England 2012


	Jane Atkinson, Contemporary Lace

ENGLAND 2012

A week in the Cotswolds learning how to design circular lace patterns will be centred at the delightful Sudeley Castle. Having started my working life in nearby Cheltenham, I know how peaceful and inspiring this venue will be. Designing with polar grids automatically leads to flowing pattern, elegantly curving and swirling round the design. The graded succession of simple-to-use exercises and strategies on offer can turn a novice into an expert – this is really a crash-course in design confidence. Organised by the Lace Society for 2 – 9 November 2012, it will exploit some wonderful new polar grids designed by Deborah Robinson (Plotadot). If you are not a member, the membership discount for the course would more than cover the joining fee. There will be an opportunity to visit the Castle, which contains Emma Dent’s collection of lace and embroidery, as well as two evening talks. To book, contact thelacesociety@googlemail.com for details.



This water lily design exploits the colour possibilities in a closely-repeating pattern



The swirling design for this piece came from play with a computer paint program - the pattern was enlarged to A2 and made up in Anchor linen



		A slice of Rotella’s marbled reuben bread from Nebraska inspired this pattern




	Papercuts were used at the start of this design, modified for the mini fan leaf



		Roses grow on you, as a source of design inspiration. Both of these pieces were suggested by knitting patterns

circles4

A photo in an electronics magazine was the starting point here, the idea then extensively modified and refined




	An old Swiss cross-stitch pineapple pattern inspired this design, made here large-scale in Czech linen




The make-up of this design exploits the possibilities in using three thickness of floss silk to create lace which looks almost three-dimensional




	The pattern was inspired by Gothic Revival fan vaulting and the interpretation, in fine spun and thick floss silks, by Blondes lace




			A Tiffany glass plate suggested this design (lace made by Ruth Doepfner-Wettstein)



		This design, suggested by a lily, was also interpreted by Ruth Doepfner-Wettstein, to whom I extend my grateful thanks


	© 2012 Jane Atkinson. All rights reserved.