On Tuesday, March 15, 2005, at 06:59 PM, Alice Howell wrote:
I, myself, could not attend until I retired.
Contrary to Alice, I found it easier to attend before I retired. I
attended my IOLI conventions in my 40s, then took a very early
retirement at 52 and haven't attended since. Looking back, I think the
reasons for the difference were: 1. Because the IOLI conventions are
held in 5 star hotels, they're expensive. Pre-retirement I had a lot
more money than I do now. So, I'd just take a week's vacation and off
I'd go. 2. In my 40s I was just learning lacemaking and needed all the
help I could get. Also I was experimenting with different kinds of lace
to see which one(s) I'd like to make. Now, I know which my favourites
are and which other ones I might like to learn how to do. 3. I've now
attended IOLI, OIDFA, and Lace Guild conventions, and my comments about
each are: IOLI: great for a large variety of courses and U.S.
suppliers. OIDFA: great for courses on laces of the host country,
European suppliers, magnificent displays, and lace-related tours. Lace
Guild: no comparison to the others. Very short courses - tasters
really, few displays, fewer suppliers (mainly because there are so many
lace days in the UK). Lately, I've been going to the OIDFA Congresses
and enjoying them very much. Next year I'll be going to the OIDFA and
the IOLI conventions. The latter in Montreal, where I lived for 35
years. So I'll get to see old friends, explore my old stomping grounds,
and eat in some of the over 3,500 restaurants in the city.
Margot Walker in Halifax on the east coast of Canada
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