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  • Home
  • Makers & Painters
    • Every bobbin tells a story
    • Barry Biggins
    • Chris Parsons
    • Chrisken
    • David Stanley
    • Dee Carver
    • Heather Power
    • Jack Smith - not the acorn
    • Janet Retter
    • Le Tjevoli
    • Loricraft
    • Matthew Hester
    • Margaret Wall
    • M&D Davis
    • Sallie Reason
    • Sarah Jones
    • Shirley & Harry Gates
    • Tuffnel Glass
    • Winslow Bobbins
    • Unknown Makers
  • Want To Make Lace?
    • First Things First
    • Choosing a Pillow
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      • Bobbins
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      • Boxes and Bits
      • Bruges - chocolate and lace
  • Book Blog
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    • Contact Me
  • My Lace
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    • big projects
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    • traditional
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  • Lace at the Manse
  • Freebies and Whatnots
    • Bits and Pieces
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The Book Blog

11/3/2021 0 Comments

Le Pompe, 1559 by Santina M Levey and Patricia C Payne

Publisher : Ruth Bean Publishers; First Edition (1 Sept. 1983)
ISBN-10 : 0903585162
ISBN-13 : 978-0903585163
Le Pompe, 1559 by Santina M Levey and Patricia C Payne
Subtitle - Patterns for Venetian bobbin lace
​Across the lace world, the book Le Pompe is mentioned in hushed, reverential tones.  This books seen as one of the historical root publications of lacemaking and was referenced by a number of writers at the turn of the 19th / 20th centure.

The patterns have a heavy look to them, as though they were drawn using marker pen, but this due to the book being printed using woodblock.  Whilst to today's lacemaker, Venetian bobbin lace looks and feels like a cross between Milanese and Bedfordshire with a hint of Idrija and Russian.

​This book is split into sections:
  • Facsimile of the 1559 book with an introduction by Santina M Levey
  • Facsimile of a selection of pages from the 1560 edition
  • Technical Section by Patricia Payne
  • Glossary
  • How to make your own prickings.
Picture
What works well?
  • The text is clear and the black and white illustrations (by Bridget M Cook) / photo work well.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • A number of the patterns need to be enlarged; the percentage for doing this is clearly stated on the prickings.
  • This book is currently out of print, however, occasionally second hand copies do appear.  Check closely though, at the price being asked.
0 Comments

6/2/2021 0 Comments

Devon Trolly Lace - Carol McFadzean

Publisher : Carol McFadzean; First Edition (26 Jun. 2004)
ISBN-10 : 0954768302
ISBN-13 : 978-0954768300
Devon Trolly Lace by Carol McFadzean
Subtitled : The lost lace of the East Devon Coast
Carol McFadzean's book throws new light on one of Devon's great laces that has lost its place in current memory to its more well known cousin, Honiton.

Its name comes from the Flemish Tolle Kant - which you can read more about here
Picture
Devon Trolly lace has the look and feel that is similar to bucks point.  And with its origins being in the Flemish laces, then this isn't surprising.

This book not only contains 40 redrafted patterns, but describes the really interesting history of this lace.
What works well?
  • The history that is explained in this book really augments the patterns meaning
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • The book has very little guidance in it so this definitely a book for the adventurous beginner
  • This book is out of print, but readily available on online book sellers, eBay and through lace suppliers
0 Comments

6/2/2021 0 Comments

Malmesbury Lace by - Joan Blanchard

Publisher : Batsford Ltd; First Edition (5 Aug. 1990)
ISBN-10 : 0713466154
ISBN-13 : 978-0713466157
Malmesbury Lace by Joan Blanchard
My husband's Great Grandmother was head hunted in the 1880s by the Malmsbury Silk Mill and moved from her home in Essex to the small Wiltshire town.  

By the time the photo, on the back of this book was taken of the lace school in 1907, she had been managing the production of fine silk in the town for nearly 20 years.

Malmsbury lace, obviously holds a special place in my heart because of this.

