I'm not 100 percent convinced of a math/engineering link with bobbin lace. First of all, I noticed years ago a lot of other sciences in lacemaking--biology (my field), chemistry, psychology, etc. Also science fiction fanatics who never went into science (or math, computers, etc.). I think of it more as "inquiring minds" and "puzzle solvers" than a particular field of study. The only rocket scientist I've met is a quilter, with no interest in bobbin lace.
Second, I consider myself strongly right-brained, although I have enough left-brain function to not be "out in left field" like a few severely right-brained individuals I've known. Don't give me a verbal description of what you want me to know, the words get totally in the way of my understanding. Give me a map or a flow chart and I've got it in a second. I believe any field of information has an underlying logic structure; if you see that structure the field is easy for you, if you don't see it you have to really work at getting the hang of it. I failed miserably the section of chemistry on enzyme kinetics, I could not solve a single equation, although I could follow any demonstrations and see why the did what they did. I've met people who can not "get" basic probability, no matter how many people tried to help them. When I first met bobbin lace (torchon) it was so logical I picked it right up. To me it's all about finding paths, which to me is mapmaking and spatial ! relations = right-brain functions rather than math and logic which are left-brain functions. I second the suggestion that someone (not me) do a survey of lacemakers with STEM interest and/or training (not everyone who's fascinated with geology gets a geology degree) as well as other fields of endeavor. The results would be most fascinating. Robin P. Los Angeles, California, USA robinl...@socal.rr.com Parvum leve mentes capiunt (Little things amuse little minds) - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
