News and Updates
September 2016
The North Downs Lacemakers 35th Lace Day will be held on the 24th September 2016 at The Yateley Centre.
Our speaker will be Marion Maule talking on Fascination of Fans, and there will be a display of members fans and recent work. Our suppliers will be:
- General Supplier - Claire's Lace
- Bobbin maker - Sarah Jones
- Bead supplier - Creative Designs, Marilyn Rogers
- Threads supplier - La La with Love
- Sales - Antique Lace and Bobbins
Please send a SAE to our Treasurer Heather Clements for tickets £6 and Young Lacemakers £1.50
Photographs from our previous Lace Days: 2014 Lace Day | 2013 Lace Day | 2012 Lace Day | 2011 Lace Day | 2010 Lace Day | 2009 Lace Day.
August
We had a very successful exhibition in June 2016 at The Needlework Archive at Greenham. You can see some pictures from the event here.
June 2016
Northdowns Lacemakers are holding an exhibition of our work at The Needlework Archive, Greenham 14th June 2016 to 7th July 2016 and we are looking for demonstrators and pieces of lace to exhibit.
February 2016
Take a look at some pictures of Northdowns work and members helping on the Lace Guild Stand at the Make-it Exhibition which took place on 26th - 27th February 2016 at Farnborough.
September 2015
North Downs Annual Lace Day 2015
The North Downs Lacemakers 34th Lace Day was held on the 26th September 2015 at The Yateley Centre.
Our speaker was Sandy Snowden a textile artist who brought some of her costumes and quilts to display. Our suppliers were:
- General Supplier - Church Meadow Crafts
- Bobbin maker - Margaret Wall
- Bead supplier - Creative Designs, Marilyn Rogers
- 50/50 second hand book stall
Photographs from our previous Lace Days: 2014 Lace Day | 2013 Lace Day | 2012 Lace Day | 2011 Lace Day | 2010 Lace Day | 2009 Lace Day.
June 2015
Some photo's of the North Downs visit to the Museum of English Rural Life, Reading with Dr Nicolette Makovicky on 19th June 2015 to help identify their lace collection.
April 2015
North Downs are exhibiting lace at The Lace Guild Headquarters in Stourbridge until the 24th April, you can see some photo's of the display here.
October 2014
Now to 26th October 2014 - The Lace Guild and Lace Society have produced an exhibition titled 'Imagine... Lace at Waddesdon' at National Trust's Waddesdon Manor, nr. Aylesbury, Bucks www.waddesdon.org.uk
NDL Members - Christmas Competition for December 2014 is 'Under the Sea'. Start now! We would love to see your entry at the Christmas meeting.
September 2014
North Downs Annual Lace Day 2014
The North Downs Lacemakers 33rd Lace Day was held on the 27th September 2014 at The Yateley Centre.
You can see photographs from the day here.
February 2014
21st to 23rd February - UNRAVEL - Festival of Knitting, Venue: Farnham Maltings, Farnham, Surrey.
28th February to 2nd March 2014 - MAKE-IT show, Venue: FIVE, Farnborough, Hants.
1st February to 14th March 2014 - GATHERING MEMORIES - Exhibition of Contemporary textiles, Venue: Needlework Archive, Newbury, Berks RG19 6HW.
September 2013
North Downs Annual Lace Day 2013
The North Downs Lacemakers 32nd Lace Day was held on the 28th September 2013 at The Yateley Centre.
You can see photographs from the day here.
June 2013
The Box of Nature's Delights - June 2013
Our talented Fritillary Group entered The Lace Guild Contrasts Exhibition and not only have been awarded a medal of excellence, but also The Northumbria Lacemakers Trophy for groups of 10 more lacemakers.
View some pictures of the box here.
April 2013
Lace Guild convention 2013
15 members of North Downs went to the Lace Guild Convention weekend at Kidderminster and had a wonderful time in the sunshine. Click here for the photo.
March 2013
Make-it show 2013
Several of the North Downs Members were there helping at the Lace Guild Stand at the Make-it Show at Farnborough 3rd March. The show was a great success, see you next year.
July 2012
Crowthorne Flower festival - July 2012
North Downs were demonstrating at the Crowthorne Flower festival on the 14th and 15th July.
View some pictures of our stand here.