Malmsbury is a sister lace to the other Wiltshire lace; Downton
Picture
Picture
What works well?
  • The lace is clearly illustrated with black and white photos.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • The Honiton style piece on the front cover is NOT included in this book
  • This book is out of print, but readily available on online book sellers, eBay and through lace suppliers
0 Comments

6/2/2021 0 Comments

Bobbin lace jewellery and accessories II by Lia Looga

Publisher : Tartu 2014
ISBN : 978-9949-33-815-3
Bobbin lace jewellery and accessories II by Lia Looga
​The first half of this book is filled with full colour photos of the lace which really enhances this book. 

There are two pages, in each language, with advice on making the patterns, however this is aimed at adventurous beginner.

​This book builds on Lia's previous book

Picture
What works well?
  • The book is sumptuously illustrated throughout with colour photographs of the lace, including patterns for traditional Estonian belt patterns
Anything that we need to take into consideration?​
  • This book is currently in print and available from lace suppliers
0 Comments

31/1/2021 0 Comments

Gozo Lace Supplement - Consiglia Azzopardi

Publisher : Self Published
Gozo Lace Supplement by Consiglia Azzopardi
This is a supplement to Consiglia's Gozo Lace: An Introduction to Lace Making in the Maltese Islands
​
Although we talk in terms of Maltese lace, Gozo is the centre for lace making in the islands and Consiglia is one of the main champions.

Similar in construction to Bedfordshire lace, the group of laces are often called Beds / Maltese.  
Picture
The key difference between Maltese lace and Bedfordshire is the inclusion of the iconic Maltese Cross in many of the designs.
​
Focusing firstly on the history of the lace, this book goes on to take you through different patterns to learn the techniques. 

Consiglia has also produced a book of historical lace patterns by Dun Guzepp Diacono and the book that this is a supplement to.
What works well?
  • This slim volume contains only patterns and no techniques
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is out of print, however, it is possible to obtain copies from the author
0 Comments

31/1/2021 0 Comments

GOZO LACE - A Selection of Bobbin Lace Patterns Designed by Dun Guzepp Diacono (1847-1924) - Consiglia Azzopardi

Publisher : C. Azzopardi (1 Jan. 1998)
ISBN-10 : 9990998213
ISBN-13 : 978-9990998214
GOZO LACE - A Selection of Bobbin Lace Patterns Designed by Dun Guzepp Diacono (1847-1924) by Consiglia Azzopardi
Consiglia came across the work of Dun Diacono whilst undertaking her Masters in Lace at the University of Malta.

Dun Diacono established Gozo as the centre for lace making in the islands.  He founded the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and established the Casa Industriale as the source of the lacemaking industry.

Dun Diacono can be credited as the father of Maltese Lace as it was his designs that moved the lacemakers away from the imported Genoese designs and to the now iconic Maltese Lace that we are familiar with.

Consiglia has also produced a book of the techniques of Gozo lace and a supplement to that volume.
Picture
What works well?
  • Beautifully illustrated with photos of Dun Diacono's origial drawings, this book also has trued patterns
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book should be provided with an envelope of prickings for the patterns in the book; printed on green card - check that these are with the book when it is purchased
  • This book is out of print, however, it is possible to obtain copies from the author
0 Comments

31/1/2021 0 Comments

Gozo Lace: An Introduction to Lace Making in the Maltese Islands - Consiglia Azzopardi

Publisher : C. Azzopardi (1 Jan. 1999)
ISBN-10 : 9990998205
ISBN-13 : 978-9990998207
Gozo Lace: An Introduction to Lace Making in the Maltese Islands by Consiglia Azzopardi
Although we talk in terms of Maltese lace, Gozo is the centre for lace making in the islands and Consiglia is one of the main champions.

Similar in construction to Bedfordshire lace, the group of laces are often called Beds / Maltese.  

The key difference between Maltese lace and Bedfordshire is the inclusion of the iconic Maltese Cross in many of the designs.
​
Focusing firstly on the history of the lace, this book goes on to take you through different patterns to learn the techniques. 

