Lace Threads Spring 2005
President’s Message
As president I would like to invite everyone to attend our annual meeting in April. This year we need to elect a vice- president and secretary. After the elections Dewi will be gracious enough to teach us how to make Chinese Knots. The election is very important, I hope everyone will be able to come and vote. We all know Dewi is a wonderful lace-maker and vice-president. Dewi as always will do a wonderful job teaching us Chinese Knots. This will be my third annual meeting, and I have had a wonderful time at each meeting. Can you think of a better way to spend a Saturday than with terrific people, learning something new and of course eating wonderful food? We always have a great time so please mark you calendar now for the first Saturday in April. Don’t forget to read the calendar of future events. We have some fun, interesting workshops coming this spring.. – Theresa Troyan
No articles appearing in this newsletter may be reproduced without the express permission of the author.
Nominations and Dues are Due Again
It is hard to believe that a year has passed, but it is that time again. If there is a red dot on your mailing label your dues have not been paid for 2005. Please send your checks for $15.00 made out to Pittsburgh Lace Group (not to The Trimble College Fund) to Joan Trimble, 3822 Greensburg Pike, Pittsburgh, Pa 15221. To be included on the membership list dues must be paid by March 1st. Membership Lists will be available at the Annual Meeting April 2nd, or by sending a S.A.S.E. to Joan.
It is also time to elect a Vice President and Secretary. If you are willing to serve, or wish to nominate someone, please contact Joan Trimble – (412) 731-2095 E-mail joaniespumoni@attbi.com.
Calendar of Future Events
Thursday, March 3, 7:00 P.M. Regular Monthly Meeting at Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church
Saturday, April 2, 10:00 A.M. – Annual Meeting and Chinese Knotting Class at Grace Reformed Church
Friday, April 15 – 6:00 – 9:00 P.M. Lecture on Normandy Blonde and Polychrome at Churchill Borough
Saturday and Sunday, April 16-17, 9:00 A.M. –5:00 P.M. – Pompi Parry workshop at Churchill Borough Bldg.
Thursday, May 5, 7:00 P.M. Regular Monthly Meeting at Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church
Saturday and Sunday, May14-15, 11:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.-Demonstration at Phipps Conservatory
Thursday, June 2, 7:00 P.M. Regular Monthly Meeting at Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church
Thursday, July 7, 7:00 P.M. Regular Monthly Meeting at Grace Reformed Presbyterian Church
Christmas Party by Amy Gibbons
This was the last year for Russ Groff to join us at Christmas. We have enjoyed having him bring his wonderful lace supplies to the church on Hochberg Road. Russ is selling his business and retiring after many years of providing supplies to many weavers and lacemakers around the world. It was wonderful to see our good friends and to sit and chat while browsing through books and sampling the food everyone had brought. We were blessed with good weather for the day and I think everyone had a good time. I am sure that I am not alone in having spent more than I planned. Next year’s Christmas Party is at this time undetermined. Suggestions are welcome. Please make them to the officers or bring them to a meeting. Perhaps there is a different vendor who would be pleased to come spend a Saturday with us or someone will do some remodeling. Nationality Rooms by Amy Gibbons
On December 4th we joined together to chat and make lace in the Croghan Schenley Room at The Cathedral of Learning in Oakland. Amy Gibbons, Barbara Lis, Betsy Sykes, Robin Panza, Suzanne Potter, Joan Trimble and Theresa Troyan, Dewi Wong and Louise Chuha joined together in our annual Christmas Season kick off event. After this event we all know that Christmas is approaching fast, and many projects either get curtailed or abandoned for another year. With heroic efforts of our intrepid president, the Nativity was completed and made it’s first appearance. (see pictures page 5)
This year we were excited by the lace worn by Rosalia Pampena which had been made by her grandmother. When you leave me out of the room, I see things and spotted this beautiful torchon lace on her cap. She was kind enough to bring it back to show the ladies, who were all very appreciative. As we took down the tree and got ready to leave, we were saddened by the knowledge that Robin would soon be leaving for California
Postcard from the Hinterland
Hi, all! Haven’t done any lace since leaving Pgh, and haven’t met with the Moonlight Lacers, even though they meet very close by. Spending my time helping care for my dad and taking two computer classes–AutoCAD (computer drafting) and Photoshop (computer graphics). Trying to decide what to do with my life. Miss you all, and hope to see you in April. Love, Robin
Call for Contributions!
