that is a great idea. It is a form of weaving and we should demo modern, colorful bookmarks or motifs or jewelry.... something that will be used and worn everyday. And the jewelry will catch the eye of the younger generations...
Faye Hegener ----- Original Message ----- From: dmt11h...@aol.com To: tat...@tat-man.net, lace@arachne.com Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 1:50:27 PM Subject: Re: [lace] Re: Fiber familiarity In a message dated 8/10/2010 1:04:01 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, tat...@tat-man.net writes: I get the "tedious" comment no matter what handwork I am demonstrating(tatting, embroidery, etc.) General public want quick, fast, no fuss type of projects that somehow just get done by themselves and only require just a glance. Have you seen such a project??? LOL! Short attentions spans for sure. Such is this world where it is so fast you don't give time to slow down between life's episodes. But, then, why do we like it? There is something in the pleasure of it that we are not conveying. When I was the publicity director of the Secaucus convention, the reporter asked me again and again if we made lace because our grandmothers made lace. It was clearly the story she wanted to write, but I don't think that is the primary reason anyone makes it. I think I make lace because I like solving puzzles, just as my mother who never held a needle or bobbin in her hand was a dynamite crossword puzzle worker. In one lace class I attended, it seemed that everyone was a compulsive puzzle solver, even attending puzzle conferences. A friend of mine calls it "The Mensa of the craft world", not a bad slogan in itself. I also like bobbin lace because it is like weaving, but you don't need a loom and the warp isn't fixed. Unlike embroidery, you actually make the fabric, creating it out of nothing. I like it because of the interesting fibers you can use, and the limitless shapes you can make. I like the feel of the bobbins swinging like pendulums So, what is it that we like about lacemaking and how do we convey it to other people? I think one massive barrier is that the word "lace" does not bring in the people who would be interested in a quick, portable, loomless weaving with endless possibilities for color, shape, weave structure and three dimensionality. Instead, the people who are attracted to "lace lessons" are imagining that they will make yards and yards of beautiful white lace of the refinement of the 18th century, or even yards and yards of lace like they see mass produced, only somehow nicer. Often, it is only a massive change in expectations that allows them to continue after they see what it is really like, and how unlikely the making of yardage is. Many, of course, quit as soon as they realize what they have really signed up for. Meanwhile, there must be people who would be attracted to the activity of making modern bobbin lace, but are not interested in making yards of white stuff, so they are not responding to advertisements for "bobbin lace lessons". More and more, people are opting for contemporary looking lace, such that old stereotypes about what a person will be doing with their lace making hobby are not valid. Perhaps we should go with, "Bobbin lace, the quick, versatile, weaving alternative that does not require a separate room in your house for a loom". Or "Bobbin Lace, Weaving without the hassle". Or even, "Bobbin Lace: Weaving set free!" Or, "Bobbin lace: Weaving on steroids". Why do other people on the list enjoy bobbin lace? We all live in the 21st century, after all. I can't believe we are that different than the rest of the population. My daughter, for instance, is spending massive amounts of time and patience learning how to make jewelry. Devon - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachnemodera...@yahoo.com
