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Lace Story
Elena Cola

At a young age, I had been fascinated with lace making.  I remember watching the ladies making lace and embroidery for my mother in Naples, Italy when I was 7 or 8 years old.  My mother and her close friend Bianca owned a lace and embroidery business.  Mama made and taught Idria lace (tape lace of flowers and leaves), and Bianca made and taught Cantu’ lace.  Every time one of the ladies got up to take a break or for a snack, I would sit down in their place and add a few of my own stitches to their piece.  I had learned just by watching them work, but of course when they returned, they always noticed that someone had touched their lace.  Most of them were not too happy with me.  But one lady named Maria would always look at me and give me a smile.  One day, she put together a pillow with bobbins and said, “This is yours, do what you want with it”.  I was thrilled.  It kept me busy the rest of the day, figuring out what to do with little help.  When Mama found out, she was happy for me.  From then on, she helped me in many ways. My older sister Valentina made embroidery, as well as put lace into linen to make table cloths, table runners, place mats, and so on.  We often all worked together.  Through the years growing up, Bianca gave me Cantu’ lessons, and so did Mama in teaching me Idria lace. In school also, I took a lace class once a week.  Later on in my twenties, Bianca let me teach some of her students, one of whom was the Italian mayor’s wife, along with their two daughters.  I taught in Italy until I met my husband Johnny at Bianca’s house.  Johnny was Bianca’s nephew.  We got married two months after meeting one another and moved to Texas.  In 1976, I opened a small lace shop in Olla Podrida. There I sold lace and taught lace making until July of 1996, when Olla Podrida was closed down.  Believe me I was very burned out with so much work.  From then on, I wanted to enjoy my life and make some lace just as a hobby.  I am very happy that my grand-daughter is also interested in learning lacemaking, to pass it down in the family.  She would come to visit me at my shop as a young girl.  When she got a little older, I taught her lacemaking.  She made many pretty pieces.  My grandson even made a beautiful heart for his mother when he was twelve years old.  I wish you all happy lacing.  It is fun, yet hard work.




From the Great Lakes Lace Group, Inc. November Newsletter:

Butterflies for the Holocaust

The Houston Holocaust Museum would like to collect 1.5 million handmade butterflies for the 1,500,000 innocent children who perished in the Holocaust. They will be displayed in a breathtaking exhibit, currently scheduled for Spring 2014.  At present they have about 900,000 butterflies.

Butterflies should be no larger than 8 inches by 10 inches.  They may be made by all ages as individuals or as a group and may be of any medium the artist chooses, but two-dimensional submissions are preferred.

No glitter or glitter related products.  No food products.  If possible email a photograph of your butterfly to butterflyproject@hmh.org

Please send them by June 30, 2012 with the following info:

Your Name, Organization, Address, Email and Total number sent.

Mail to:  Holocaust Museum Houston

              Butterfly Project, Education Dept.

              5401 Caroline Street
              Houston, TX 7004

13 comments:

  1. Does anyone have a fairly simple lace pattern (torchon or Beds) of an angel that would be satisfactory for an acrylic round disk Christmas ornament? I would love to have it in order that I could make them and give them for friends at the holiday season.

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  2. Lace shawl pattern? I would like to find a pattern learn what size threads to use if fabric if it was done in strips?
    Appreciate all the tips you can send
    Susan

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  3. here is a link to a great article about lacemaking

    http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700172090/The-story-of-lace-Tradition-of-making-it-by-hand-still-thrives-in-Utah.html?pg=1

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  4. I'd love to come to an evening meeting but don't see on the web if there are any more get togethers in December or when the January one would be. Thanks!

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  5. During the DLS Honiton class, we recorded a video of Linda teaching us how to wind bobbins using an anchor thread on the pillow. It is a very neat technique that is useful for both Continental and Honiton bobbins. It is more awkward for spangled Midlands bobbins. Anyway, have a view of this video from the following link:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYBDIKes1dE&feature=plcp

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  6. This post is for Ms. Cola. My great grandmother had two of your pieces and I was given them at her death. one is a beautiful lace butterfly. Her name was Naomi Tichenor and I think her daughter, Myrle Pratt, may have purchased the pieces. They are so detailed and I wanted to thank you for the lace art you learned and how much it has meant to me now that my Grandmother and Great Grandmother are gone. They both loved your work. Your old card from Pins and Bobbins was framed inside the picture. My 17 year daughter found it. Thank you. debra smith, monroe, ga

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  7. I thought I was the only one in Dallas! How do I join? - bruner.melissa73@gmail.com.

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    Replies
    1. We meet every Tuesday from 12-3 at the Forest-Green Library and on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 1-4 at the same place. We could also email a membership form.

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  8. I moved here from San Antonio, where I was part of the Alamo Bobbin Lacers. I would LOVE to join, but I work days. How do I join? Peggy.karaba.talley@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. We are beginning Saturday classes on April 12, 2014. They will be at the Forest Green Library from 1pm to 4pm.

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  9. The Dallas Tatters meet the 3rd Thursday of each month at Park Cities Baptist Church on N.W. Hwy., East of Preston @ 10 am in Rm. 100 Reed Bldg. Come by and take a lesson and join us for lunch at noon! Questions? E-mail: kelly.day@verizon.net.

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  10. Thanks for a wonderful weekend lace class

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  11. Are any of the laces for sale ?
    Thanks,
    Phil N

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