Consiglia has also produced a book of historical lace patterns by Dun Guzepp Diacono and a supplement to this volume.
Picture
What works well?
  • Not only does this cover the history and techniques, but the patterns take you through the techniques to learn Gozo Lace.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book should be provided with an envelope of prickings for the patterns in the book; printed on green card - check that these are with the book when it is purchased
  • Later versions of the book have the patterns supplied in the book.  Check when you purchase which version you are buying.
  • This book is out of print, however, it is possible to obtain copies from the author
0 Comments

31/1/2021 0 Comments

Instructions in the Art of Making the Buckingham Pillow Lace - Georgina M Roberts and Alexandra F Stillwell

Publisher : Salex Publishing (April 16, 2007)
ISBN-10 : 0955469422
ISBN-13 : 978-0955469428
Instructions in the Art of Making the Buckingham Pillow Lace by Georgina M Roberts (1926) edited by Alexandra F Stillwell (2007)
Born in Tasmania, to missionary parents, Georgina Roberts came to the East Midlands in 1863 and became involved in the lace industry there.

A founding member of the Midland Lace Association, along with Catherine Channer and Ella Harrison, she was concerned with the plight of the lace workers, who at the time were some of the poorest in society.

Worried that the skills were declining, Georgina started to write a book to capture these skills and create a teaching book.  She failed to finish the last chapter and left it as a series of numbers of stitches.  Dieing just two years after the cover was printed.
Picture
Alex Stillwell became aware of this manuscript whilst researching and writing her her book on Geometrical Lace.

Using Georgina's own phrasing for the text, Alex trued up the patterns, created the missing diagrams, reworked the samples and commissioned the photograph so that this book could be rediscovered by all lacemakers.
What works well?
  • Filled with black and white diagrams and photos, the techniques shown are straight forward to follow.
  • This book takes you through a step by step process to learn Bucks Point.  ​
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is still in print and available from the author, herself.  
0 Comments

30/1/2021 0 Comments

Lace Villages by Liz Bartlett

Publisher : Arima Publishing; 2nd REVISED EDITION (28 Nov. 2006)
ISBN-10 : 1845491556
ISBN-13 : 978-1845491550
Lace Villages by Liz Bartlett
Whether you are interested in history, Bedfordshire lace or the Buckingham Villages, this book is such a wonderful book.

Liz takes you on a journey through each of the villages and brings their history and lacemaking to life.

Another of my books that I like to snuggle up with and immerse myself in, like The Lavendon Collection.
Picture
What works well?
  • ​This book is illustrated throughout with black and white photos along with a scattering patterns from the author's collection, including a newly redrafted corner for the Stratford butterfly traditional pattern.
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is available through online booksellers as a print on demand.
0 Comments

30/1/2021 0 Comments

Suffolk Lace and the Lacemakers of Eye -  Nicky Howener-Townsend

Publisher : Nicky Howener-Townsend (1 Sept. 2009)
ISBN-10 : 0956301800
ISBN-13 : 978-0956301802
Suffolk Lace and the Lacemakers of Eye by Nicky Howener-Townsend
This book has two parts. 

The first is the history of Suffolk Lace and the second are over 35 patterns that have been trued and come with starting diagrams.

Suffolk Lace has common ancestry with Bucks Point so these patterns would suit and adventurous beginner or intermediate lacemaker

I was lucky enough to buy my copy on eBay directly from Nicky and have it signed by the author.
Picture
What works well?
  • ​This book has both the wonderful history with over 35 patterns that bring the history to life
Anything that we need to take into consideration?
  • This book is out of print, but readily available from online booksellers, eBay and through lace suppliers
0 Comments
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    I'm the lace bee and these are my books

    With currently over 300 books and about the same number of individual patterns, I have an enviable library.  So here are some of my books.

    ​You can see all of the titles by opening up the archives or by clicking on the categories which I've used to group by authors, language and lace types

    I am very grateful to the lace gumnuts of Australia for permission to quote and link their reviews to this site.

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