My daughter-in-law Maggie texted me two photos last night that made me happy. Here’s the story in a few photos…
Valley Grove Tapestries: Warping Woes
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
Pondering the Wise and Foolish Virgins
See a short video on the iconic Norwegian Wise and Foolish Virgin tapestries.
I Love the Idea of Weaving a Faucet
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
Valley Grove Tapestries: The Great Oak
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
Valley Grove Tapestries: Adding Angels Above the Arch
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
Valley Grove Tapestries: Working on Animals
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
Valley Grove Tapestries: In the Graveyard
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
Collections Connection Talk: Mixing Historical Motifs in Norwegian Tapestry
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
Collections Connection: Billedvev (Tapestry Weaving)
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
Another Missing Tapestry Mystery to Solve: Frida Hansen’s Mermaid from 1925
Help find a missing Frida Hansen tapestry, “The Little Mermaid” from 1925.
Valley Grove Tapestries: What Was I Thinking, Part Two
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
Beginning the Valley Grove Tapestry Commission
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
Norsk Folkekunst: Kvinnearbeid
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
Valley Grove Tapestries: A Year of Weaving Work Ahead
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
To Cap the Year-Long Baldishol Celebration
The catalog from the Baldishol Exhibit at Norway House is a beautiful reality!
Zooming: Super Great, But I Miss Real People too
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
Bonfire, Complete
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
Billedvev: Watch, Read…
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
A mystery tapestry–Perhaps with Princesses?
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
Vestfoldsmett in the Norwegian Textile Letter
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
My “Textiles and Tea” Interview, and The Wise and Foolish Virgins Pop Up Again
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
Russian, Norwegian, Swedish: Mixed-Up Fun
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
Oh, Those Rare Hagen Looms (Not?)
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.
Taping Photos to your Loom, and the Fire Tapestry Progress
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
Vestfoldtepper (I Made More than I Remembered)
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.
Scandinavian Lectures and Classes to add to your Calendar
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,
Scandinavian Textile Zoom Talks
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
A Phoenix, frida-hansen style
Does anyone know about the weaver David Z. Tripp from NYC, mid-20th century?
It’s all about documentation
I wrote about starting my fire tapestry on January 7. I need to pick up the pace. Inspired by Helena Hernmarck’s superb documentation of her
Above the Divan
Because of my writing and weaving, people ask me questions. Sometimes I have an opinion or information, but many times I am helpful only because
The Ever-Inspiring Helena Hernmarck
Helena Hernmarck is an inspiration and mentor to me in many ways. In 2012 I took a wonderful workshop from her at the American Swedish
“Mask Up:” The story of A 2020 Rug
Of course “Mask Up” could only be a 2020 rug. What would we even have thought of that phrase on a rug in 2019?
Post Office Post
When I piled up my stash of green yarn for the background of my upcoming fire tapestry, I didn’t have enough. I usually use Norwegian
Four Months to warp a loom? It’s about time
I bought a large Glimakra tapestry loom in August. With the closing of my Casket Arts Building studio space, writing projects, a new granddaughter, and
Frida Hansen: Art nouveau i full blomst (Would you like to purchase the book?)
When the Stavanger Art Museum held a retrospective exhibit of the work of Frida Hansen in 2015, they published a beautiful book of essays and
The Shape of Things: THinking about Frida Hansen and the New Year
Barbara Burns has been thinking about Frida Hansen. Admiring many of her works, Barbara mused on a Facebook post in the Pulled Warp and Shaped
A Kavelfrans Christmas Present
I’m a great fan of loops and fringe and Scandinavian kavelfrans–the fuzzy, worm-like festive wooly edges used on gloves, mittens, and pillows. I experimented with
Such Empty Looms but a full heart
I am facing an empty loom situation that is making me frantic. Every other family/writing/publishing deadline has taken precedence and even my husband said one
“Helena Hernmarck: Weaving the Archive (PART two OF TAPESTRY TALES: A TWO-PART ZOOM LECTURE SERIES)
The Weavers Guild of Minnesota is pleased to sponsor Tapestry Tales, a two-part Zoom lecture series, as part of their ongoing fundraising efforts this winter.
Lila Nelson: A Deeper Dive (Part one of Tapestry Tales: A two-Part Zoom Lecture Series)
Lila Nelson: A Deeper Dive.
Virtual Presentation by Robbie LaFleur.
Tuesday, December 15, 2020, 7-8:30 pm CST
Flesberg Technique in the Norwegian Textile Letter
Over the years, people would write to me about flesberg technique. Perhaps they saw a piece I made, or connected it to the 2006 issue
Tapestry Mystery #2
A new mystery! Does anyone recognize this piece or the weaver? I recently received this inquiry: Recently I purchased a tapestry from the personal collection
Mystery Solved!
After I sent off my post about a mystery tapestry yesterday, my husband and I set off for a hike on the oak savannah prairie
Mystery Tapestry–Do you know the Artist?
It’s flattering to receive inquiries about tapestries because of my long interest in Norwegian billedvev, and more recently, because of my infatuation with and study
Best Zoom comment and some videos
The holidays abbreviated. Horrible Minnesota coronavirus statistics. More lockdowns. Oh, and carjackings are up 316% since last year in Minneapolis. Many things seem grim and
Studio Moving (Still) and a Focus on Flesberg
While I haven’t woven much of late, things are happening! I’ve moved everything from my studio, we have a new president (!), and I have
Five Years in the Casket Arts Building
Almost five years to the day, I closed the door to my studio in the Casket Arts Building. I’m moving my weaving home. Though I
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