As always, any and all contributions to this newsletter are most welcome. Any news about members, other lacemakers, bobbins, threads, patterns, books, ideas pictures send ’em and keep ’em coming!
Phipps Conservatory ~ May 14-15
Anyone interested in demonstrating at Phipps Conservatory on May 14 or 15 between 11:00 A.M. and
4:00 P.M. please contact Amy at 412-828-7362 or E-mail Gibbons 214 @aol.com. It is always nice to see the Spring Flowers and share lace making there. The questions from the public are really the best we det any where. If you have any new sites that would like us to demonstrate, please tell the officers of PLG.
Annual Meeting Saturday ~ April 2nd
The meeting will begin at 10:00A.M at the Grace Reformed Church on Hochberg Road. Membership Lists will be available at this meeting To be included, please send your dues to Joan Trimble by March 27th. There are many jobs looking for volunteers and it is again time to elect a Vice President and Secretary. We are looking forward to discussing program possibilities as well as any ideas that you might want to share. Bring along some food to share and stay for a class in Chinese Knotting with Dewi Wong. For information, read on.
Chinese Knotting with Dewi Wong
I will be offering a Chinese Knotting workshop which will include working on a few basic knots. Please bring colorful cords, gold cords, satin/rayon “rattail” for necklace cord or leather (round) cord. About 3 yards of each color. Scissors, pillow for making lace or macramé board, pins. If you are not sure what to bring, I will have some material also, but you must have your pillow or board and pins. Any questions contact Dewi.
Normandy Blond and Polychrome Slide Lecture ~ April 165th
Finish your taxes and join us for an evening with Pompi Parry at the Churchill Borough Building. Pompi is a very knowledgeable teacher from England. She provided the English translation of “Dentelles Normandes Polychrome de Courseulles” written by Claudette and Michel Bouvot. ( This book will be available to view at Thursday night Classes and the Annual Meeting.) the book has illustrations of a French polychrome lace, made between 1897 and 1922, in the Normandy village of Courseulles sur Mer. The techniques used are same as for Normandy Blonde lace, but using coloured silks. Gold silver and copper metal threads were also used. The lecture will be a feast for the eyes after this long gray winter.
We will provide the coffee and hope that you will provide some desserts and snacks for everyone to enjoy. Please bring your friends along to enjoy the fun. Dewi is still organizing the vendors, if you have questions, please contact her.
There will be a special guest appearance by Robin Panza who is coming to take the workshop.
Pompi Parry Workshop ~ April 16 & 17
There are three subject options available at the workshop. Downton is a traditional Pointe Ground Lace made in and around Downton England. I took Downton from Pompi a few years ago and found it to be very much like Bucks Point, but more regular in its technique. It is an excellent way to become comfortable with Point Ground Laces. Polychrome Normandie Blond is the subject of the lecture on Friday night and is a unique method of blending colors. The silk threads needed for this class are available from Pipers in England. She will also offer instruction in Russian lace. Which is a lace with an outline and a filling pattern to be followed. All three are unique styles of lace.
Class times are from 10:00 to 5:00 Saturday and Sunday with a break and a pot luck lunch. We will meet at the Churchill Borough Building. Please see the flyer on the back page of the newsletter for details about registration.
New Year and New Lace Adventure
by Dewi Wong
On January 17, 2005, my daughter Angeline and I got up quite early even though it was snowy and cold outside. We were heading west, across the Ohio border, to the Great Lace
Race III in Cortland. For the past couple of years, I had wanted to participate but was prevented from doing so due to inclement weather. The theme of this year’s Race was “Little Grey Rabbit goes to Ascot.” There they were, the cutest little grey rabbits dressed in their finest, perched quietly with their watchful pink eyes in the Royal Enclosure. They are watching us, of course, the lacemakers. Two long racetracks (tables) had a dozen of ladies merrily working on projects.
Mine was a bookmark that Marjorie Preece designed after the St. Peter & St. Paul, Sturton le Steeple in Nottinghamshire. It was worked with Oliver Twist thread and Perle Cotton gimps. The architectural theme delighted me and I also enjoyed the new experience with the Oliver Twist. The Great Lace Race is a very unusual race as it includes an official (lunch) and some unofficial (snacks) yummy breaks. To top the extraordinaire, I — just like the racing Rabbit — got to take frequent breaks to Tracy Jackson’s store, the Lacemaker, and next door to Quilter’s Fancy, a specialty fabric and quilt store. If Tortoise was around to participate in the race, she would surely have been the Winner, but I think everyone is a winner as we all went home with a great project and sweet smiles…. and the snow continued to come down.
