OIDFA 2021
The 19th OIDFA Congress was scheduled for August 2020 in Estonia, was postponed until 2021 and then cancelled due to the ongoing restrictions to international travel.The Executive Committee still wanted to hold the ‘Fairy Tale’ competition, recognising the work that had been done. They decided that the pieces of lace would be judged from photographs and the announcement of winners would be at the end of the Virtual General Assembly meeting held on Zoom at the end of July.. Fenland Lace Maker Kath Brandle had submitted a piece titled ‘The Princess and the Pea’ and was delighted when it was awarded 3rd prize. All submitted entries can be seen on the Congresses page of the OIDFA websitehttps://www.oidfa.com/cong.html.en
Fenland Lacemakers in 2021
Our monthly meetings and weekly Monday morning classes have continued to be held on Zoom,. A few have been able to make lace together outside on Wednesdays when the weather has been fine. And we managed one lovely Saturday outdoor get together.
Zoom meeting
Fenland Lacemakers have continued to meet each month via Zoom to talk about the lace projects we have been working on individually. This Thursday, 1 April we will have a speaker! Ann Day will be talking about the Lace Guild and its extensive collection of lace.
More solitary lace
Fenland Lacemakers and members of the Monday class have been doing quite a bit of lace during lockdown. Getting ahead (for once!) for Christmas is a recurring theme, and this shows the lovely festive pieces Jenny has made.
September meeting
Well, we actually managed to hold a meeting with several of our members – on Zoom! Although it was a shorter session than usual, and we didn’t make any lace, it was good to catch up after the last few months.
Lace during lockdown
Bobbin lace making is one of the many crafts that has kept people occupied during lockdown. Most lacemakers, having learnt the basic stitches, are able to follow the technical drawing for a pattern and have a stash of threads. The one thing they might not have is a new pricking to follow.
Xandra Baillieu, a teacher at the KantCentrum in Bruges, realised this and set up a Virtual Lace Group ‘ A P-lace Together’ accessed through Facebook. On 3 April 2020 she published a pricking and Technical drawing for a piece of Torchon lace. The word spread and the group now has over 2000 members worldwide. Each Wednesday a new pattern designed by one of the KantCentrum teachers or students is published, totalling 14 patterns to date, and members are encouraged to post pictures of their interpretations of the designs.
Here are 4 made by Kath.
June and beyond…
While social distancing guidelines are still in place it is not possible for us to meet on 4 June at Hemingford Grey Reading Room. As restrictions are lifted we will reassess the situation and will keep you informed by messages on this page.Take good care of yourselves, keep up the lace making – or whichever craft you are finding helps you through these difficult times.
Keep safe
No May meeting
Our monthly meetings are on hold at the moment, as are the Monday morning classes. More news in due course.
Planned meeting on 2 April
A message from our chairperson, Kath:-
In view of the escalating Coronavirus situation and the government guidelines on meetings and social distancing I think it is best if we do not meet on Thursday 2nd April.
This would have been a working evening, and I’m sure that you are all able to get on with your lace in the comfort of your own home.
If you need any help do get in touch by email or phone. I’m sure that pictures and diagrams can probably sort out most queries.
Keep safe.
Kath
