Our last day in Venice we decided to take the water bus across the lagoon to Torcello (oldest site in Venice) and then to Burano. These islands are about 6 miles northwest of the city of Venice which is also an island. The water bus is a large boat, efficient and kind of gritty, with seats for some and standing room for the rest of the tourists, mostly Italian, heading out for a Sunday excursion.
Burano is famous for its colorful houses lining the canals. It would be a photographer’s dream except for the crowds.
Venetian lace has been made in Burano for centuries. Today they also specialize in linens and linen clothing. In search of lace I stepped into a “factory” in which the downstairs shop was filled with beautiful clothes and lace. The lovely shopkeeper explained that the lace was made upstairs; that her mother made the clothes, and then she pointed to a line of little watercolors painted by her dad.
We had a charming conversation in Italian and English as she showed me the lace, and explained which was cotton and which was linen; which were macrame and which were needle lace. Things were on sale because it’s the end of the season and even the non-sale prices seemed reasonable. I wish I needed handkerchiefs because they were beautiful. Instead I settled on a lace collar that I don’t need either but it was too pretty to resist.
Katy’s Blog Trip to Europe 2019 
Don’t wear it! Frame it on black, the way you have photographed it….its a work of art. Finding a beautiful frame will be half the fun. x
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Now there’s an idea.
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Your photos are beautiful.
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I cannot hold a candle to your photographic eye. You are my inspiration.
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Put it on a red silk blouse. Or on a cardigan. That way if you had a hanky you could stuff it up your sleeve! I completely understand the wish to have a lovely lace collar! I have a few I got at flea markets mostly b/c they are beautiful bits of textile hand made by a real human being and touched by human hands. Irresistible. But I think a red silk blouse w/a red undercollar w/the lace on top would be breathtaking.
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Good idea!
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Hi Katy, We loved all of Venice, but especially Burano. Luckily we were there early in the morning before most of the tourists arrived. Richard was able to take lots of pics. I visited all the lace shops.
Really enjoying reading your blog, thanks for letting me know about it. I know you and Mike are having a great trip!
Italy is one of my favorite countries.
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