[lace] lace and blindness
Hi Liz When Mr Gordon Kells who I went to as a child for National Health Service eye tests became one of our leading eye surgeons in Harley Street he still kept his National Health patients. When I started Honiton lace I expressed my concerns and he explained that close work does not affect the ability of the eye to see. Instead what happens is that the strain caused by the eyes angling towards each other as the work gets closer to the face results in myopia, short sight. Many lace workers in the past would have ended up so short sighted that they could still make the very fine lace a few inches from their noses but would not have been able to see adequately for everyday life. He also gave me some advice. When the eyes strain towards each other they can produce headaches across the back of the head across the base of the skull. If you get this or any other unpleasant effects stop lacemaking until it goes away, they you can return. To reduce this happening every 20 minutes look up from your work and out of the window to the far distance for a couple of minutes. This will allow the muscles to relax and prolong the time you can make lace comfortably. Of course, have regular eye checks and have your glasses updated as required. When I happened to be demonstating alongside a glass etcher doing exquisite work. He was blind in one eye and was well aware that it had one advantage, he would never get eyestrain from close work. Hope that answers your query Liz Keep lacemaking Alex - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Lace making and blindness
I have always been near-sighted, and for most of my life was very good at close work. But then, as predicted by my eye doctor, I began to lose the ability to focus close-up and now have to resort to using my magnifying visor in order to read the phone book. But my long distance sight is still very poor, so I only have sort of a middle area of about 8 inches away from my face that I can see quite well without glasses now. But, when I was younger, and only myopic, I attempted to donate my used prescription eye glasses to New Eyes for the Needy and noticed that there was a certain lack of enthusiasm on their part. They confided in me that the preferred donation was "reading glasses" as from the drugstore. The reason for this was that in the Third World poor people don't drive cars very much so they don't need glasses for long distance sight. Instead they desperately need "reading glasses" in order to make a living, doing things with their hands, for instance. I was somewhat surprised by this because I had always thought that people in the Third World with poor distance vision might be in danger from large predatory animals. I thought that was a rather stunning revelation. Being as myopic as I am does not appear to be a problem in the third world worth correcting, whereas here it is major. But in the third world you really need your close vision. I suppose 17th century Europe was like today's Third World. Devon - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Lace making and blindness
An interesting discussion! By the time I was 13 years old, it was apparent that I was near-sighted, not far-sighted. My vision continued to change as I grew older. However, regardless of how hard it was for me to see at a distance, all I had to do was take my glasses off and and could see in perfect vision at very close- up!! As a lacemaker, I often embrace this gift when wanting to see something more clearly... I just poke the glasses up on my nose and look under them! My theory is that those young people who turned out to be farsighted as adults had to struggle, and then were considered blind. But those who were near-sighted were actually more prone to succeed in the field. So... I don't know what the statistics are for the visual acuity of lacemakers today, but I suspect that most of us have sufficient health care which provides us with visual exams as well. Not being well-informed on every country's options, I can only hope... Clay Sent from my iPad On Oct 26, 2012, at 8:51 PM, dmt11h...@aol.com wrote: > Another theory that I have heard is that when people age and their eyes > lose the elasticity for focusing at different focal lengths, resulting in > needing bi-focals, this may have been a bit of a career ender for people who > had to focus at close distances for fine lace work and who didn't have > bi-focals. So they may not have been blind so much as too blind at close > which > distances to make lace anymore. I believe my eye doctor made the claim that > this > process by which your close distance focusing starts to deteriorate starts > at 39 1/2 years of age. > - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Lace making and blindness
According to my eye doctor, you cannot harm your eyes by using your eyes. One theory about lacemaker blindness is that many of the lacemakers, living in port towns, as most lace towns are, contracted venereal disease and this may have made them go blind. Of course there were probably other infections around as well. Another theory that I have heard is that when people age and their eyes lose the elasticity for focusing at different focal lengths, resulting in needing bi-focals, this may have been a bit of a career ender for people who had to focus at close distances for fine lace work and who didn't have bi-focals. So they may not have been blind so much as too blind at close distances to make lace anymore. I believe my eye doctor made the claim that this process by which your close distance focusing starts to deteriorate starts at 39 1/2 years of age. Devon - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
[lace] 12 days of Christmas
