I had a fun weekend adding tools to my workbox of tapestry design techniques when Molly Elkind came to the Weavers Guild of Minnesota. The
Some Time with Monksbelt
I will be posting photos of our Scandinavian Weavers shared monksbelt warp on the Scandinavian Weavers Study Group blog. In the first post, “A New
Unsuccessful Skillbragd–What to do? Throw it Away?
In our last Scandinavian Weavers Study Group shared warp project, skillbragd, I attempted to to create a beautiful gradation of pink to red, with a
Scandinavian Animal Tapestries (and a Couple of Abstracts)
The display up at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota through April 12, 2019, “Scandinavian Tapestry Treasures from the Collection of Carol Johnson,” is divided into
Tapestry Treasures that leave Sweden and Norway
In January I posted a photo on a Swedish Facebook weaving group site, of many tapestries on the floor of my studio building. They were
Carol Johnson’s Tapestry Collection: Floral
The display up at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota through April 12, 2019, “Scandinavian Tapestry Treasures from the Collection of Carol Johnson,” is divided into
Frida Hansen Research in New York 2019
Although I visited several museums during my time in NYC this year, my week was notable for research rather than gallery gazing. I was on
Textile Sightings in NYC
Yesterday was my Metropolitan Museum of Art “Friends and family” day, starting with a visit to “Monumental Journey: The Dauggerotypes of Giraut de Prangey” with
NYC 2019
We survived the polar vortex in Minnesota, with only one frozen pipe (and a no-doubt expensive plumber visit). On day one of my annual trip
Carol Johnson’s Tapestry Collection: People
The display up at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota through April 12, 2019, “Scandinavian Tapestry Treasures from the Collection of Carol Johnson,” is divided into
Pretty, But Not Normal, Tapestry Frogs
When I posted about a tapestry featuring woodticks last fall, my friend and former co-worker at the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Jess Hopeman, commented, “Oh
Gubbatäcke–Take Two
I called this weaving figurative boundweave or boundweave figures, but didn’t include the Swedish colloquial name, Gubbatäcke or Gubbaväv. The weave structure is bunden rosengang, or bound rosepath.
The Tapestry Exhibit: Not Strictly Tapestries….
When Carol Johnson graciously boxed up many tapestries for me to share at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota, she included three hangings in figurative boundweave.
Billedvev Faces: Perfection or Charm?
I love the charm of faces in medieval Norwegian tapestry. It’s so interesting how a squiggly line for eyebrows and a line forming a nose
Tapestries are up at the Weavers Guild
I will post more about the Swedish and Norwegian tapestries up at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota. But for now, “Tapestry Treasures from the Collection
Weaving Inspiration from Two Sources
Article: “Tapestry: A Living Cultural Legacy” In my “Billedvev: Norwegian Tapestry Techniques” class we use Norwegian Tapestry Weaving by Maria Koppen as our textbook. (Purchase it
Thoughts While Organizing 74 Scandinavian Tapestries
I’m putting together an exhibit of Swedish and Norwegian tapestries from the extensive textile collection of my friend Carol Johnson. “Tapestry Treasures from the Collection
Searching for SOUTHWARD, a Missing Frida Hansen Tapestry
The most recent issue of the Norwegian Textile Letter included a mystery to solve–the location of a missing tapestry by Frida Hansen. Read “Frida Hansen:
A Year observed: Weaving (mine) and Walking (Fitz’s)
This is the time of year to assess what has happened in twelve short months, and give thanks for my family and friends and all
No Flowers on this Tapestry, Just Ticks
When I was a girl, growing up on a farm in Bygland Township in northwestern Minnesota, wood ticks were so annoying. After roaming the woods
When Frida Hansen Sought a Tapestry Teacher
I rarely read weaving-related passages from books or articles to my husband, but this week I read him flowery paragraphs from a July 1929 issue
Danskbrogd Moose–DONE.
Finally. This moose has been hanging around on the loom too long, as I’ve been working on my billedvev and kavelfrans classes. Some of you
What is an Åkle?
It is perfectly logical, I recently learned, to occasionally be confused about the “right” translation for the Norwegian word åkle (or åklæ). It is generally,
Kavelfrans (Minnesota Style) Class at the Weavers Guild
I taught an afternoon kavelfrans class at the Weavers Guild this week. Nine creative students came ready with ideas of projects to trim, open minds
Sidsel Calmeyer Karlsen at Norway House
This summer I enjoyed a too-short visit with my friend Ingebjørg Monsen from Bergen. Afterwards she stayed with our friend Jan Mostrom, and the two
Vesterheim 2018 Billedvev Workshop (#2)
Some student stories from my September billedvev weekend workshop #2. During my workshop the weekend before, Kristen Rummelhart was in Decorah with her daughter for
Vesterheim 2018 Billedvev Workshop (#1)
I had so many feelings after teaching two workshops in billedvev (Norwegian tapestry) at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum this month. Relief! It seemed that the
Star-struck
Looking through images of Norwegian billedvev (tapestry), you will find many eight-pointed stars, utterly charming in their variety. In my Vesterheim billedvev workshop last week,
Pick and Pick: A Medieval and Modern Technique for Tapestry
With my upcoming Vesterheim workshops in mind, I’ve been studying the various decorative elements in the clothing of figures in medieval Norwegian billedvev (tapestry) pieces.
Even a Golf Vacation Includes Great Textiles
Our two weeks in Maine ended with–what else?–a delayed flight home from Boston, a dead car battery (AAA guy, “Oh yes,this happens all the time
Medieval Stock Photo?
I wove a “medieval head sampler” in anticipation of my billedvev workshops at Vesterheim in September. I looked through many images of old Norwegian tapestries
Danskbrogd Moose Disaster
I told my husband that I wasted three hours weaving the other day, as I realized my moose was not unfolding as planned. He was
Indecipherable Objects in Space
Paul Klee, Alexander Calder, and my granddaughter Maddie–these are people who are masterful at drawing and painting indecipherable objects in space, free and colorful. It’s
Swedish Tulip and Warhol Banana
While studying the tapestries in my friend Carol Johnson’s extensive weaving collection, and reading several books about Swedish tapestry, I was captivated by the flowers in
Kavelfrans Class at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota
The fall catalog of classes at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota is out, including my short class on Swedish kavelfrans. Swedish Kavelfrans – Minnesota Style with Robbie
Immersion Stripes with X: Danskbrogd #4
I brought this piece to the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah yesterday, for the annual Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition, which will
59 Tapestries: Bäckahäster
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
Norwegian Textile Letter, No. 1 of Year 25
The new issue of The Norwegian Textile Letter marks its 25th year, and the fifth year of publication in digital format. It includes a book
