Circle City Lacers Display Handiwork at Library(posted June 2) Imagine being one of only five hundred people in the US who is actively making lace. Pamela Heady of Speedway just happens to be one of those estimated 500 lace makers. It is not a dying craft. It is just a time consuming delicate craft that requires patience. "Not everyone can sit down to a craft that is fragile. To make at least a quarter to a half of an inch of lace takes at least one hour," she said. Heady's interest in lacing began in 1999 when she enrolled in classes. "You can learn the basics in five to ten minutes but it takes a life time to do the craft beautifully," she said. The beginner is usually introduced to the torchone style because it is a simple technique using thicker thread. This technique can be applied to other styles. Other styles like Needle Point Lace and Chantilly require a finer thread. Heady is now involved with the guild called Circle City Lacers. Part of the guild's mission is to promote handmade lacing as well as preserving the craft. She noted the guild has a collection of antique lace displayed at Speedway Public Library. The guild members will be at the library June 30 to demonstrate the craft that requires bobbins, pillows, threads, and pins. Pins are required to hold the pattern together. The threads are pinned for at least 24 to 30 hours to make sure the patterns together. There is also an international guild called the International Old Lacers Inc. The July 29 2007 convention is in Tusla, Oklahoma. Heady likes the conventions because of all of the knowledge and information that can be gained by attending. This is not an outdoor craft. There are often times she has wanted to sit outdoors to lace, but she knows that venturing out could ruin her lace. The sun is no friend to a lacer because the sun dries out the threads, causing them to break. She noted the guild does not sell their lace projects because it is difficult to place a value on this labor intensive craft. She doubted if the public would have a true appreciation for the time and skill needed to make lace. |
|
