The first three Valley Grove tapestries were hung in time for a Syttende Mai (Norwegian National Day) celebration at Valley Grove. One wall features “Oak

The first three Valley Grove tapestries were hung in time for a Syttende Mai (Norwegian National Day) celebration at Valley Grove. One wall features “Oak
Would you like to see the Valley Grove tapestries in person? The first formal unveiling will be at the Syttende Mai (Norwegian National Day) celebration
The Reverend Nils A Quammen was the longest serving pastor for Valley Grove Church, from 1867-1908. Born near Bergen, Norway, in 1839, he immigrated to
The Valley Grove tapestry project came at an opportune time to coordinate with another project. Minnesota filmmaker Paul Krause had been working around two years
Some people get lots of likes on Instagram for glamorous selfies in fancy restaurants or resorts. On my feed, the Valley Grove animals became minor
My friend Josie Owens asked if I was attending our book group last week. I said I could only listen to the discussion of Cloud
It was enormously fun to be at the Winter Show at Peter Pap‘s booth to be able to talk with visitors about Frida Hansen’s newly-rediscovered
The border of Frida Hansen’s 1903 tapestry, Southward (Sørover), has surprising details I saw only after much study and listening to the observations of others.
It’s April, and it’s not the Armory, but it is still the iconic “Winter Show.” When the show was postponed due to Omicron, the Armory
Tonight is the opening for the Winter Show, the premier art, antiques, and design show in Manhattan, and Frida Hansen’s monumental tapestry from 1903, Sørover
The rediscovery of Frida Hansen’s monumental 1903 tapestry, Southward (Sørover), was an amazing find. When it is exhibited and for sale by Peter Pap at the Winter Show in
I’m going to be discussing my all-engrossing tapestry project for the Valley Grove Preservation Society in a webinar sponsored by Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum on Wednesday,
The Valley Grove tapestries are intended to pay homage to historical Norwegian weaving from the golden age of tapestry in Norway, from about 1600-1750. So
The hardest part so far in the tapestry of the skiing pastor has been weaving the angles of the skis and ski poles evenly and
The recent discovery of Frida Hansen’s missing tapestry, Southward (Sørover),* was a marvelous find, but it wasn’t her only work that is missing in America.
Every time I publish an issue of The Norwegian Textile Letter, I feel the content is rich and that many weavers and textile lovers will
While designing tapestries, I look through images of historical tapestries for inspiration, for graphic elements and use of pattern. I glanced at a card in
Primary images in the second Valley Grove tapestry are the stone church and a Ladies Aid member. Women of the Valley Grove Ladies Aid raised
I have almost reached the point of weaving the Ladies Aid woman in the Stone Church Tapestry. Her figure celebrates the group that was instrumental
During my initial Valley Grove tapestry design phase, I thought I didn’t need to weave the words “Valley Grove,” nor did I even need to
The second of the Valley Grove tapestry quartet focuses on the original stone church, built in 1862, and the women of the Ladies Aid who
Primary images in the second Valley Grove tapestry are the stone church and a Ladies Aid member. This new tapestry underway has so many details
Tapestry: Changing Concepts at the City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DE, Scotland 13 Nov 2021 – 13 Mar 2022 Artists include: Jo Barker,
What is it that everyone knows about tapestry–OK, maybe art in physical form in general? Photos are always inadequate! Thank goodness I was able to
The first Valley Grove Tapestry was displayed for a few minutes at the church, so it could be included in an upcoming documentary about the churches.
Valley Grove tapestry border animals include a Poland China pig, a breed favored by farmers in the region, probably only cute when woven in wool.
Next up in the Valley Grove tapestry border: a pocket gopher. Did you know they chew fiber optic cables?
