[lace] katrina
Dear people in Louisiana, Missisippi, Alabama, from suffering New Orleans and destroyed Biloxy, my heart and thoughts are with you. I still remember my sister shoveling sand in flooded Dresden only three years ago, trying in vane to defend a school against the water, leaving the city at the last possible moment with husband and two children, wading beside the car over the flooded bridge to find where the road was. But this, and the drowned valleys in bavaria, austria and switzerland were nothing against what you suffer. How dreadful sad, and even sader that those who help are in danger from the mob, from those who try to get a personal advantage from such a desaster. I hope you get help, hope your President is strong enough to accept foreign help (generators, helicopters, whatever might be useful). Most of our today's newspapers found harsh words about Mr Trittin's really disgusting comments. In this moment, it's absolutly unimportend wether he might be right or wrong or whatever. It's just not the time for anything besides solidarity, grief, and help where possible. Like the newspapers and myself, most of my friends and collegueas are ashamed of this politician (not for the first time). We are sad about so many lost lifes and destroyed homes and broken dreams. In our plant in Mobile, Alabama, no collegueas are missing, but some lost their homes, afak. The company doubles every donation from employees (as was done after the tsunami in december). Money can't substitute anything lost. Only perhaps prevent further losses. Please, don't mistake the lousy words of one bad politician for the large majority of a country or a continent. In one world, such a tragedy has a meaning for all. So sorry for all who suffer, from hurrican and too much water, or too little water and food elsewhere. Eva, from Germany - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Steph Peters?
Dear Steph Peters, you will remember meeting Maria kilian at April's Kloeppelkongress in Weingarten? As I understood, you are so kind two read and correct the english translation of her book in prepare? ok, as the translation is done, we need to get into contact. I'd forward your e-mail-adress to Maria, if you contact me privatly with a permission to do so. thank you in advance, Eva My apologies to the list for this topic beeing not of common interest. But i assure you, the book in prepare will be. At least for arachne community. Eva, Haltern, Germany - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Mechlin, where did the pins go?
> On Mar 23, 2005, at 12:21, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Julie) wrote: > > >The pins are missing! There are no pins in the ground! How do I > > tension > > without pins to pull against? > Tamara wrote: > The pins are missing in the ground of both Mechlin and Valenciennes > (and I've heard of some Bucks workers who don't use them, either, > though I wouldn't dare to skip them, personally ) That's because, a > properly made plait (T, C, tension, T, C, tension) will stay in place > without support. CTCT one will too, but not as well. In fact, in > Flanders, you're advised to make a tiny plait of exiting pairs, to hold > everything together (I don't do it, because I then forget to un-plait; > so I just yank the pairs into submission instead. ) Unlike us, our professional colleguaes of former times had to work for speed. Every pin not to be put is a bit more money for life. But even Valenciennes and Mechlin ground become much nicer, neater when worked with pins. Source of this wisdom of mine is, like always, Ulrike Loehr's classes. Her early Val and Mechlin patterns have been designed without pins, but the newer are all with. For Valenciennes, it's no problem working with pins, just place them below the crossing of the two braids. Mechlin with pins is something to drive one mad. In a strange way, the pins are not placed in the row you think you are just working... Not afraid of complicated lace with many bobbins, Mechlin is the one I cannot work without marking nearly every pin on my voodoo-board. lucky not to make lace for living.. Eva from Haltern, Germany, where spring has come and I can make lace at the veranda - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Torchon to Beds
Dear Gina, due to the mixture of our members, the british bobbin lace tradition sometimes dominates. Which means: there is Torchon, than Beds or Bucks as continuos thread lace, a little milanese, and of course Honiton. a word from good old europe: a quite natural step after Torchon is to jump into Flanders, and so open yourselve the world of the beauty of Valenciennes, Binche, Mechlin.. A treasure of historical patterns as well as modern ones are published to choose from. Too, there are good books on beginning Flanders, the step from Torchon is not too big a step, but the gain is great. That is not spoken against Beds, or Bucks (although there are a lot more traditions in PG than Bucks alone, but once managed one, you can deal with them all)! I confess that I play with all kinds of lace (and not BL alone, and not lace alone). Hello, Tamara, that's why I always have more than one (more than four, as an average)pillows in use, although I'm neither octopus nor spider: Lace (and other needlework) is may refuge, mny joy in peaceful evening hours, and I only work on what I'm in a mood for and what my actual time and concentration are fit for.. Sometimes this is a small piece just to try a technique, with some leftover thread, on another pillow waits the Loehr practising butterfly till in some undisturbed hour I'll start the second wing. I have one or two bigger pieces in progress, with a certain use in mind they are meant for. And on a travel pillow something to pass hours of leisure during a journey. I need them all, and value them all. And while I thought, as a novel lacemaker abouit five years ago, that I'd have to become 200 years to do just half of the lace I'd like to, I realized that the list rearranging while making lace - and always growing. Enjoy your lacemaking - today. Next generations may choose themselves what to worship! Eva, from Germany, where the wether is just right for making lace: wet, grey, cold, unfriendly outside. Tea, music or audio book from CD, and my pillow.. (instead, I have to work :-( ) - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Re: two singles or pair
