About Us
Our members come from the greater Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area, Virginia, and the surrounding states. Various study groups meet regularly throughout the area. Membership is open to anyone interested in the art of lacemaking or in collecting or studying lace. Never tried lacemaking before? Several of our members are proficient teachers and are happy to teach new students.
Join us!
Annual dues are $15. Members receive the Guild's newsletter six times a year and are eligible to borrow books and videos from the Guild's library at no charge. Ready to join in the fun and become a member? Select this link to download a membership application (PDF).
CRLG Board Meetings:
Board meetings are held quarterly (usually on the third Saturday of March, June, September, and December) at the Palisades Library (4901 V Street, NW) in Washington, DC, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Board meetings are open to all members. The next Board meeting will be held in December 2011 (date to be announced). Click here to contact the Board.
Lacemaking at the Smithsonian:
The Smithsonian Institution’s American History Museum on The National Mall has re-opened! Behind-the-Scenes tours of laces in the Smithsonian’s collection are available on the fourth Thursday of every month (except November, December and on federal holidays) between 10:00 a.m. and noon. Samples of most of the major types of lace made from the 16th through the 19th centuries can be viewed, and paintings showing lace in fashion as well as the historical and economic factors influencing the lives of the lacemakers and the lace consumers will be discussed. The tours are free, but please call (202) 633-3826 to register, as each tour can accommodate a maximum of eight people.
From 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on the fourth Thursday, volunteers from CRLG will demonstrate lacemaking in the public area of the American History Museum (located on the second floor, next to the large George Washington Statue). Please stop by or send your friends. If you are able to help out by demonstrating needle lace or being a substitute when needed, Karen Thompson would like to hear from you (karenhthompson at gmail dot com).
Lacemaking Demonstrations:
Annapolis, MD / November 11 - December 15, 2011
CRLG has been invited to participate in an exhibit of “Textile As Art” at the Maryland Hall for the Arts in Annapolis, MD. This is a show of fine textile crafts that will go from Nov. 11 through Dec. 15. For additional information, click here.
Timonium, MD / November 11-13, 2011
Calling all "Irish Lace" makers: The guild has received a request for people who make Irish Lace to demonstrate at the Cultural Division of the Maryland Irish Festival. The Festival is a celebration of Irish culture and since Ireland has designated this year as the Year of Craft, the Maryland Irish Festival is highlighting artisans in the Cultural Hall at the 2011 Maryland Irish Festival. Consequently, they are looking for people who can demonstrate the craft of Irish Lace Making. The Festival is being held at the Maryland State Fair Grounds in Timonium, MD on Nov. 11-13, 2011.Recent Demonstration in VA: Virginia State Fair
Members of CRLG demonstrated lacemaking at the Virginia State Fair on October 6, 2011.
