Hello Spiders, Like Jill, I mostly "lurk", but having just read 4 months of Arachne digests I thought I should make a couple of comments. (As Anna mentioned I have been overseas and don't access anything electronically whilst away, but I don't suspend my Arachne membership in case I miss something of interest). The trip itself had almost no textile component - I did visit the Great Tapestry of Scotland, which was fabulous (although the parking ticket I've just received for enjoying it for too long isn't!) and, as you do when on the other side of the world, I met Marie Laurie from just up the road here in Oz doing the same thing. I also called in to the Lace Guild and met Jacquie Tinch who mentioned that Jill was working the pattern published in "Lace". I have just gone through all of the lacemaking magazines that arrived in my absence and Jill, I hope you have realised that you need 12 more pairs than mentioned in the list of requirements. I prepared and sent the pattern and all its info while I was travelling in Denmark last year - I had no access to photocopying and therefore no record of what had been sent, but thought I may have not counted the pairs correctly; the correct number of pairs was provided when I sent the story of the pattern to Susan later, but didn't get transferred onto the original paperwork. I maintain a separate file of collected "gee whiz - I'd like to do (or fiddle with) that some day" patterns and my favourite designers of Torchon lace are Jane Atkinson, Anne-Marie Clegg and Hubert Van Hoorebeke. Anne-Marie Verbeke's Binche patterns are another great favourite and I love Ulrike Voelker's books/patterns/analysis. I'm totally opposed to ranking designers, though, because everyone is looking for something different. All of us will tend to neglect those designers whose patterns are for a lace style we don't personally have any interest in. Although after more than 30 years of lacemaking I have finally begun to see some merit in making samples, I really prefer to work on proper projects. But, my interest is primarily in the process, testing and trying new techniques or design ideas, and I seldom have an actual purpose for the finished project. Pieces for competitions and proficiency assessments are the ONLY pieces that have their ends properly sewn in and are appropriately mounted! Christine J Date: Sat, 3 May 2014 18:40:34 +0100 From: "Jill Harward" <jill.harw...@btinternet.com> Subject: [lace] Lace Guild Magazine - Christine Johnson Dear Spiders, My Lace Guild magazine arrived yesterday and I was over the moon to see the pattern and working diagram of Christine Johnson's Medieval Garden and for which Christine was awarded the John Bull Trophy for 'lace by a lacemaker who is not a teacher'. I just had to write to thank Christine, who I think is a member of Arachne - she will not know me, I am generally a 'Lurker' but I felt compelled to write to Christine for being so generous in submitting this pattern to the magazine and the time spent originally working out a coloured diagram of the technical drawing. I first saw the photo of the finished lace on the back of issue Number 151 and just 'drooled' over it and wished it was a pattern available to us. Well my wish came true as here it is, looking absolutely beautiful again in the current issue. I have been floundering a bit for the past five or six months due to some sad family circumstances and doing a little bits on pieces already on the go but none of them seem to pull me in to get enthusiastic again. All I keep saying to my friends is that I need 'inspiring' but had no idea what to do, that is until I opened the Lace Magazine yesterday and Woo Hoo! I cannot possibly do any justice to your amazing piece Christine but you have spurred me on and at last I have found my 'get-up-and-go' and diving into my cupboard for a spare pillow, bobbins and thread!! I cannot wait to get started J I guess this is also giving advance warning to Jacquie Tinch, our lace tutor just what I will be turning up with in class - she is probably turning a nice shade of puce at the thought - only joking Jacquie, she relishes a challenge! That's it and all that is left is to say once again a huge thanks to Christine for unknowingly lifting my spirits. Jill
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