MKG Cable Gram - Volume 17, Number 4

Carol Anderson's Cottage Creations are known as thee place to find patterns that are useful, practical, down-to-earth...  and truly beautiful.  Her talents range from the Wallaby Sweater, a hooded pullover with hand-warming pouch that anyone would love to wear, to her fanciful collection of dolls patterned on cultures from all over the world.

At a recent Knitters' Guild meeting, Carol showed us another facet of her many-talented life:  she shared her collection of antique lace knitting.  With a degree in education and a passion for building community around handcrafts, Carol's collection teaches us about a long history of women's work...  how it has served daily needs and commemorated lifetime milestones in families and communities.  We saw lace doilies, lace stockings, lace table runners, lace hats...  dozens of pieces that each told of a loving hand and a special time in life.

Every piece brought with it a story of having been found at a country flea market where the seller remembered the Grandma who made it, or having been worn at a young woman's wedding, or at a friends christening, or used at a family holiday dinner.  Carol confessed to having no willpower when itcomes to buying that next piece of knitted lace, and she carefully scours antique shops, yard sales, country stores and any place else she can find the next lovely piece of handwork.

Her collection is remarkable, and MKG urges you to contact Carol if you would like her to speak to your group.  You can find Carol at Cottage Creations, On the Farm at Deer Creek, Carpenter, Iowa. Call 504-426-0070.