O.I.D.F.A. Congress - July 2012
Members of North Downs Lacemakers went to Caen for the O.I.D.F.A. Congress in July, we all had a wonderful time and have come home with many new patterns and lace items.
View our picture here.
February 2012
North Downs Members helped the Lace Guild on their stand at the Make-It Show in Farnborough, Hants. We all had a lovely time demonstrating and helping newcomers to lace to make a small fish. There was a lot of interest and we passed quite a few names to local teachers. These craft shows are a lovely way to introduce people to the art of lace.
Read more and see the display here.
The North Downs Lacemakers 31st Lace Day will be held on the 29th September 2012 at The Yateley Centre from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Our speaker will be Veronica Main - 'A Curator's life' - working with precious items, hats and lace.
September 2011
We had a very successful day on Saturday 10th September demonstrating in Princes Mead, Farnborough. Carol Powell, our Chairman, was photographed by the Farnborough and Aldershot News, so look out for her in the local weekly paper.
Read more and see the pictures here.
July 2011
The North Downs Lacemakers 30th Lace Day will be held on Saturday 24th September 2011 at The Yateley Centre, School Lane, Yateley, Hants GU46 6NW from 10.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Our speaker is Nicky Howener-Townsend talking about 'Suffolk Lace'.
May 2011
Pass the Pillow update
At the beginning of May the lace measures 2.43 metres and there have been 1400 people 'having a go'. We would like to have 2012 participants in time for the 2012 Olympics. Have you had a go? If not you can catch the pillow at the following events. If you have any suggestions of an event where the pillow could go please contact Pauline McLeod. These Pass-the-Pillow events are booked for 2011 so far:
| May 21st | Chepstow Lacemakers and Beadworkers May Fair, Chepstow, Monmouthshire |
| June 4th | Poole Lace Day, Wimbourne, Dorset |
| July 24th or 31st | Rural Life Museum, Tilford, Surrey |
| September 10th,11th | Kidzfest, Farnham, Surrey |
| September 24th,25th | Michaelmas Fair, Weyhill, Surrey |
March 2011
Pass the Pillow update
At the beginning of March the lace measures 2.24 metres and there have been 1251 people 'having a go'. We would like to have 2012 participants in time for the 2012 Olympics. Have you had a go? If not you can catch the pillow at the following events. If you have any suggestions of an event where the pillow could go please contact Pauline McLeod. These Pass-the-Pillow events are booked for 2011 so far:
| March 5th | Woodley Lace Dayn Woodley Baptist Church,Woodley, Berks |
| March 12th | Glevum Lace Makers, Gloucester |
| April 8-10 | Lace Guild Convention, Heelis, National Trust Headquarters, Swindon, Wilts |
| April 30th | Lace Society Rally, Solihull, West Midlands |
| May 21st | Chepstow Lacemakers and Beadworkers May Fair, Chepstow, Monmouthshire |
| June 4th | Poole Lace Day, Wimbourne, Dorset |
| July 24th or 31st | Rural Life Museum, Tilford, Surrey |
| September 10th,11th | Kidzfest, Farnham, Surrey |
| September 24th,25th | Michaelmas Fair, Weyhill, Surrey |
Heritage Centre, Camberley
The Heritage Centre is now set up and has generated a great deal of interest. Please go along see the display.
October 2010
Heritage Centre, Camberley
The Heritage Centre has now moved to its new premises, NDL are able to have the use of one large window. The display will consist of the Kaleidoscope, the screen, Reflections and the spiral. We do, however, need white lace, if possible, in a traditional style. Please give to Ann Day.
July 2010
Fritillary Group News
We are happy to report that our latest project 'Clockwork Mice' has been awarded a Medal for Excellence in the 2010 Lace Guild exhibition, Movement. It will be on show at the Walsall Museum from 17th July to 25th September (for details see The Lace Guild web site), and locally as soon as we get it back!. View our Fritillary pages here.
May 2010
Pass the Pillow
We particularly need help with the Pillow event at Cove Village Fayre on 5th June. They are local events for some of you, so if you can spare an hour or two please let me know. Essential requirements:- knowledge of Torchon Lace and patience! The Pillow will also be taken to the Convention and volunteers are needed. Please see Mary Hocking.
Suggestions for Speakers would be very helpful, please let Sue Martin know.
