Dreaming of Lace

I know I just posted two entries yesterday (or was that today?), but I tend to get obsessive when I start to get into something.  One of the things I'm obsessed with right now is lace.  Crochet, knit, new, vintage, bowls, doilies, tablecloths, shawls, all of it!  I've noticed it more and more these days in magazines and such so I'm hoping it is making a comeback.  Although, it could have always been there and I just never noticed before my obsession began.  There are so many things that I could mention about lace but I think I will narrow it down on this entry.  

Photo taken by Laure Joliet

Photo taken by Laure Joliet

I just had to mention the most amazing artist that I found a few weeks ago while browsing the internet for lace crochet.  Her name is Kristen Wicklund.  She creates what she calls porcelain-lace.  After you visit her website you just have to look at her flickr photos here.  She crochets these beautiful lace doilies of all different shapes and sizes, dips them in liquid porcelain, lays them in bowls or drapes them to give them a little shape and then fires them.  During the firing process all of the crochet thread burns out of the porcelain leaving this amazingly delicate porcelain art.  She has posted pictures of her process on her flickr page.  I would love to have a big bowl to put fruit or flowers in on my counter or a collage on my wall.

Photo taken by Laure Joliet

I wonder if the same thing could be done with a stronger medium (like metal) so that you could make a fruit bowl or basket that would hold up to a lot of wear and tare.  I visited her photos right before I went to bed.  Not a good plan if I want a good dreamless nights sleep.  All night I tossed and turned dreaming of crochet lace and its endless possibilities.