It began slowly. When I was asked to volunteer as a docent at a local Revolutionary War site, I became interested in 18th century clothing. Scouring the portraits and the garments in museums, I started to realize how important lace had been to people in that turbulent time. It had economic importance (as an imported luxury good) besides fashion significance and social status. It was about underappreciated work of highly skilled women. A local lace developed in my area—Ipswich Lace—that compels me to search every nook and cranny and archive in New England. And I found some. I’m also looking for the lacemakers.

In my spare time I make reproduction lace today, as well as contemporary laces and art pieces when I’m not looking through databases and lace texts. I am a member of the New England Lace Group, as well as the International Organization of Lace and the European-based OIDFA organization. I love to add things I’m learning and finding to Wikipedia too. When I got a grant to enhance lace content in Wikipedia, this project launched. Learn more on the blog: Enhancing Lace Content in Wikipedia Project.

In the media:

WBUR Boston: How hundreds of men, women and children built a cottage lace industry in Ipswich

The Boston Globe: Gather 2025 Explores Fiber Arts in Boston

PieceWork Magazine: Lace Lives On! Bobbin Lace in Ipswich Past and Present

Find me at CreativeGround.org

If you are curious about what “couvige” means, please see Wiktionnaire’s definition of that.

OIDFA also has a story about the word “couvige”. [PDF]