Ombretta Audisio Collino

Italiano

My name is Ombretta. I'm 55, and have blue eyes, a long plait and a quite baroque shape..

I've been working bobbin lace since 1987; I Joined the Association Pouientes d'Oc since its beginning and now I teach occitan lace there, dove insegno i merletti occitani. Furhter, I teach bobbin lace to primary school children and I find it a great experience!

I live in an old farmhouse hidden in the fields. In the old stable, in front of a fireplace, I teach different bobbin lace techniques: Torchon, Cantù, Mimosa, Rosaline, Venezia, figurative...I like most figrative lace, because this way I feel I can paint with my bobbins, for instance to make portraits of people with traditional costumes.  

From spring to automn, every weekend, I'm invited and take part to country festivals, historical commemorations, arts and crafts fairs. I show my laces and work at my pillow, telling people the story of this form of art with particular attention to our traditional occitan lace. On these occasion I wear a traditional Varaita Valley costume, first because most of my laces come from that valley and second, this way I can wear a baeuiful, very old (XVIIIth century) lace cuff I love so much!

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