I started making lace in the seventies. A friend had lent me a book that covered many craft techniques. Including a chapter on Bobbin Lace, I knew immediately that I would have to learn this new (to me) technique. I already tatted but didn't think of it as "lace". At that time I also knitted and crocheted as well as various embroideries. I generally made scarves and mittens, some sweaters. I did bead work to embellish my clothes. I'm not even sure where I learnt to embroider or do bead work. While I enjoyed these hobbies, nothing took me off and away on its wing as bobbin lacemaking did. I knew I had found my main love.

      This was at a time when there were few books and patterns available. Even from the library. I did eventually find some books to buy at one of the local department stores. Use the source listing in the back to send for catalogs describing all of the wondrous things for sale. Finally I found a bobbin lace calls offered through adult education. Of course, I was the only one to sign up and it was cancelled. But my girlfriend had signed up for the macramé class that had the same teacher listed as the lace class did. So I signed up to take the macramé so I could me the teacher. It turned out that she also taught in her home. For ten dollars I got five lessons, and was on my own to further my knowledge in lacemaking. There was nothing available locally, I had to turn to my books and order supplies from one of the sources listed there. Most were in England, and a few here in the USA.

      In one of the many craft magazines that I bought, I found an ad for the International Old Lacers Inc. (IOLI) with subscription information. So away I sent my subscription. Back then none of my friends had the least idea of what I was talking about. I got that 'oh that's nice' response when talking about making lace. It was like being in the wilderness! After joining the IOLI, the founding members of the Minnesota Lace Society (MLS) found my named listed in IOLI. There sent me an invitation to join the MLS and I've been a member since the second meeting in the fall of 1977. It was wonderful to talk with someone that understood cross and twist. We had more bobbin lacemakers, then other lace work. Now we have a wide variety, including a lady who paints lace and does not make.

      All of the work pictured here in my gallery has been made by me. All but five of them are my original designs. The five are titled Wedding Heart, Tape Lace Heart, Fish, Honiton Shell, and Wire Angel.

I hope you've enjoyed this odyssey.
››› Darlene ‹‹‹