North Hants lacemaker takes a new twist on an old craft

Jane Fullman learned to make traditional bobbin lace when she was 12 years old and lace making has always been part of her life, but it was attending a wire lace workshop with Lauran Sundin in 2016 that inspired Jane to design unique, intricate pieces of contemporary jewellery using brightly coloured strands of copper wire.

The fine wires have delicacy but also strength and allow the creation of three-dimensional pieces with texture and colour.

Her designs are taken from the natural world, and flowers feature along with beetles and bees in necklaces, brooches and earrings.

Lace-making with thread, bobbins and needles dates back to before the 16th-century. The craft spread from region to region across Europe, with only two basic stitches but so many different forms and traditions created in each country.

Jane is a keen student of lace history and has made wall hung pieces in copper which reference the great lace art of Italy, for example in the Lily for Italy, created during lockdown, with a background piece inspired by the gold and silver laces in the Basilica Museum in Gandino, Italy.

A thoroughly modern artist, Jane has embraced the opportunities offered by Instagram. As well as posting regularly, Jane has curated digital exhibitions of work by lace artists around the world and set an Instagram challenge for other lace artists in January 2021.

She said “Designers and makers of all kinds of lace joined the challenge, posting stories and many, many wonderful photos of lace. For a few minutes every day, it felt like normal life was suspended and I found myself immersed in everyone’s stories. Some were funny, some were enlightening, all were heartfelt. The challenge became about so much more than lace and was a way for us to tell our stories and share experiences of life and lace.”

Jane’s blog gives a fascinating glimpse into this world.

Jane’s work can be seen on display with Made in the Hood at Whitchurch Silk Mill until January 9, and then in May with Open Studios West Berkshire and North Hampshire 2022.

Links – Instagram Jane Fullman (@jane.fullman_bobbinandwire) • Instagram photos and videos

Blog — Bobbin & Wire (bobbinandwire.com)

Website Bobbin & Wire (bobbinandwire.com)