The Queensland Lace makers Guild

Walking into the Brisbane branch of the Queensland Lace makers Guild monthly meeting, you know you are in the presence of greatness. This varied group of women (and one man) get together once a month to sit, chat, eat and make beautiful lace.

Striking me most about the group, and really about all of the guilds I made contact with for Craft Revolution, is their commitment to their craft. The only gentleman in the group is the guild librarian, and so each month he packs up all the guild owned books on lace (I’d say there would be at least 100), puts them in his car, and drives the books from Ipswich to South Brisbane to the meeting. Then at the end of the meeting he packs them up again and takes them home until the next month. Group members come from far and wide for their monthly get together: the Gold Coast, Caloundra, Bribie Island, Ipswich and perhaps farther afield, many of the members are in their 70’s and 80’s, but still they hop on the train, lace bag in hand and come along to meet with their fellow lace lovers.

Talking with the members of the guild they all tell me different reasons as to why they make lace. Firstly, and most obviously because they love this incredibly intricate and unfortunately fading craft practice, but there are many other reasons besides- one, which is of great importance is the social component of the guild. Once a month (and there are small more localised groups that run weekly as well) meetings give members the chance to come together, talk about their lives and experiences, have a cup of tea and lunch together, and share their love of lace. Some members find the detail of lace making a little to taxing on the eyes and hands some months, but they are all still there, knitting or some other craft in hand, joining in and catching up with friends.

The lace makers are not a traditional bunch, some work in highly stressful jobs through the week and their craft offers a retreat from their busy lives on the weekend, others are raising children full time and guild meetings are a welcome monthly escape. Many though, are now retirees and this is a lovely opportunity to focus in on a craft they have loved for a long time, but while working and raising children often didn’t have the time to really enjoy.

There are many different types of lace: bobbin lace (which appears to be the most complex practice one could imagine); needle lace; tatting; crochet, and I am sure there are hundreds more that I am ignorant of. All of these making practices look extremely difficult and detailed, but also incredibly beautiful, and I did feel a little disappointed that I had never learnt such wonderfully precious skills during my time at school as many of the guild members had.
Guild members found their passion for lace making in many and varied ways, some were shown by their grandmothers and mothers, others learnt at school, while many just observed someone else doing it (demonstrations were presented each year at the old Warana festival, or lace is often demonstrated at Heritage events) and decided they would like to learn. I can understand this desire, seeing the lace makers in action, hearing about their passion for the craft and also experiencing the warmth and kindness of the group I too would like to be a part of all this someday.

Cate Brown is the curator of the Craft Revolution exhibition at QUT Art Museum. She met with various Brisbane guilds to create the show.

Images: Brisbane lace makers in action, 2008, photographs by Cate Brown