Dear Arachne Subscribers,  You are quiet this week!  Some of you might benefit from encouraging words about making lace motifs to suit a collection. My pair of silver-plated table top trees, with branches made of curved metal tubes, are used at Christmas for angels clad in red / white / blue - lace / embroidered / hand-sewn gowns. They are from countries around the world (as are members of Arachne), and have been described before. Because a collection of hearts has never been started, angels stay on display until Valentine's Day.  The pair of trees are kept in use, and motifs in the form of ornaments related to Easter go on them next.  Following Easter, a collection of embroidered birds (motif-size) is installed. Designs were selected in 1972 from "ethnic" embroidery books. There is one white lace pair of birds, from Nottingham England.  Just before Summer, the table top trees are finally packed away.  Next, a collection of vintage 2-piece glass salt dishes shaped like nesting hens take over - a "parade" of 16 colors march across the mantle - in remembrance of Grandfather's farm. Popular when windows were opened (before air conditioning) because silver salt shakers quickly tarnish or corrode. The bottom glass basket holds salt; the hen acts as a lid to keep salt clean. Tiny bone spoons were used to sprinkle salt on food.   When these are packed away, seashells are next. Etc.  Does this give you fun ideas for lace motifs? My hanging collections do not have apparent means of support, because fine invisible sewing thread is used to suspend them. This means they gently move when one walks by and creates a "breeze".  Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center  Â
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