Judy Zeiss would like you to know that there is still space available at the Great Lakes Lace Group’s Spring Fling. April 8-10th. For more information go to their web site: www.gllgi.org for class examples, registration and housing applications.
Thank You
Our Vice President, Dewi Wong’s father-in-law passed away suddenly after Christmas. She asked that the following note be included in the newsletter.
Dear friends,
Karl and I would like to express our heartfelt thanks for your love and
support. Papa was born in the Year of the Rooster and grew up in China. He
came to Indonesia in his teens and had lived there ever since. Our family
will miss him, but we are grateful to have just visited him, less than three
weeks before his departure, and are assured that he is home with the Lord.
Dewi and Karl
Margot Barbour
I received an e-mail recently from Margot’s niece, Emily. It was so nice to hear from her, but I was saddened by the news that Margot’s brother Henry (a.k.a. “my brother”) passed away last August. I know that everyone who met him at the Ronald MacDonald House in 2003 enjoyed him.
It has been two years since I began to do the newsletter. I am not in Margot’s league as far as making things perfect. I am indebted to those who willingly have contributed articles. We all are enjoying Sonya’s adventures and eagerly await each installment. It has replaced “Tina” with something more modern. There is one section of the newsletter that remains the same – the “Call for Contributions” She wanted them as do I.
This is your newsletter; It is your lace Group; Come to the annual Meeting and make things be the way you want them to be.
A SUMMER ADVENTURE (Continued) by Sonya Hancsar
I found the Finnair Terminal and was told by one of the airline employees that I couldn’t wait at the gate, that the airline wouldn’t be letting anyone into the the lounge area until around 1 P.M. It was only 9 A.M. I was able to sit on my luggage somewhat comfortably but it seemed that anywhere I parked myself that I ended up being in the way. I finally found a comfy corner between an elevator and an exit door. I had brought along a tatting project. The tatting project plus forays to the restroom which ended up being projects in maneuvering myself and all of my luggage into one small stall, helped pass the time. (It’s now against the law to leave luggage unattended. However, nothing has been done to accommodate travelers who are traveling alone but need to use a restroom. Lockers are also considered to be unsafe, so if any were available, I didn’t see them – they certainly weren’t near the restrooms. Once, I tried to very quickly run in and out, but security had showed up and was just about to cart my luggage away when I yelled that they belonged to me – I never tried that again.) At about 12:30 P.M., two couples got in line in front of the doors for the Finnair check-in area. I got in line behind them, sat on my luggage, and continued tatting. A line soon formed behind me. I was hoping to see others from the group also traveling on this flight but I didn’t recognize anyone . I got my luggage and myself checked in and finally was able to get a comfortable seat in the lounge area. The lounge area soon filled with travelers. A religious group traveling to Moscow decided to regale everyone with their singing. I just wanted some peace-and-quiet so I tried to squeeze my way to the duty-free shop. I looked over everything in the little shop but decided I didn’t want to carry anything extra – maybe I could buy something on the way back home. We finally boarded the plane – every seat was taken. This plane had a very nice feature. A camera was mounted on the nose of the plane so the take-off was projected on the movie screen for everyone to watch. There was some cloudiness and we were heading north plus I had an aisle seat so there wasn’t much to see. I quickly fell asleep. I woke up off-and-on during the flight and it seemed as if we never lost sight of the sun – it only dipped near the horizon. It would have been difficult to turn back now – I was definitely going on to Moscow. The plane was scheduled to land in Helsinki, Finland in the morning for a connecting flight to Moscow. I started talking to the young woman in the window seat next to me. She was a native of Helsinki, Finland and I enjoyed talking with her. She invited me to visit Finland – maybe, someday, I’ll have the time and money. It was midsummer celebration time but the weather was chilly and wet from rain – not very festive. The pilot said that we were late arriving in Helsinki because our take-off had been delayed in New York City due to stormy weather. The Finnish lady told me that I didn’t need to worry about missing my flight to Moscow because they hold the other planes until our plane arrives. We said our good-byes and wished each other well and then went our separate ways. I hurried to find the gate for my flight to Moscow. Everything went smoothly. I passed the time tatting and looking out the windows. It was partly cloudy so I couldn’t see too much. I didn’t notice any landmarks. The land is relatively flat coming into Moscow. There are a lot of woods – then more and more buildings. We landed at the Sheremyetevo Airport. I followed the rest of the passengers, retrieved my luggage, and got in line for customs inspection. I had time to organize my papers and then, like everyone else, waited in line. I was IN MOSCOW! It didn’t seem possible that one day I could be at home and the next day be thousands of miles away on the other side of the earth. I slowly exited the customs area and headed for the busy, main lobby area with no idea of what to do next. Should I call a taxi or is there a bus to downtown Moscow? As I slowly wandered out of the customs area gate, I was looking around and then saw, to my relief, a sign with “BDAA” on it – the initials for our club. The Aerostar Hotel had a van to pick up hotel guests. I was now on vacation in Moscow!