The first Valley Grove tapestry is a celebration of the oak savanna, and I’m happy the centerpiece oak is done. I wrote about the importance
I wrote in May about a 1925 tapestry by noted Norwegian artist Frida Hansen, “The Little Mermaid.” (See the full post: “Another Missing Tapestry Mystery
A common exclamation by a Minnesotan driving on a country highway, walking on a trail, or glancing at a ditch by the woods at dusk
The American Tapestry Alliance member discussion list chooses a new topic each month; September’s is the design process. Questions include, “What does your design process
At the end of 2020, when I was planning the cartoon for my tapestry Burn 2020, I read about an upcoming exhibition of members of
The first of the Valley Grove Church tapestry quartet has a theme of animals and an oak tree, and it is finally underway. (The gold
This summer I was lucky to participate in a program from the Iowa Arts Council and Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum: Folk Art Education Re-Envisioned:Teaching Traditional Handcrafting
Over the past few years I have come to know the billedvev (Norwegian tapestry) collection at Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum very well. In June I
My daughter-in-law Maggie texted me two photos last night that made me happy. Here’s the story in a few photos…
I am warping the Glimåkra tapestry loom for the first of the Valley Grove tapestries. Such a debacle. I wound the warp for all four
See a short video on the iconic Norwegian Wise and Foolish Virgin tapestries.
I am a friend of the Swedish artist Anna Olsson–or rather, I see her marvelous tapestries as a Facebook friend. I’d love to meet her
I’m feeling a bit pressured and crazed about the one-year deadline for the Valley Grove tapestries. All four are conceptually planned. Three are close to
Putting together designs for the Valley Grove tapestries is an enormous puzzle. I want to use every opportunity to reference something from the history of
The Three Wise Men bringing gifts to the infant Jesus were popular figures in Norwegian tapestries of the late 1500s-1700s. Many of these Adoration tapestries
A graveyard flanks the Valley Grove churches, filled with interesting memorials–some very old, some quite recent. My tapestries will hang in the stone church next
Today I highlighted many of my favorite works from Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in a “Collections Connection” talk on Zoom. It will be produced as a
I am giving a short lecture on Zoom tomorrow (June 8, 2021, 12 noon) for Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Collections Connection: Billedvev (Tapestry Weaving). You can
Help find a missing Frida Hansen tapestry, “The Little Mermaid” from 1925.
I wrote recently about the challenge I hadn’t fully appreciated in planning this project: weaving four tapestries is not the hard part; designing four separate
The “What was I thinking?” phase This project started with excellent planning, a well-written proposal, and the excitement of acceptance. Now I’m trying to pull
I have smart friends who haunt online auction sites and snap up rare Scandinavian weaving books and beautiful weavings. I’ve often been envious of their
Last summer and fall I worked with a marvelous team at the Valley Grove Preservation Society in Nerstrand, Minnesota, near Northfield. They were interested in
The catalog from the Baldishol Exhibit at Norway House is a beautiful reality!
Yesterday I gave a zoom presentation on the life and work of Frida Hansen for the St. Louis Weavers Guild. It was fun, I think
I’m so happy that the bonfire tapestry is complete, the first I wove on my upright Glimakra Regina loom. During the last part of weaving
Watch. In the past few years I have given a lecture on historical Norwegian billedvev (tapestry, or literally “picture weaving”) several times in person, and
Smart readers! Who can help with this mystery tapestry? Recently I was asked: I have a tapestry that is about 135cm x 105 cm which
I was so happy to publish the new issue of the Norwegian Textile Letter last night, a special issue on Vestfoldsmett, a brocading or inlay
If you haven’t been watching the weekly “Textiles & Tea” interviews done by Kathi Grupp with the Handweavers Guild of America, there is already a
People know my interests and send me stuff. This morning, two friends sent a link to this article: A Mystery Inscription on ‘The Scream’ That
I have a Norwegian Hagen tapestry loom and I often get questions about it. A couple of interesting things popped up in the past month.
I know I am not the only weaver who tapes photos to the loom, but I was thinking about it today as I had a
The upcoming issue of the Norwegian Textile Letter will focus on Norwegian Vestfoldtepper. This post is about the pieces I have woven in the technique.
Norwegian Tapestry Lecture I will be presenting a zoom lecture on Norwegian billedvev, “From Virgins to Spaceships: A Visual Voyage Through Norwegian Tapestry,” through Livsreise,
Many of you already know about the work of my good friend Annemor Sundbø, from Setesdal in Norway. Next week you can tune in to “Lunch
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