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Lace Events
The Lace Guild Summer School
Belsey Bridge Conference Centre, Ditchingham, Suffolk
12th–18th August, 2012
Tutors:
Pat Brunsdon — Decorative lace boxes
Joan Merrifield — Decorated nets
Nicky Höwener-Townsend — Suffolk lace
Belsey Bridge Conference Centre, a new venue for Summer School, is situated in Ditchingham on the Norfolk/Suffolk border and specialises in residential and day conferences. With over 20 acres of grounds the venue has a peaceful setting and there are many delightful walks in the surrounding countryside.
The centre is well known for the excellent quality of the food and provision of special diets. All fresh food is sourced locally and many groups apparently return year after year because of the food alone.
Traditional and contemporary laces with Pat Brunsdon
From beginner to those who understand the basics and may want to experiment with texture and colour, students will work to their own abilities in learning a new technique or developing their existing skills, or even taking it further and producing original designs.
For something a little different why not design and make a decorative lace box? Templates for several styles and shapes will be available or a box can be made from a pattern provided. Boxes will be made using different threads and textures to give a contemporary look.
Students will be able to work in the style of their choice, either purely traditional, or have guidance with introducing colour and texture in a free contemporary style.
Pat has been making and teaching lace for many years and enjoys making both traditional and contemporary pieces. A past member of The Lace Guild Executive Committee, she now exhibits contemporary work with the 98 Lace Group and the Eastern Region Textile Forum.
Decorated nets with Joan Merrifield
This is your opportunity to learn or further your knowledge of Carrickmacross, Limerick and Coggeshall tambour lace. Total beginners are encouraged to come along – there is something for everyone.
Carrickmacross and Limerick laces are worked in the hand using needle and thread. Carrickmacross inspired the lace used on Catherine Middleton’s wedding dress, here is your chance to find out how Carrickmacross is made.
Coggeshall tambour lace has cotton net mounted into an embroidery hoop and is worked using a tambour hook to make a continuous chain stitch to outline the design and create the fillings. Beads and sequins can also be attached by the tambour method. Patterns and materials will be available for purchase at Summer School.
Joan has been teaching net laces for over 25 years tutoring at week and weekend courses at various venues including The English Lace School, Knuston Hall and she was a tutor at the Lace Guild Summer School in 2008. An interview ‘Joan Merrifield – Tambour Lace Teacher’ appeared in Lace 129.
Suffolk lace with Nicky Höwener-Townsend
Suffolk lace is a point ground lace, its name coming from the county in which the industry was based for over 200 years. For this course we will be sampling and working a number of the patterns that are known to have been produced by the lacemakers working in Suffolk during the 19th century. There will also be opportunity to learn more about Suffolk’s lacemaking past.
You will need to have at least a basic working knowledge of lacemaking skills/techniques. However, the course is suitable for those who are both new to or who want to develop their knowledge of point ground lace further. We will begin by working a simple sample piece of Suffolk lace to establish each person’s level of ability and then progress accordingly at a level suited to the individual. The aim being for each person to be able to work and complete at least one small item, such as a round/oval or square edging and also to begin working a piece such as a bookmark or motif that has been adapted from a Suffolk lace design.
Nicky’s interest in lacemaking began in the late 1980s when a friend introduced her to Torchon lace. She was hooked from the outset and soon progressed to working other types of lace, but she particularly enjoyed working point ground.
For twelve years she taught lacemaking to children at a local middle school, organising an annual exhibition of their work. During that time she took a teaching course which led to her teaching lacemaking at Lowestoft College, now run privately and known collectively as Waveney Lacemakers.
Nicky’s life took an interesting turn a few years ago when she made an ‘unexpected find’ in the form of an old postcard, depicting a Suffolk lacemaker and which subsequently resulted in nine years of research and the publication of her book Suffolk Lace and the Lacemakers of Eye in 2009.
Cost
LACE GUILD MEMBERS: ensuite single/double room, £575
NON-LACE GUILD MEMBERS: ensuite single room, £695
NON-LACEMAKING GUESTS: in a shared double room, £420
The price for lacemakers includes full board and tuition from dinner on Sunday 12 August to breakfast on Saturday 18 August.