Hi all,
This is a different way of doing a hands on demo at heritage events. Just
have to share my joy with you about my lacemaking demonstration at Grande
Levee in Vandalia, IL this past weekend(June 16-17). It was the typical hot
and muggy, yet nice breeze, June in the high 90s F...unbearable, but we
still had fun visiting with friends and the crowd. I got the usual
questions about the lace I was making.I switch back and forth from
lacing on the pillow to tatting with a shuttle..and was happy to answer
any questions. We even sold a few items which is a perk!
But there is this one happy memory at this event that I will always
treasure. Usually the kids are fascinated by my lacemaking, of course I
don't let them touch it, but occasionally I will let them have a go at
trying to tat or bobbinlace. Amongst the crowd two ladies(mother and
daughter type) came up slowly and I looked up from my pillow to notice that
one of them was blind(not sure if she was partial or fully blind from her
wearing dark glasses) but her caretaker was with her to help explain where
she was. I had the most fortunate experience to explain in detail of
exactly what I was doing and the motion that it took to achieve the lace.
Normally I don't let anyone touch the lace or the pillow(even tho some do
sneak a few touches before I can say something), but with the prompting of
her caretaker I just had to give this person a full hands on experience.
This precious blind person touched the pillow and felt the bobbins while I
explained, and also touched the pins. Then I had her touch the finished
Bedfordshire lace edging that was spilling down the roller pillow. All the
while she was fondling my pillow, both her and her caretaker were hing
and ing and each part. I don't know what kind of feelings were
going thru this persons hands and mind to be touching something that she may
never get to do herself but experience it through another's, but I was so
elated to have this opportunity to show a visually impaired person the fine
art of lacemaking! I completely forgot how hot and sweaty I was and was
completely enthralled by this. Just gives me a warm fuzzy feeling writing
this up :)
After the crowd had dispersed a bit, I turned to Kim(my wife, she was
working on her silk ribbon embroidery back behind the table) and asked if
she saw what just happened and HOW COOL IT WAS! I now have a new found
mindset every time I sit and make lace. It reminds me of the real reason
we do the heritage demonstrations..educate the people and have
rapport with the public!
Below are pictures of me at our booth at Grande Levee. Wife avoids the
camera at all cost ;)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1284/589158763_b3e41537e8_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1423/589158705_963015c8fd_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1023/589158679_3115ce24f5_o.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1051/589158655_0405a11e94_o.jpg
Thanks for letting me share,
Mark, aka Tatman
In hot and muggy and we are supposed to get rain today.I don't believe
the weatherman. My garden is starving for a downpour.Greenville, IL USA
Www.tat-man.net
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