to be continued..
Bylaws of the Pittsburgh Lace Group
Article 1. NAME.
Section 1. The name of the group shall be the Pittsburgh Lace Group, hereafter referred to as “the Group”.
Article 2. PURPOSE.
Section 1. The Group shall be a not-for-profit educational organization whose purpose is to foster and promote interest in lace and lace-making by providing a means for members to meet and exchange ideas and information, by offering demonstrations of lace-making and exhibits of lace to the general public, and by providing programs and workshops on all aspects of lace, lace-making and related topics of interest to the members.
Article 3. MEMBERSHIP.
Section 1. Membership shall be open to all individuals interested in lace, lace-making, collecting any type of lace, or the history of lace.
Section 2. Dues will be collected annually for the calendar year. Dues paid at any time from January 1 through October 31 shall be applied to membership for that calendar year and will not be prorated. Dues paid after October 31 shall be applied to membership in the following calendar year. Renewals not paid by March 15 will cause a member to be dropped from the roster for that year. The amount of dues shall be established for each year by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. A roster of all paid members shall be distributed to members who have paid the current year’s dues.
Article 4. DIRECTORS.
Section 1. The business and affairs of the Group shall be managed by a Board of Directors, hereafter referred to as “the Board”, comprised of the officers and standing committee chairpersons.
Section 2. A majority number of the directors present, having constituted a quorum, shall be regarded as an act of the Board.
Section 3. Vacancies of the Board may be filled by a majority voting of the remaining directors. Each director so elected shall hold office for the remaining term of the vacancy being then filled.
Article 5. OFFICERS.
Section 1. The elected officers of the Group shall be President, Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President.
Section 2. President. Subject to supervisory powers of the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the Group and shall preside at all meetings, both of the Board and of the members of the Group, and shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as shall be determined from time to time by the Board.
Section 3. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep a book of Minutes of all meetings of directors and members, shall compose and distribute notices of meetings of the members, and handle other correspondence as directed by the Board.
Section 4. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of all assets and business transactions of the Group, and present a written annual report to the members at the Annual Business Meeting. The President, Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President shall be authorized to transact the Group’s financial business. Two of the four officers’ signatures shall be required for such transactions.
Section 5. Vice President. The Vice President shall chair meetings of the Board and of the members in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall also be responsible for scheduling and arranging meetings for the year. This shall include making arrangements for speakers, locations and refreshments, and providing the Secretary with the information necessary for announcements of these meetings to be mailed to the membership. The Vice President shall select members as desired, to form a committee to perform the functions above.
Article 6. ELECTIONS.
Section 1. The election of officers and directors shall be held each year at the Annual Business Meeting. The Membership Committee shall present a slate of candidates chosen from the membership. Additional nominations may be received from the floor. No name shall be placed in nomination without the consent of the member.
Section 2. Officers shall be elected for a term of 2 years. Two (2) offices will be eligible for election per year, the President and Treasurer in even numbered years, and the Secretary and Vice President in odd numbered years. The Chairpersons of the committees shall be appointed by the Board.
Section 3. A separate vote shall be conducted for each office being filled. Voting will be by ballot, tallied immediately. The office shall be filled by the member obtaining plurality of attending members in good standing.
Pittsburgh Lace Group
Article 7. MEETINGS.
Section 1. There will be at least eight (8) meetings a year and one (1) workshop. The April meeting shall be known as the Annual Business Meeting. One (1) other meeting will be known as a Lace Day. At least three (3) other meetings will feature a program: a speaker, a demonstration, a study group, etc. Other meetings may be informal gatherings where members make lace and exchange information.
