On the eve of the Hasbrouck Heights Convention, through no fault of my own, I became publicity chairman. I managed to make contact with three newspapers who were willing to write about us and the question each of them asked was, "Do any young people do this?" Apparently in the newspaper business, it is essential to provide photographs of people of all ages in any newspaper spread. My immediate thought was, "Yes, I am young, and I do it." But apparently their definition of young was not late forties. And thus began the madcap search for young people to trot out for the photographer. Soon it became known that I had to find a young person or the newspaper coverage would falter and people were stopping me in the elevator and leaving me messages on my phone about sightings of supposed young lacemakers. There was some discussion of bringing out a thirteen year old from Sussex County who was not attending the convention, but made lace. Reports of an excellent lacemaker named Kiki who had piercings reached me from several sources but I was unable to locate her. Fortunately, there were two sisters from Washington State who were in their late teens and whose mother was willing to provide information about their schedule so I could go directly to them with the photographer. There were on the order of 350-400 people at this convention and without the entire network seeking to provide me with this information, I would never have found a young lacemaker. I would say that age forty is young in the context of the convention. I think that it was this experience that made me receptive to the unusual schedule organization of the Pennsylvania convention last year, when I realized that a young lacemaker could indulge in a 12 hour class and only pay one night's hotel fee, as opposed to a minimum of 4 nights hotel fee for a 12 hour class at Hasbrouck Heights. I honestly think it would be good to get more young lacemakers at the convention. So, Weronika, speaking as a youngish lacemaker, what would make you more likely to go to a convention and what would make you less likely? Devon in New Jersey PS I honestly think you will have a great time if you go to the convention and will find it a major step forward in your enjoyment of lace. Your happiness will result in greater love and appreciation for your husband and he will benefit in a million ways. (Try that argument. It works at my house.)
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