Welcome to Arachne's Web -- Lacemakers Guild
Who Are We:
We are a group of individuals who have
joined together to study the various forms of lace. While our
parent organization focuses on the knowne world up to 1600, we
let our focus range further afield to better understand lace.
To understand our interests and structure, please read our Charter.
Local Groups:
The promotion and continuation of Guilds
within the Society for Creative Anachronism is the done by the
individual members of these Guilds. To promote and encourage the
Lacemakers within the Society, individuals are encouraged to start
local gatherings (Orbs) of interested people within their local
areas. Organizing and sponsoring a local group can be done by
anyone. One does not have to have a particular level or status
within the Guild, one only needs to have enthusiasm and opportunity.
The leader of a local group gathering is called an 'Orb Leader'
and after sponsoring a group for one year, may add a freshwater
pearl to the her badge of the order.
In the past, it has been found that the sponsor of a local group
or "Orb" needs to find a evening and location available
to several people and invite them to have regular gatherings.
This can be once a month, once a week or at what ever frequency
is appropriate for the area. Frequently these gatherings take
on the atmosphere of a sewing bee as people gather to learn or
get help on projects. This is a good beginning. Limiting the gathering
to only those working on lace projects means the means limiting
the attendees. Creating a group where anyone working on handicraft
can attend and share their needlework, lacemaking,
bead work etc. means that you have enough members to create an
ongoing group.
To particularly encourage the lacemaking skills
within the group, the local Orb Leader should try and find an
occasional specialist or teacher to come to one or more meetings
to teach something like Hardanger or Tenerife or whatever the
group might like to learn as a new skill. This can be a local
person or some one who lives further away. Many people in the
SCA are willing to travel and teach to a small group of people
(6-8) for no pay except for reimbursement for supplies for the
class kit. (Usually under $5.00 unless one must buy a set of bobbin
for something like bobbin lace.) If the teacher would need to
travel some distance, the Orb Leader should consider organizing
a Saturday class, offering the teacher overnight Friday and Saturday
accommodations for sleeping and food. On the day of the class,
a pot-luck lunch for every one attending makes a good way to have
food and drink for the class. The most common problem that occurs
is that teachers are asked if they would come and teach, but no
actual dates and follow ups are provided. 2 or 3 dates not conflicting
with major events should be selected by the Orb members and then
passed on to the teacher to select the best day. Like an Autocrat,
the Orb Leader, must plan, organize, and follow up to provide
such gatherings. To receive the Pearl token to hang from the Web,
a letter signed by several of the Orb attendees briefly describing
the last years activities should be sent to the Guild Mistress.
She will then see that the Pearl is provided.
What the Group Does:
Classes and Meetings - occasional classses and meetings at West Kingdom A&S and Collegiums.
The Order also supports the Queen's Gift Chest by donating small
handmade gift items, which may be used by Royalty throughout their
reign.
The following is a list of suggestions:
Bookmarks
Sachets
Small pouches (about 3 by 4 inches) trimmed with lace
Needlecases
Small sewing kits
Handkerchiefs trimmed in lace
Donations are always needed. Some make pouches, and trim them,
some prefer to make medallions for others to mount on a pouch
or napkin. Some just send a bookmark now and then. Please try
to donate at least one or two small items a year to this chest.
Resources:
The group has an email list - WK_Lace on Yahoo Groups. While the list is relatively quiet, members may seek advice of members or organize meetings though this list. To join send an email to the list leader requesting admittance to the list. Membership is by admittance to reduce spam.
The group maintains an annotated booklist of useful books to lacemakers. The database is coordinated through the email list and all members may add to the database.
Useful Links
Current Guild Leader: Margery Garret 
Pages webbed by Sabrina de la Bere 12/2010