Section 2. The Annual Business Meeting shall be conducted in April to elect officers and review the business of the Group. In addition, there shall be reports from the Treasurer and the Workshop Committee Chairperson.
Section 3. Notices of meetings shall be given to each member, either personally or by mail or other means of communication addressed to such member at the address appearing on the roster of the Group. All such notices shall be conveyed to each member not less than three (3) business days before a meeting.
Section 4. A quorum necessary for the transaction of business shall consist of a majority of the members attending a meeting of the Group after notice is given as provided in accordance herein.
Article 8. COMMITTEES.
Section 1. Committees shall be established by the Board to help conduct the business of the Group. These shall consist of the standing committees: the Membership Committee, the Workshop Committee, and any committee or committees deemed by the Board to be necessary to perform the functions of the Group.
Section 2. The Chairpersons of the standing committees shall be appointed from the general membership by the Board.
Article 9. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE.
Section 1. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for maintaining the membership rosters and selecting a slate of candidates for the annual election of officers.
Section 2. The Chairperson of the Membership Committee may select one or more persons from the general membership to assist in the performance of the duties of the Committee as outlined in Article 9, Section 1.
Section 3. In addition to the responsibilities set forth in Article 9, Section 1, the Membership Committee shall be responsible for soliciting and receiving applications for new membership and renewals of memberships. Dues collected in the course of performing this function shall be forwarded in a timely manner to the Treasurer.
Section 4. The Membership Committee Chairperson shall be responsible for maintaining the membership roster, which shall be distributed annually each spring to the members. The Chairperson shall also notify the Secretary monthly of any additional members in order that these new members will receive all forthcoming notices of meetings.
Section 5. The Membership Committee shall propose candidates for the offices to be elected at the Annual Business Meeting. The committee shall contact the candidates to secure their willingness to serve. All nominations or suggestions for candidacy by members shall be presented to the membership by the Membership Committee.
Article 10. WORKSHOP COMMITTEE.
Section 1. The Workshop Committee is responsible for making arrangements for workshops. This shall include making arrangements for the speaker, location and refreshments, and providing the Secretary and Treasurer with information necessary for announcement of workshops to be mailed to the membership, and monies collected.Section 2. The Workshop Committee Chairperson shall select members, as desired, to form a committee to perform the functions as set forth in Article 10, Section 1.
Article 11. DISSOLUTION.
Section 1. In the event of dissolution of the Group while a charter chapter of International Old Lacers, Inc. (hereafter, IOLI), the IOLI charter shall be returned to the IOLI President accompanied by a letter of fact, and with records showing that all funds and property have been distributed to a non-profit organization under the IRS Code 501(c)3. Books, supplies and other assets of the group will be donated to another lace making group or sold and the proceeds donated to a lace making group, or non-profit organization, to be chosen by the membership.
Article 12. EFFECTIVE DATES AND AMENDMENTS.
Section 1. These Bylaws will become effective, subject to approval of the membership, retroactive to January 1, 1991.
Section 2. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed at any time by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Board or by the majority vote of the members at any regular meeting.
The Pittsburgh Lace Group invites you to a lecture by Pompi Parry on
Polychrome Normandie Blond Lace
Friday, April 16, 2005
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. lecture at 7:00 p.m,
shopping with familiar out of town and local vendors
begins at 6:00 p.m.
Admission at the door is $5.00 members and $7.00 non-members
Refreshments will be provided (donations are welcome)
WORKSHOP CLASSES
Available in Blonde de Corseulles/Polychrome, Downton, & Russian
Saturday, April 16 & Sunday, April 17 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
taught by Pompi Parry
Cost for the workshop will be 75.00 for members and $85.00 for non-members
Directions to the Churchill Borough Building
From Monroeville: Parkway East (I-376) to the Churchill Exit (Exit 10-A). Exit from left
lane. Turn left at first intersection and immediate right into Borough Bldg. parking lot.
From Pittsburgh: Parkway East (I-376) to Churchill Exit (Exit 10-A); right at bottom of
ramp to “Y” intersection with Beulah Rd. (Rt. 130-W); take the right branch and immediately
get into left lane. Turn left at the light (left turn signal) onto Old Wm. Penn Highway.
Borough Bldg. is on the left, entrance to parking lot is just beyond the building.
You may use either parking lot, but if you use the lower lot, please park away from the
building so the police can park close to the building. Enter through the center front door.