by Vicki Taylor
McCrossins Mill Museum volunteers have done it again. They have hosted Spaces Make Lace II over the weekend of the 4-5 November. Whether it was Noel Marshall, single-handedly, carrying a couch out of the stables, Annie Edwards searching for a jug for the Milk Jug Competition, Annie Mayo keeping up with information belatedly given to her, Ronnie Porter organising working bees or Jim Walkinshaw replacing light bulbs, it was all done efficiently and with good humour. What would we do without these wonderful volunteers as well as those working behind the scenes?
The New England Lace Group members also contributed their labour at the end of mops, brooms, and dusters, preparing the Stables study room according to Rosemary Shepherd’s (Lace Curator) wishes. Rosemary told me later that she didn’t draw breath from 9.30am Saturday until 4.30pm Sunday as groups of ladies from all around Australia gathered to listen to Rosemary, to photograph old lace, and to network with lacemakers that they hadn’t seen, sometimes for many years. When the visitors weren’t in the study room they were pouring intently ver the lace in the Janice Jones Collection in the Mill. As they left for home, they voiced their appreciation of all they had experienced in the Mill and in the town itself, and vowed to return sooner rather than later.
Special mention must be made of Vicki Taylor (Lace Group Leader), Megan Robinson and Lace Group ladies who made paper lace borders for shop windows in the main street and etched beautiful lace stencils on the footpaths.over the lace in the Janice Jones Collection in the Mill.