Hello, Julie, still unworked in my bookshelf stand the dragons. It's a beautiful fan patern you choose! Well, at first, I'm already impatiently awaiting the weekend, because I'll be off for a class with Ulrike Loehr. We are going to do the "practising butterfly" to learn the tricks and techniques used in her new book about natural butterflies. What I learned from her way of dealing with added pairs is never to add volutarily a loose end. Which means: add a pair instead of two singles. (Although I go with Alice: the starting piece of a single won't come loose, if thoroughly worked with the gimp for a few stitches, as wellas the ends of removed bobbins won't) All ways of Alice' answer are very useful, depends on the pattern and personal preferences which way is best. In old times, when lace was made for a living, thrown out threads did not even travel unclipped a while with the gimp to be reused again, but also where laid across a cloth stitch section, reused, the thread remained unclipped. But then the lacemakers had to save thread as well as time. Neither is our problem: The left over thread is in the range of pennies, even with expensive silk, and an inch of lace less today doesn't endanger tomorrow's breakfast. Still there is the winding, not the funniest part of lacemaking. To make it easier, wind just enough, with not much reserve. Often, 3m for a pair is more than enough, esp. if a lot of those pairs leave the lace in between. Than the winding of 5 or 6 pairs, if one is needed, is quickly done, and you can go on for a while undisturbed. Another possibility is too wind really much thread on one single bobbin, and using this one always as source for the second one of the pair. This means more winding in the beginning, but less on the go, as you only have to wind back the desired length for the second bobbin of a new pair. But, however we do it: At one time or other the required lengt of thread must be wound.. I have mine ready for the weekend. 50 pairs.. with max.length 3m for one pair Eva, eagerly awaiting the weekend class - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace]: realistic butterflies
hello, to all of you who were interested in "zoological correct" butterflies, there will be a book from Ulrike Loehr about this topic. It's in preparation. In december, I will go for a first try, during a weekend class, and hopefully see some ready worked examples.. lacey greetings from a cold day in may Eva, Haltern, Germany - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Loehr's flowers
Hello, Tamara, thanks for the "wellcome home" *smiling* Re Loehr's flowers, best thing first: "Ice flowers" and "Art Noveau PG Flowers" are not the same story! Last december, U.L. showed some of those Mechlin prickings to us, and not only the prickings, because some of the patterns were worked by participants of this class I am as lucky as happy to join. (Two weekends a year - the next two are already fixed - is this a "regular student"? ) Marvelous, stunning - but Mechlin is hard work.. Nevertheless, with a good share of attention, concentration and patience, every lacemaker who is fond of these kind of lace and is familiar with the one or other kind of Flanders lace, will find them a possible task, but positivly a task. Yes, and they are monochrome, designed for light colours on darker background. Somehow I remember they are ment to become a book, though I don't remember a publishing date was mentioned. "Ice Flowers" certainly will be eye candy like "Schneeverweht" and "Schwarzarbeit" and "Jagd.." are, even if it's likely that you leave some patterns unworked. The idea for the PG flowers may have been developed while making the mechlin patterns, but they are different in style. They are really brandnew, dated 3/04. In her usual quest for perfection, she developed some very special ways to treat the coloured threads (gimp and workers which form the motives), special beginnings and lots of "magic" with the help of lots of magic threads. So I doubt these patterns will by available out of class. But this is only my guess.. If you have the chance for this class, take it! I'm very busy working my dicentra, and will do more! And this lace will end framed, decorating the walls of my new home! (rented house in Haltern, with more space for the children and space for a loom and pillow at the same time. and for guests, of course. we'll move in August) ooops, this was long. sorry.. Eva, from Haltern, Germany - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] website Deutscher Kloeppelverband update
Dear Arachne friends, times are very busy for me, the job's very demanding, children need their share of attention every day, so, to my grief, I'm not a frequent visitor here. The time still available for lace I spent with lacemaking rather than with reading about lace.. But I miss you! So I'll try to be back as a regular visitor, at least lurking, an hope to become a resident of arachne town again. This weekend, during a weekend class, I've been asked to forward to you all: The German Lace Guild's website has been updated, since news and pictures from the April 2004 Guild's Congress are ready! Enjoy browsing www.deutscher-kloeppelverband.de! The weekend class I enjoyed was with Ulrike Loehr, we tried brandnew patterns: Art Noveau style flowers in PG lace! Wow! The motives in silk of different colours on an in ecru background are natural flowers, although their "spirit" is art noveau, they are clearly recognizable. All patterns, six or seven different, were worked for the very first time, we don't know how they will look as real lace up to now. (And we are the guinea pigs for bug finding and fixing ;-) ) As all of us reached the first crucial points, on sunday evening, on every pillow a glimpse of a blossom could be seen through a forest of pins... Since then, I spent every night at may pillow, never stopping before midnight.. Lacemaking is great! And it's good to be here! Eva, from a grey spring day in office Haltern, Germany - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] teaching children
