September was rather quiet compared to my previous crazy birthday month!
I kept working on mastering Windows 11 on my new PC before it got the best of me! There are lots of challenges with finding and setting up my files and folders, but I am making progress.
The highlight of September was our annual Heritage Day celebration at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We celebrate the roots of Appalachian and global heritage craft techniques. Of course, in this area of North Carolina all the Appalachian crafts and customs are practiced and celebrated, as well as my multi-faceted global heritage techniques.
The only true American heritage lace technique is Broomstick Lace, which was first practiced by the pioneer ladies. After they swept their wagons, they used the top end of their brooms to wrap string or narrow fabric strips (cut from worn clothing or flour sacks) around and turned that into rugs. Necessity was the mother of invention.
Other techniques I practice come from my corner of the world. I grew up making Thread Lace trim around pillowcases or handkerchiefs, then I graduated to making very ornate tablecloths and bedspreads with tiny metal hooks. I made doll clothes for my baby doll from cotton thread when I was little. This form of lace crochet was very popular in Germany, Austria, parts of Switzerland and in northern Italy, where it was sometimes combined with linen inserts, featuring colorful cross stitch embroidery.
Hairpin Lace originated at Queen Victoria’s court when one of her maids wrapped fine thread around one of the hairpins which the Queen wore to hold up a lacy headcover while attending mass. British ladies embraced this new way of using old hairpins and turned it into a beautiful technique.
Tunisian Crochet and Lace was also known as Afghan crochet. The name Tunisian Crochet originated in central Asia (Afghan comes from Afghanistan) and moved west with a stop in Tunisia and up into Europe and Scandinavia. France occupied Tunisia for a while, hence the actual name of Tunisian crochet. It was popular for blankets, afghans and other solid-textured items. It fell out of favor because of its tendency to roll and be unyielding. However, it is beautiful if practiced with a large hook and a soft material, like mohair.
Filet crochet was popular in Europe and for a while in this country. It is worked from a chart, which lends itself to creating letters and numbers for many home and clerical uses. It was a punishment for me to stick to the chart, even as a child I preferred the option to meander and create my own design.
My personal favorite is Irish Crochet, which has its roots during the potato famine in 1845. The Vatican sent several nuns to Ireland to teach the local ladies how to make lace flowers, roses, leaves and shamrocks to supplement their income. We all know the Rose of Sharon and the Rose of Killarney; each county in Ireland has a flower or a symbol all their own. Since I spent a lot of time in Ireland as a child, I am very fond of working the floral themes in many of my creations.
To see samples of the above techniques on my website, click here: https://heirloomtreasuresfiberarts.com/heritage-lace-techniques/.
A wonderful thing happened to me the day before our Heritage celebration. Several of the artists were setting up in the Auditorium of the Folk Art Center and when I finished with my set-up, I went upstairs to our exhibition gallery, where the “Embellishments” exhibit had just opened the previous day. I heard our guardian of the exhibition call after me: “Here you are!”, then she introduced me to a visitor from Baltimore who had just purchased both of my Irish Sisters headbands and wished she could meet the artist. Can you believe it? That was an outright miracle, and I am so excited to have the first sale of the exhibit! The lady doesn’t even mind that the 2 headbands must stay in the case until January when the exhibition ends.
October will be a very busy month. I will be back at the Folk Art Center to demonstrate in the lobby on the 12th. through the 15th, which is our prime time for leaf looking and we will have lots of visitors. I love that time of year, because the days go really fast.
The following weekend is our big Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair event at the AG Center in Asheville, across from the airport. I will be teaching 8 workshops over 4 days and hope to see some of you fiber friends again! Several of my students take a different class each year, which is a great way to hone your skills.
My 2023 SAFF Workshops are as follows:
Thursday, October 19, 9 am till noon: Easy Tunisian Crochet and Lace
Thursday, October 19, 1 pm till 4 pm: Crochet Design Secrets
Friday, October 20, 9 am till noon: Heirloom Crochet Thread Lace
Friday, October 20, 1 pm to 4 pm: Discover Crochet Miniatures
Saturday, October 21, 9 am till noon: Crochet Geometrics
Saturday, October 21, 1 pm till 4 pm: Great Granny Square Creations
Sunday, October 22, 9 am till noon: Continental Knitting
Sunday, October 22, 1 pm till 4 pm: The Finishing Touches
To review all workshops and to register, click here:
https://saffregistration.org/secure/grouplistpublic.asp
My Great Granny Square Creations Workshop was featured in the October issue of Bold Life Magazine. To check it out, click here:
https://www.boldlife.com/a-square-tat-came-full-circle/
The week after SAFF I will have some family coming to visit and after they leave it will be time to get ready for Halloween! My entire neighborhood will be decorated; everyone dresses up and celebrates together. We always have a ball!
Enjoy your October, happy fall to all!
“I do what I love and I love what I do”
New in my World:
The two Irish Sisters in the “Embellishment” exhibition.
Going home to Baltimore in January 2024.
Sample of Italian thread lace with cross stitch flowers on linen inserts.
Awaiting restoration………………………….