The moment I noticed the lace bobbins at The Marion Alliance Brick City Center for the Arts, located at 23 West Broadway, in Ocala, I was very excited! Daniela Banatova, originally from the Czech Republic, learned in high school the ancient art of bobbin lace making, a textile art, very popular in Europe in the 16th century. 

I remember demonstrations in Belgium and friends trying to learn this tricky art form when I lived in the Netherlands. You might want to visit Daniela Banatova at the The Marion Alliance Brick City Center as she designs holiday designs with her old canvas that looks like a rolled sleeping bag. She told me the canvas or bag was originally stuffed with straw, but would have never made it through customs.  She now uses modern foam rubber for her old textile art. 

You might like to watch a video of a woman from Belgium “shuffling or tossing” the bobbins from this Youtube site.  Please make a visit to see the many holiday gifts available through the Artful Giving, a selection of unique affordable gifts by local artists at The Marion Alliance Brick City Center for the Arts.

- Jannet Walsh