I think that was my design on the back cover of the Lace magazine. I did a tree in Milanese lace using 12 pairs (A partridge in a 12 pair tree). Only one pear on the tree along with a fat partridge. I designed it for a calendar using 12 pair of bobbins for the design, which did not happen and it was used in the magazine. I do like Tamara's design though. Janice Janice Blair Crystal Lake, 50 miles northwest of Chicago, Illinois, USA www.jblace.com http://www.lacemakersofillinois.org - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Lace making and blindness
I've been doing close work (lace, embroidery, patchwork pieced by hand etc) for over 55 years (grandmother put a needle in my hand before I went to school) and I actually asked my eye specialist that question many yeas ago. His answer was no it should not, doing close work while also watching TV in reasonable light actually is good for your eyes. His explanation was making your eyes focus from close to distance frequently means that your 'eyes' are getting a work out and can actually delay the need for 'reading' glasses by a year or 2. And yes I do wear reading glasses for lace but not for reading but who in my age group does not. Most causes of blindness were due to a variety of diseases, viatime deficiencies and 'complaints' that are now largely either curable or treatable and hence delay the onset of blindness. Anna from a sunny Sydney On 27/10/12 9:40 AM, lbuy...@nc.rr.com wrote: Does anyone know if it is true that doing close work (like making lace) in low light for many hours a day can cause blindness? I have just finished reading The Ruins of Lace. I the book there is a character who is loosing her sight. The author implies that this is due to her lacemaking and that many other lacemakers who have lived in this fictional convent have also lost their sight. I have read this several times in the past but never from a source that I thought was reliable. I have done a little looking on the internet and can't find any indication that eye strain can cause blindness. Is there anyone out there with some information on this? Has the author taken some poetic license? Liz R Raleigh, NC, USA - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] Lace making and blindness
Hi Everybody: My understanding is that this is an old wive's tale. You might have something wrong with your vision (like a muscle imbalance in your eyes) that becomes more pronounced and therefore more noticeable when you strain your eyes. But that doesn't mean the strain caused the imbalance. And if you're going blind from some other cause, your vision problem will be more noticeable the more you use your eyes. But eyestrain itself doesn't have serious or longterm consequences - and that's the Mayo Clinic talking, not just me. (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/eyestrain/DS01084/DSECTION=complications) I've also met quite a few elderly lacemakers who've done close work for hours every day for years and not had any eye problems. Of course, people still believe this story today, and historically lots of people believed it. So the people in a historical novel might believe it implicitly. Adele North Vancouver, BC (west coast of Canada) On 2012-10-26, at 3:40 PM, wrote: > Does anyone know if it is true that doing close work (like making lace) in > low light for many hours a day can cause blindness? > > I have just finished reading The Ruins of Lace. I the book there is a > character who is loosing her sight. The author implies that this is due to > her lacemaking and that many other lacemakers who have lived in this > fictional convent have also lost their sight. I have read this several times > in the past but never from a source that I thought was reliable. > > I have done a little looking on the internet and can't find any indication > that eye strain can cause blindness. Is there anyone out there with some > information on this? Has the author taken some poetic license? > Liz R > Raleigh, NC, USA - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
[lace] Lace making and blindness
Does anyone know if it is true that doing close work (like making lace) in low light for many hours a day can cause blindness? I have just finished reading The Ruins of Lace. I the book there is a character who is loosing her sight. The author implies that this is due to her lacemaking and that many other lacemakers who have lived in this fictional convent have also lost their sight. I have read this several times in the past but never from a source that I thought was reliable. I have done a little looking on the internet and can't find any indication that eye strain can cause blindness. Is there anyone out there with some information on this? Has the author taken some poetic license? Liz R Raleigh, NC, USA - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
RE: [lace] Big marriage in a small country
Neither have I until I look into the mirror...TeeHee. Susie Susie Johnson Morris, IL 815-942-1838 cjohnson0...@comcast.net | | Great link at the lace. I got a reality check. Princess Caroline of | Monaco and | I are the same age. I have not aged a bit. In my mind LOL | | | | Donna ageless | near Chicago | | | | | | - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] 12 days of Christmas
Thank you for that. I found a Honiton pattern for a Partridge in a Pear Tree in Lace 128 page 39, by Jean Inglis. The index is on the website for 2000 onwards, so I was able to search that way. Sue sueba...@comcast.net - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] 12 days of Christmas
That is a lovely partridge in a pear tree - now we just need to persuade her to design the rest!! http://t-n-lace.net/91-99/91-99-Pages/Image3.html Thanks for all the help Sue sueba...@comcast.net - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] 12 days of Christmas
