Embroidered Collage

The highlight of my trip was receiving this large handful of lace remnants.  Over 80% of it is handmade bobbin lace and it is all gorgeous. 

I had stepped into another lace shop in Bruges to pick up another couple of doilies in different styles.  One of the ladies was teaching her helper how to make bobbin lace.  The one end was in a little baggie, ready to be sealed up for sale, so I asked if they had more yardage.  She brought out a book with samples and I was looking them over, trying to decide how much money to spend, when I figured I better ask how little I could buy.  Ten centimeters, was the answer, with fingers held out for illustrations.  While I was thinking again she asked me if the ends would work.  Ends?  The leftovers, the remnants.  She ducked into the back room and came back with double handfuls.

While I was gleefully looking through the bits she asked me if I would be using them and how.  So I showed her my business card and explained how I created art that used fiber and lace on canvas along with paint and such.  Then she said that I could have the remnants.  I blinked and protested that I had intended to pay for them.  She confirmed with me that she would see them again on the website and I agreed, just warning it might take a while.  And she restated that she would give them to me.  So I asked her to pick, and I ended up with a nice large handful of remnants! 

I was absolutely thrilled.  I told her it was the highlight of my trip, and it was!  She said that she always saved the ends because she couldn't bear to throw them out, knowing what went into them, but that she never knew what to do with them.  So we were both very happy.  I sketched out some of the patterns later in the evening.