Carol Johnson’s tapestry collection includes two versions of the Swedish Bäckahäst, the river or sea horse. This mythological creature was thought to lure people to ride
Scary Tapestry?
In real life, these abstracted zebra mussels, underwater in a Minnesota lake, are tiny. Described by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: “Zebra mussels are
59 Tapestries: Homage to the Baldishol Tapestry
Carol Johnson’s collection includes the head of a figure in the famous Norwegian Baldishol tapestry. The Baldisol Tapestry is the most spectacular historical Norwegian tapestry,
59 Tapestries: Houses and Aunts and Betrothed Couples
Many of the Swedish and Norwegian tapestries in the collection of Carol Johnson are woven by novices, probably by women learning tapestry techniques during a
Cross-Dyeing and Shibori Workshop with Catharine Ellis
Sometimes I take visiting artist workshops at the Weavers Guild just because I like to meet talented weavers and it’s good to stretch my weaving
59 Scandinavian Tapestries
My friend Carol Johnson, a passionate collector of Scandinavian textiles, has many wonderful tapestries in her collection. I photographed 59 the other day, and that’s
Stumbling on Fabulous Tapestry, Due to Avoidance of Snowy Spring Sidewalks
Will spring never come? Baby Fitz has seen a great deal of art the last couple of months, partly because we can’t navigate snow-covered sidewalks
Treasures from the Textile Center Garage Sale
Each year I volunteer during the setting-up time at the Textile Center Garage Sale and manage to come home with useful items, bought at a
A Passionate Pursuit: Scandinavian Weavings from the Collection of Carol Johnson
When I took over publishing the Norwegian Textile Letter in 2013, I had a vague concern that it might be a struggle to find content.
Another X
This piece came off the loom right before I started work on the “Wooly Ice Cream” weaving. Coming back to it now, it was like
Krokbragds on Vesterheim Textile Tours
At the March Weavers Guild of Minnesota monthly meeting I spoke about my wonderful experience on the 2017 Vesterheim Textile Tour to Denmark and Norway.
Wooly Ice Cream: Weaving Notes
I know I have a few weaving friends who care about the weaving process, and partly to document it for myself, here is a bit
“Artists in the Kitchen” Opening Soon
“Wooly Ice Cream” is done and ready to deliver for the upcoming exhibit at the Textile Center of Minnesota, “Artists in the Kitchen: 50 works by
Why Weave?
Occasionally, like especially after visiting a thrift store filled with awful textiles and piles of clothing made of horrid fabrics, I can’t figure out why
Scandinavian Fringe Embellishments: Folk Art on the Edge(s)
I finished teaching a two-day class at North House Folk School in Grand Marais on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior. This photo was taken
Tight Tassels
Here’s an exuberant pillow with kavelfrans embellishment on both sides, and tassels exploding from the corners, photographed on a sunny Minnesota winter day. The base
Absurdities: The Pillow Edition
For my upcoming class at the North House Folk School, I made a pillow using cool fabric pompoms, as illustrated in Väv Magazine, #2, 2013.
Boring Gloves in a Drawer: From Unimaginative to Embellished
Today’s questions in my test, test, test mode for my North House Folk School class included whether yarns of different weights and type (plied vs
Traditional Fringe, Non-traditional Presidential Pillow
In Scandinavia pillows and bench cushions were often trimmed in fringe, both to protect the textile and add exuberant decoration. Typically, the fringe was made
WTIP Radio Interview about the North House Class
This morning I was a guest on WTIP, North Shore Community Radio, to preview the class I am teaching next month at North House Folk
Krokbragd/Danskbrogd: A Bit About My Weaving and Design Process
I planned to write about my latest krokbragd/Danskbrogd piece once it is complete, but an in-process photo on the Facebook Krokbragd Group generated questions that
Pom-pom and Fringe Obsession
Until lately, pompoms only brought to mind children’s crafts and cheerleaders. I mark my conversion to fascination with pompoms and fringe to the Vesterheim 2013 Textile
Looking Forward to Teaching at North House in the New Year
Deadlines are great for creativity, in my book. Next month I am teaching a workshop at North House Folk School, Scandinavian Fringe Embellishments: Folk Art on
Merry Christmas!
Rebecca Mezoff wrote about a Christmas tree “weave-along” this fall. OK. Cool. I can do that. I’ll riff on Norwegian tapestry and use it as
Black Cat Farmstead Visit
On Sunday many lucky Weavers Guild of Minnesota members accepted the invitation to visit Andrea Myklebust at Black Cat Farmstead in Stockholm, Wisconsin, to learn
Finally, the Varafeldur is off the Warp-Weighted Loom
My varafeldur adventure took seven months, with a long summer hiatus for other projects and travel. It began with a plan to demonstrate warp-weighted loom
The Danskbrogd Series
Five pieces are completed in my exploration of the Xs of danskbrogd. The inspiration piece was a coverlet from the mid 1850s, from southern Norway
