Teen keeps ancient craft alive

By Gary Raham
Correspondent

A lacer takes a pattern, places some pins in the proper spots, and begins weaving and twisting threads. If that lacer happens to be as skilled as 16-year-old Lauren Brissey, in a few hours--or perhaps days, depending on the complexity of the project--she can create an elegant pattern of silk, linen and sometimes metal.

These patterns might decorate a piece of furniture or item of clothing, serve as a bookmark or be framed like a snowflake captured under glass.

Brissey practices the ancient craft of bobbin lacing, an art whose products were so expensive only royalty could afford them in 16th century Europe.

Brissey's fascination with the craft began in California when she was 10 and saw a local master, Louise Colgan, displaying her skill at a Norway Day Festival. She took lessons from Colgan for six months and found she possessed a natural talent for the work. When her family moved to Fort Collins five years ago, she searched for a representative of the International Old Lacers Guild nearby and discovered Annikki Elkind, who lives in Fort Collins. Elkind has become her local mentor and friend.

"Lauren is the only young person I know doing this work," said Elkind. "She definitely learns quickly and does very nice, neat work."

Elkind related how medieval workers had to labor in basements using candlelight magnified with globes of water in order to work with the right humidity to weave the fine linen threads.

Brissey naturally wanted to share her love of lacing and thought 4-H might be the place to do it.

"They had never heard of bobbin lacing," said Brissey, laughing, "but they finally decided I should compete in the ethnic arts category."

Heritage and ethnic arts typically include things like quilting, crocheting, knitting, rug making and macramé. The judges may not have known what her craft was called, but they recognized excellent work when they saw it. This year Brissey repeated as county 4-H champion and grand champion and was the reserve grand champion in the state competition.

Now Brissey demonstrates this once regal art when she can find the time after a full schedule of academics, orchestra and marching band at Poudre High School. She showed her work at the 30th Anniversary for the Greeley Museums in July and again at the Potato Festival in Greeley on Sept. 9.

Perhaps the intricate leaf patterns or web-like scaffolding of one of her designs will catch the eye of another 10-year-old willing to put in the time and effort needed to carry the art form to another generation.

More information about lacing is available at www.internationaloldlacers.org.