Dear Helen, my daughter, now 9, made her first attempts at age of 5. in between, i taught the first stitches to about ten more children, mostly during holidays, so there were only a few days to finish at least a little bookmark. Those children were from eight to ten years old. if possible, I take the snake, like Robin suggested, and let them start with CTC, because they *see* how he threads form the structure. At this age, most children have a little experience in weaving on a small hand loom, so they understand what they are doing. Let them take coloured passives after their own choice, and a working pair in different colour help and make individual snakes, although not all children need this. The snake pattern allows to introduce additional Ts to obtaine structure during the work- and again, they understand what they are doing. So, Alice, in my opinion, the best way to learn (or teach) something is neither "start hard to enjoy later", nor "make it as simple as possible for the little cuties". As children's brain capacities are usually underestimated, give them (as well as adults) something to understand the principles and teach them how to go on alone. There was a girl of 9 who sat at my side for hours, while i was making a small insertion in Tonder, some 20 pairs. After a while, she understood the CTTT point ground just from watching. I let her do some of the "ground only" areas on my lace, in 140 e.c, this was her first BL ever. She did it great, managed the footside only little after. My litle boy (now 7) has not the patience to make a whole pattern of his own. But he likes to "help" me and make a small area of CTpinCT "for me" ;-) A ten year old boy was watching last summer, again for hours, sitting opposite to me, a small table between us. When I gave him a start, he did al Cs and Ts in the wrong direction: just like he had seen them while watching from the back side. I was working an old Flemish pattern then, in linen 120/2, quite complicated. He could actually always show on the technical diagam where I was. And he never saw lacemaking before. Took him only minutes to learn the stitches the right way, and then he finished a snake. For me, it's important that they make "something real". The snake. A sampler bookmark for grandma's borthday. An egg-shaped (or hen or rabbit or flower) tape for Easter.. introduce more than one stitch in a short time, so they have to think, see differences, realize that it's them who make the pattern. enjoy! Eva, from grey and wet Germany - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[lace] Re: Corian
as the topic is still active: > > What type of material is corian? On ebay I've seen new bobbins of this in > combination with bone. > > Jean in Poole > > I think corian is an artificial material, I've seen it used for kitchen > worktops - don't know what bobbins of it would be like > jenny barron > > Scotland Corian (a DuPont brand name) is a special polyester (aliphatic, with some glycidylether monomers for polarity - I can check in detail if neccessary) highly filled (50 - 80 % w) with a grounded mineral (CaCo3 - which builds marble, too). Therefore its haptic is more like porcelain or marble than "plastic", but without the brittleness of the pure minerals. Durable, hard, high density, stable against temperature, impact resistant. I've never seen it in fragile shapes like a bobbin's neck, so I don't dare to guess wether it's flexibility would allow a normal on the pillow or wether it will break Eva, after a weekend with Ulrike Loehr and her snowflake quilt, eager to return to my pillow instead of working in my office *grrr* - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] Finnish Travel Pillow Again
Fellow Arachneans, some of you were interested in the "backpack pillow", the small finnish travel pillow with matching (and fitting) bag. I found Theo Brejaart has it in stock, there's a picture at his online ctalaogue Mine was cheeper, but I bought it at the annual german BL congress, directly from the finnish source. afak, they have no homepage, only e-mail Eva, Haltern, Germany - no UFOs, but lots of PIPs (Projects in Progress) - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [lace] backpack pillow
> On Tuesday, Sep 30, 2003, at 18:49 US/Eastern, Margot Walker wrote:
>
> > A supplier at last year's OIDFA Congress had a pillow that was part of
> > a backpack. It was really neat and compact. I don't remember who the
> > supplier was - I think Finnish or Danish. Does any one else remember?
Finnish.
I bought one at the German BL Congress this April. Strolled around these
pillows again and again,
countimg my bucks again and again (but they refused to become more), finally
I couldn't resist.
The pillow itself has the classical shape of danish pillows for yardage
(have a look on Bjarne's site, e.g.),
a half circle here the bobbins rest, a roller in the back part for the lace.
Covered with velvet, neatly worked,
it comes with 30 finish birch bobbins (continental) and a bag in matching
colour to the velvet.
The bag is not really a backpack. It has a strip for hand carrying and one
long enough for over the shoulder
and has an additional small compartment with zipper for yarn, scissor etc.
