can't compete with the lack of momentum between it and the skein holder, and in any case I don't yet have the continental bobbin adapter for it. so, I wind by holding bobbin in hand. The string method works well if one has the knack; it is a basic pulley-hauley system - there is a specific name for it (windlass? comes to mind but I don't think that's quite right) as it is one of those useful everyman devices. So my recommendations, in order of cost effectiveness, would be to scout out the last trick I mentioned, or to find the winder (from my list above and from those others send you) for the type bobbin you use most. Yes ;) -- Bev in Sooke BC (on beautiful Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada) - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
