Women of all ages meet to learn ancient artform of lace

On a sunny afternoon, six women are taking advantage of the natural light streaming through the windows of the Lyndon House Arts Center, leaning over lap-sized pillows covered in silver pins, string and tiny wooden sticks called bobbins.

They are the members of the Athens Lacemakers, and they are carrying on the ancient tradition of making lace.

"I'm all thumbs," laughs Linda Fowler as she fiddles with an array of wooden bobbins and thread.

In front of her, the shiny cluster of pins form a nucleus from which radiates several lines of string, looking like a sunburst or a flower. One end of the string is wound around the bobbin, and the other is attached to a needle. The lacemaker weaves the bobbins over and under each other to move the thread into a pattern.

Luckily for Fowler, Athens Lacemakers leader Caroline Ingle flits about helping those in need. Fowler and Ingle both are originally from England and their soft accents sound particularly appropriate here, given that lace has been made in England, at times being of great economic importance, since the 1500s.

At most meetings, there is even a tea break.

Working on a lace bookmark in a spider web motif, Lola Gazda remembers with a laugh why she took up making lace.

"Mother used to do it in Spain," says Gazda, who originally is from Barcelona. "She tried to teach me, but said I was unteachable. I saw the opportunity of proving her wrong, and here I am. I love it."

While most of the women in the group are retirement age, 23-year-old Laura Jones is an enthusiastic lacemaker, having moved through two beginner's projects and now a more advanced bookmark in just two months. Jones, who graduated with a geography degree from the University of Georgia in December, has even made her own bobbins from 8-inch wooden dowels and colorful plastic beads.

Jones still needs help, though, and gratefully thanks Ingle when she leans over to assist, telling her, "It's coming along nicely."

Like Jones, Karen Raddle, a semiretired pharmacist, is creating a lace bookmark. When she considered making lace and joining the group, "I thought, what a wonderful opportunity to learn a new skill and keep your brain working," she says.

Ingle took up making lace about seven years ago, following her retirement as a UGA geneticist. She was entranced by a demonstration at the Lyndon House and soon after took classes herself, joined the Atlanta Guild of the International Old Lacers and taught herself the art from books. About t