Origins of Lace

I have not shared much on my blog about one of my other hobbies. I make bobbin lace. I love using it around the house. This lace is displayed on my sideboard in the living room which is set up as a writing table. I have some of my antiques on the table...

...as well as many of my antique books which I collect. I think the lace really adds to the antiques and collectables. It has a delicate old world charm.

Lace can make a simple item like this paperweight stand out. It is a shame that many find lace an old~fashioned item. It adds pretty touches to a home. For me, it is even more important that I am able to see the things I have created as all of this lace is made by my own hands.

I normally like to make lace pieces that are totally done with lace. This was a piece I had to make for a class which was to be used in a frame as a matting for a photo. I decided to sew a piece of cloth into it to make a doily instead. It adds a nice touch to this square tray.

This is one of my current projects which I will use once finished under a flower vase.

A piece of Flanders lace which I started for a class.

If you would like seeing some of the lace center that is located in Brugge, there is a website. http://www.kantcentrum.com/ can be seen in English, Dutch and French. Next week are the annual Lace Days in Brugge and my husband and I are looking forward to going once again.

Here is the lace legend which Belgium holds as the origins of bobbin lace. I think this is such a sweet story and would love to believe that it could be true:

'The Legend of Serena'

Once upon a time there was a fair maiden in the enchanting town of Bruges. Serena was her name and she loved the young sculptor Arnout. Alas she could not marry him, for she had to spin day and night to work for her widowed mother and four little sisters and a brother. One sunny autumn day she went walking and dreaming of her forbidden love, she fell asleep. All off a sudden silvery threads fell from the trees into a beautiful pattern of flowers on her apron. She awoke, gazed and then rushed home. With threads cut from her spinning wheel, she made the wondrous design over again. When it was finished a wealthy merchant bought it. Soon many people wanted the same marvellous lace-work. Serena became rich and finally married the prince of her charms. They lived happily ever after.So came into being the art of lace, which for over five hundred years made Bruges famous as the world capital of this fairy-like art.