It's not heavy, not large, so it's easy to take it with you.
Tamara wrote:
> But whether it's going to make much difference in getting lacemaking to
> be the current fashion in "on the go" crafts, I'm not so sure... In the
> long run, bobbin lacemaking just isn't really portable, in more ways
> than one.
Of course, Tamara, BL will never be a craft for "z doskoku" , like the
tatting in the pocket is.
(one of my pocket poems:Another hour at the station / hear curses on the
"Deutsche Bahn" * /
but with my tatting in the
pocket/ even waiting time is fun.)
In German: "auf dem Sprung", no 1:1-translation either, ("on a jump") but
the meaning is, maybe similar to "z doskoku",
that one is prepared to jump on to the next duty, maybe just waiting for the
signal to be heared.
I like my finnish travel pillow, but would not unpack my carefully secured
bobbins for less than half an hour of lacemaking.
For an hours or so, it's great (waiting for children at different places,
e.g., waiting at a doctor's,...).
And I take it on a holyday trip, because space is very limited in my small
compact car.
And: it's beautiful.
> A raw beginner isn't likely to use a travel pillow -- they need larger
> bobbins to accomodate the thicker threads they start with. An advanced
> lacemaker is going to use one only as the last resort -- there's not a
> whole lot of appeal to most lace patterns which can be made with 16prs
> of bobbins (tops), especially if it's yardage (most travel pillows are
> geared for that, since there's less need for "paraphernalia" associated
> with piece laces).
I had no problems with a 30-pair tulle (yardage), and right now it carries
an old flemish yardage
from LOKK's "de linnenkast".
Travelling without BL would be much worse...
>needle lace, knitted lace, crochet lace and tatted lace beat BL out for
> convenience every time.
right. BL is no fast food craft. will never be.
bye for now, from a sunny autumn day,
Eva in Haltern, Germany
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[lace] Re: amateur / why we do this (long)
Oh, Liz, I enjoyed your "pricing ritual" story!
Some of my experiences and answers regarding lacemaking and its sense and
its pricelessness:
The only place i make lace in public is an old farm house, where I use to
spend my holidays on horse riding. Its a family place, and between lessons on
horse back for my children or me i enjoy sitting in front of the 150 year old
red brick building, under old trees, making lace in peace.
And I enjoy the opportunity to "demonstrate". Mostly children are curious,
always two or three become so fascinated, that they are sitting beside me for
hours, watching, and asking if they could have a try...
Since my second trip to this place, i always bring a small styro pillow, a
simple straight or snake pricking, some simple bobbins and coloured thick
cotton thread. There was never a week without one or two finished pieces.
So, answer to first "standard question" ("isn't that too difficult? i'd
never learn this...) is no more neccessary. i just point at the red-cheeked eight
year old boy (yes, as often as girls) beside me, who never knew that bobbins
even exist, and who now is able not only to make lace, to see wether he made
an mistake but even to retro it..
*g* I spread the virus...
my answer on that question #1 for children is always: "well, do you think
reading is difficult?". They understand.
for women interested in textile crafts (as most women in Germany know how to
knit): "it's just like knitting, where you have knit and purl. here it's
just cross and twist. one stitch after another, don't worry about the number of
stitches in a row, the number of bobbins on the pillow."
question #2: why are you doing this, what is this lace for?
i try to explain that I enjoy the making itself. and ask, wether they ever
made a puzzle or solved a crossword in a newspaper - and what they do with it
afterwards.. and that I enjoy solving my thread puzzle, and have beautiful
lace as an add on.. and that I only sometimes make lace for a certain purpose.
The main purpose is joy.
(my old song: I'm useful on the job, as mother, as housewife, and in many
other aspects. lacemaking is my recreation time, and has not to useful for
anyone but for me. and for me, it is)
question #3: how can you be so patient?
I need patience to do the things I don't like.. (ironing e.g.), not for the
things I enjoy. Sounds logical enough for most people *gg*
question #4: do you ever sell your lace?
If people, like in this holidays, have the opportunity to watch my
lacemaking more than a few minutes, the question mutates, including the answer, to:
"this can't be sold, it's unaffordable, isn't it?".
Which I confirm, saying that I keep my lace or give it as a gift for dear
and knowing people.
Thinking about that, I could imagine to make lace for period costumes. For a
theater which is really trying to choose authentic wear for the actors for
example... For a dressmaker like Bjarne or those who wear his clothes...
For not much more than the thread and the wine during the lacemaking hours..
just for the feeling, this piece of lace will be valued as it should in his
historical context.
Does this make any sense to you, fellow Arachneans?
bye for know - grey sky, cold, rainy, ugly outside. lacemaking weather.
grey inside: deep grief about the murder of Anna Lindh
Eva, Haltern, Germany
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