I had not yet read all the messaged before I posted about Tamara's P-i-a-PP design. It is gorgeous, and I'm glad to know where it can be found. The other amazing thing about these computerized embroidery machines is that the designs can be embroidered on special fabric that is then dissolved away, so the lacy look is even more pronounced! I think they would make great ornaments for the tree, and would love the look without the months of work!! Clay On 10/26/2012 9:54 AM, jvik...@sover.net wrote: Hi All, There is a gorgeous Partridge in a Pear Tree on Tamara Duvall's site: t-n-lace.net Under Non-Series designs 1991-1999. Beautiful! /snip/I stillwant to make my lace by hand but it's astonishing what you can do with a computerized machine these days. Jane in Vermont, USA - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] 12 days of Christmas
I'm fairly certain that Tamara Duvall in the US also did a Partridge in a Pear Tree at least 15 years ago. I probably found its way to the IOLI bulletin, but I have no idea which one. If Tamara is still following the list, she may be able to tell us... Clay. On 10/26/2012 9:00 AM, Andrea Lamble wrote: There was a Partridge in a Pear Tree in an old Lace Guild magazine. Designed and worked by Bridget Cook I think. Not near my back copies at the moment but will have a look later. Andrea LambleCambridge, UK > From: sueba...@comcast.net To: lace@arachne.com Subject: [lace] 12 days of Christmas Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:23:39 -0500 Does anyone know of any lace patterns based on the Christmas carol “The 12 days of Christmas”? Sue sueba...@comcast.net - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Fw: [lace] Big marriage in a small country
Great link at the lace. I got a reality check. Princess Caroline of Monaco and I are the same age. I have not aged a bit. In my mind LOL Donna ageless near Chicago From: "jvik...@sover.net" To: lace@arachne.com Sent: Monday, October 22, 2012 10:03 AM Subject: Re: [lace] Big marriage in a small country Thank you for sending this. I just spent a pleasant 15 minutes looking at the pictures and videos. The dress is lovely and some good close-ups of it. Her hair is also very beautifully put up around the veil. I love the massed flowers in the front of the church too. And Princess Letizia of Spain has a lovely lace dress with 3-D petals and leaves. The weather looks perfect and they look so happy together! It was nice to take a brief "trip" to Luxenbourg! Jane in Vermont, USA where the leaves are falling - it's been a bright yellow autumn! jvik...@sover.net > Hello! > > I was completely smitten with the dress. > > http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2220578/Prince-Guillaume-marries-Coun tess-Stephanie-Lannoy-Luxembourg.html > > This blog writes about the wedding, the dress and the lace. > > http://lux-arazzi.blogspot.jp/ > > Love > Nath - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] 12 days of Christmas
Hi All, There is a gorgeous Partridge in a Pear Tree on Tamara Duvall's site: t-n-lace.net Under Non-Series designs 1991-1999. Beautiful! That site from Ilse is amazing. I shouldn't have edited it out. I still want to make my lace by hand but it's astonishing what you can do with a computerized machine these days. Jane in Vermont, USA where most of the leaves have fallen. Still a few bright butter and lemon yellow ones though! jvik...@sover.net > Thanks for that. The idea of including a number ( so you dont have to > make > 10 of the lords a leaping, for instance ) seems clever > > > Sue - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] 12 days of Christmas
Dear Ilse, It certainly might help, does help in that the design is there. I am no artist, to create a design, so that is a help. Unfortunately, properly translating those images into lace is beyond my capability. I did take a modern lace class, but even so, I don't think I could tackle that. Thanks for the thought. For some, it could be a beginning. lrb Ilse Depaepe wrote: Perhaps this can help?http://www.advanced-embroidery-designs.com/html/24208.htmlIlse Sue Babbs wrote: Does anyone know of any lace patterns based on the Christmas carol The 12 days of Christmas ? Sue "My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails." - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
RE: [lace] 12 days of Christmas
There was a Partridge in a Pear Tree in an old Lace Guild magazine. Designed and worked by Bridget Cook I think. Not near my back copies at the moment but will have a look later. Andrea LambleCambridge, UK > From: sueba...@comcast.net > To: lace@arachne.com > Subject: [lace] 12 days of Christmas > Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2012 17:23:39 -0500 > > Does anyone know of any lace patterns based on the Christmas carol The 12 > days of Christmas? > Sue > > sueba...@comcast.net > > - > 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] 12 days of Christmas
Thanks for that. The idea of including a number ( so you dont have to make 10 of the lords a leaping, for instance ) seems clever Sue sueba...@comcast.net From: Ilse Depaepe Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 6:13 AM To: Lyn Bailey Cc: Sue Babbs ; lace@arachne.com Subject: Re: [lace] 12 days of Christmas Perhaps this can help? http://www.advanced-embroidery-designs.com/html/24208.html Ilse - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
Re: [lace] 12 days of Christmas
I would be interested in that, too. Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where it is dark but warm at the moment 63F 15.5C, and we are bracing for torrents on Sunday. -Original Message- From: Sue Babbs Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2012 6:23 PM To: lace@arachne.com Subject: [lace] 12 days of Christmas Does anyone know of any lace patterns based on the Christmas carol “The 12 days of Christmas� Sue sueba...@comcast.net - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent - 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://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003/albums/most-recent
