The museum where I spent the last 30 years of my working life had a large collection of West Country lace & it seemed not a bad idea to find out how it was made. I found a book in the local library, made a pillow and some bobbins and had a go - not with very much success ! I decided the only thing to do was go to lessons which I did and my lacemaking improved considerably under the expert guidance of the late Anne Goffran. As I said I had made some bobbins and the ladies in the class asked me to make them some so I ended up making more bobbins than I did lace !
Partly worked sampler in Honiton lace with a selection of bobbins
The bobbins are turned from various hardwoods and decorated in the traditional manner by carving or incising a design which is filled with sealing wax