April 2010
Pass the Pillow
The lace has now reached 132 cms and 429 people have participated. The pillow is booked to go to:
- 2nd April - Heritage Gallery, Camberley from 1:30pm
- 9th to 11th April - Lace Guild Convention, Worcester
- 27th April - Whitchurch Silk Mill
They are local events for some of you, so if you can spare an hour or two please let me know. Essential requirements:- knowledge of Torchon Lace and patience! For more info please contact: Mary Hocking
March 2010
Pass the Pillow
We particularly need help with the Pillow events for Rushmoor Festival on 27th March at The Monkey Puzzle, Farnborough, and on 18th April at The West End Centre Aldershot and also at Cove Village Fayre on 5th June. They are local events for some of you, so if you can spare an hour or two please let me know. Essential requirements:- knowledge of Torchon Lace and patience!
Mary Hocking
January 2010
Celebrating Surrey
Taking place on the 26th and 27th of June at Losely House, we are planning to make a lace 'pod' at this event and would be grateful for the loan of:
- a small 'pop-up' tent
- a Gazebo with sides (preferably of the 'instant' variety, rather than slot together poles)
Plans are in the early stages, but we hope you will all help us by taking part in a group activity at the AGM meeting in April. This should be great fun, if somewhat chaotic!
Read about Celebrating Surrey here.
December 2009
Christmas Tree Festival at St Mark's, Farnborough
Many thanks to you all for the loan of your lace Christmas decorations, The Lacey Tree worked well and the wire angels fitted along the crochet edging to the altar cloth really well. The tree looked fantastic and got lots of comments - in fact it won the visitor prize for the under 4ft tree section. See Eve's photo of the tree in situe on the Holy Family altar here. Contributors were Margaret Bradly, Ann Day, Carol Hughes, Sue Martin, Jean Rooke and Eve Corrall.
November 2009
Make it Exhibition
This year Make It will be on 26th- 28th February at Farnborough. We will be running a stand on behalf of The Lace Guild. If you would like to help please contact Ann Day. You may not make much lace but you will have the opportunity to talk to lots of lovely crafts people and get to see the exhibition, which is aimed at card makers and scrap bookers but with other stands as well.
www.make-it.org.uk/visiting.php.
Carnival in Lace
Works by the Bristol Lace Group inspired by Carnival in the UK and beyond at the Bridgwater Arts Centre, 11-13 Castle Street, Bridgewater, Somerset TA6 3DD. Tues to Fri 10.30 to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 1pm. Admission free.
http://www.bridgwaterartscentre.co.uk/exhibitions.php.
October 2009
Christmas Tree Festival at St Mark's, Farnborough
Eve has been asked to provide a tree for this on behalf of North Downs and would appreciate the loan of some lace decorations. The Festival is on 28th and 29th November so if you are able to help please would you bring your decorations to the November Meeting. They will then be returned at the December Meeting. There will also be a Craft Fair in the Church Hall on 29th November.
Fabulous fibres
From 1 December 2009 - 9 January 2010 at Haselmere Museum Surrey. This will feature artifacts made from plant and the raw materials they are made of from all over the world. This is being staged by Kew. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10.0 am - 5.00 pm.
www.haslemeremuseum.co.uk.
The National Needlework Archive
The Old chapel, Main Street, New Greenham Park, Newbury Berkshire are conserving an enormous stumpwork embroidery "The Country Wife" made by Constance Howard for the Festival of Britain in 1951. You can go and see it being conserved. The Archive looks to be an interesting place to visit.
www.nationalneedleworkarchive.org.uk.
September 2009
Whitchurch Mill CD
A CD of the images from the Exhibition at Whitchurch Mill will be available at the Lace Day, price £6.00. To find out more about the CD click here.
August 2009
Eve Corrall's work accepted for NAIL
Eve Corrall submitted work for NAIL (New Artists in Libraries) scheme earlier in the year and has been accepted. She has a small exhibition at the Hampshire Record Office, Sussex Street, Winchester, SO23 8TH (very near the Station) until 28th August as part of a display called 'Threads of History'. Open Monday to Friday, 9am-7pm, Saturday, 9am-4pm There are a few pieces of lace from the Hampshire Museum Service on display as well as information about textiles and associated shops etc in Hampshire.
The work with some other pieces will then be in Farnborough Library during September. Eve will be demonstrating on at least one day as yet to be arranged.
