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Before embarking on the formidable task of teaching, I spent 10 or so years learning from Ann Cope and Frances Goodwin who ran classes in Chesham, Buckinghamshire (in the 1980’s & 1990’s).  Classes are still running in Chesham and so are many others in the area.
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I very quickly learned that if I showed commitment to attend and enthusiasm to learn, that I was being carried along a path where I moved quite quickly from Torchon to Beds and then onto Bucks and Honiton.  I had not been learning Bucks lace for very long when I was encouraged to make some lace for my wedding dress. 
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When I got engaged the first thing Ann and Frances said was what sort of lace do you want to make for your wedding dress?
 
But before I was even married I was booked onto a weekend course in Rugby to learn Honiton with Loretta Clark! The shell was the only piece I have ever made in Honiton lace.
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They came to the wedding and took photos.  When I was heavily pregnant, but still 2 weeks to go, they brought me cups of tea – little did anyone know that I would have delivered by coffee break the next morning!
 
I continued to go to class, but to a morning one, the pram beside me and more than a few willing hands to pick up the baby if needed.  She attended her first Lace Day with me at the age of 3 months – the Wigginton ladies kept telling me to "go and look at the suppliers and enjoy yourself!"
 
Second baby and we were shoppers only at her first Lace Day at only 3 weeks!
 
I did not allow family life to interrupt my lacemaking, however, it did change the frequency with which I could take time out to do it.  I attended a monthly class, Northchurch Lacemakers, where I was very fortunate to meet teachers of Bedfordshire lace, like Margaret Turner.
 
In 1994-95 I was given the opportunity to take on the Chesham Young Lacemakers group on a Friday afternoon.  I then decided I would like to return to College to do the C & G Teaching Certificate, which would help give me the confidence I felt I needed to be able to teach adults as well as the children.  I stayed with the Young Lacemakers for 15 years and we celebrated our 25th Anniversary before I had to move south with my family.
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I realised I had been spoilt for the choice of classes to attend in the area where I had lived for 40 years.  There were no adverts, no posters in the library and no websites about lace classes to be found – although I soon discovered that there are a lot of self-help groups.
 
In 2009, just a year after moving, I set up a class at my home and we have gone from strength to strength ever since. 
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I hope that you enjoy looking at this site and reading about what we do.
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