October 28, 2024

After a short wait, the wire lace kits are back. 

I am happy that I was able to restock them just in time for a busy crafting season. 

Since the supply chain disruption it has been more difficult to bring all parts for the kits together. Notions that used to be a haberdashery staple now disappear without warning, and those still available can become prohibitively expensive. “Dynamic Pricing Algorithms”, I am told, is the reason: if a product is scarce its price goes up. 

I think that’s not the best news for lacemakers in North America. Fine craft of lace has always been rare in the New World. Limited demand from a small dedicated group did not give grounds for mass production of tools and materials on the continent. Yet lacemakers in Canada and USA were always able to find what they needed for their craft, through imports and by sourcing from local cottage industry. If what I see now indicates the future development, the unique lacemaking kits will reach such prices that only the richest people will be able to afford them. And maybe one day, a successful cyber space entrepreneur who made fortune selling the algorithms, will buy the last kit and take it to Mars to save bobbin lace, together with human consciousness, from obliteration… or maybe not?

I hope that these new business models will eventually deliver a positive change. I don’t know, I have never invested enough time to understand the market forces and the science of selling. Rather I have perceived my small lace supplies business as a service to the lacemaking community. In thirty years I taught the craft to many people and supplied the equipment and materials to many more with the goal of keeping the craft alive, thriving and evolving. I believe that tools for beginners should be of good quality and reasonable price to make the craft widely accessible and open to newcomers from every walk of life. Because lacemaking belongs to us, on this Earth, and we don’t know where the next brilliant lace designers or artists might come from.

Till today, I pack each lacemaking kit with care and send it off with a sincere wish to serve well and bring joy to another creative lacemaker in our small but dedicated group 🙂

Happy lacemaking to everyone!

Please visit my  Wire Lace Supplies on Etsy to see all tools, materials and patterns!