As I teach workshops and give lectures about Norwegian billedvev, I look at many medieval pieces over and over. I keep seeing new things–motifs, horse
Medieval Mash-Up #4: Hello
The face is done–phew!–and the hair is OK. Some of you may remember that I made a small sample for this tapestry, some years ago.
Textile Center of Minnesota Member Show 2020
The annual member show at the Textile Center of Minnesota is always amazing, and this year it is particularly large, 120 entries. The opening is
Billedvev Talk in Sunny Arizona
I have given variations of a lecture, “From Virgins to Spaceships: A Visual Voyage through Norwegian Tapestry,” several times. It’s about time my mother heard it,
Medieval Mash-up #3: The Border Blunder
I dove into the new year with a major round of ripping, but here I am on January 4. My tapestry is a mash-up of
Medieval Mash-up #2: May Your Stars Align in 2020
The Medieval mash-up tapestry is progressing nicely during the holidays, despite a bit of three-steps-forward, one-step-back ripping out. I was so excited when I finished
Medieval Mash-up: #1 — The Hagen Loom
I’ve been planning to weave a blue horse tapestry for years. As I developed the cartoon, I took elements from a number of medieval Norwegian
Hiawatha and the Holidays
Norwegian-American tapestry weaver and embroiderer Pauline Fjelde paid an amazing tribute to her adopted country when she spent more than ten years weaving the monumental
Frida Hansen’s Student, Jullik Gulbrandsen
Because I’ve written about Frida Hansen, people want to tell me more; it’s such a privilege. I received an interesting email from Therese Solbakken in
eXperiments on X: An Xhibit of Weaving
Several of my pieces are going on the road to Redwood Falls, Minnesota, in November, for an exhibit at the Redwood Falls Public Library. The
Frida Hansen Lecture at Norway House
I am so grateful for my experiences in Norway this year, studying the work of Frida Hansen. Thank you again, American Scandinavian Foundation. I happy
My Own Swedish Tapestry Flowers
Last winter I put up an exhibit of Swedish and Norwegian tapestries at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota–mostly Swedish. I thought they were charming, and
Do We NEED Perfect Edges in Textiles?
I recently had several of my weavings professionally photographed, including seven weavings in my danskbrogd/X series that will be on display later in November. It
Not a Cat Lady, and Five Minute Framing
My small August travel tapestry on a copper pipe loom featured our two tuxedo cats. My husband was worried. The cats? Even though he is
Billedvev Workshop #5
In my Billedvev (Norwegian Tapestry) workshops, each student, inspired by Norwegian techniques or images, comes up with their own design. Days one and two are
Frida Hansen Seminar at Convergence 2020
I’m pleased to be teaching a short seminar at the Handweavers Guild of America biennial Convergence conference next summer in Knoxville, Tennessee. It’s not a full-on
Some Nice Ribbons at the State Fair
Are you heading to the State Fair? For my friends and relatives who like to ferret out exhibits by people they know, these are my
(Woven) Potatoes at the State Fair
There are prize-winning potatoes at the Minnesota State Fair each year, but generally not in the Creative Activities Building. This year, mine are. There’s nothing
Frida Hansen is Not the Only Open-Warp Norwegian Tapestry Weaver
My American Scandinavian Foundation fellowship in Norway was to study the beautiful wool transparency technique of Frida Hansen, but there are many weavers who have
Underway: Tree of Life, Red River Valley Version
Many readers know about my American Scandinavian Foundation fellowship this year, when I traveled to Norway to study the wool transparency technique of the noted
A 2019 Saga: Martha Brummitt and her Viking Boat and Sail
I am filled with admiration for Martha Brummitt and her Viking boat project. Ambitiously, she made her own Viking pram boat and is weaving a
Here and (T)here: North Atlantic Version
I am participating in a woven postcard exchange, “Here and (T)here,” sponsored by the American Tapestry Alliance (ATA). Participating ATA members were randomly assigned to another
Gerhard Munthe Tapestries at the American Swedish Institute
Tapestry fans, don’t miss two pieces designed by Norwegian National Romantic period artist Gerhard Munthe at the American Swedish Institute (ASI). They are on loan
Frida Hansen Transparency in the Stavanger Library
I made special friends with a Frida Hansen transparency at the public library in Sølvberget, the Stavanger Cultural Center–I visited three times. The mermaids hang in
Frida Hansen’s Last Large Tapestry, on my Last Day in Stavanger
Olavteppe (St. Olav Tapestry) 1927-1931 On the last day of my stay at Frida Hansens Hus in Stavanger, I walked downtown to the Domkirke, the
Frida Hansen’s Signature Roses
“Roses in the Landscape,” 1903. The roses that appear in so many of Frida Hansen’s works star alone in this double tapestry panel at the
Frida Hansen’s “Hoisommer” (High Summer)
High Summer, 1921, is one of Frida Hansen’s later transparent panels, and it hangs in the Stavanger Art Museum. It has a sort of crazy sense
Finding Kindred Weaving Friends in Stavanger
I was invited to the weavers group meeting at Svithun Husflidslag on the day I arrived in Stavanger. I had few expectations for the meeting,
A Centerpiece of the Stavanger Art Museum Frida Hansen Collection
When you walk into the gallery devoted to Frida Hansen at the Stavanger Art Museum, “Semper Vadentes” hangs prominently, with four figures leading you out
Frida Hansen Influence in Minnesota
Perhaps I am sitting here in Stavanger on Syttende Mai, after enjoying a wonderful meal of oxtail soup and wine and cake at the home
Anne Stabell’s Magical Open Warps
While my main purpose in Norway is to study the transparency technique of Frida Hansen, I take every opportunity to see tapestry and traditional weaving.
Today’s Frida Hansen Transparency: Clematis and Birds of Paradise
As I walked by “Clematis and Birds of Paradise” (1924) in the Stavanger Art Museum, I was drawn to the birds with long flowing tails.
Frida Hansen Transparencies — What’s the Attraction?
Regular readers of this blog know that I am in Norway as the result of a grant from the American Scandinavian Foundation, for which I
Kari Dyrdal at KODE in Bergen
Can you get to Bergen, Norway, soon? You should see the new exhibit at KODE, the Bergen Art Museum. The amazing digitally-woven tapestries of Kari
Weaving, Thick and Thin, and a Mangle
On my Stavanger field trip yesterday, I was struck by weavings both thick and thin. My friend Ragnhild Wanthne, from the local weaving group at
Havfruer: A Frida Hansen Transparency Treasure at the Stavanger Art Museum
It’s a privilege to be in Stavanger, Norway, with time to study and write and weave, thanks to a fellowship with the American Scandinavian Foundation.
Sleeping Well in Stavanger
During my first week in Norway, I only hit one tiny bump in the road (or train tracks). SAS was on strike when I arrived,
Inspiration from a Weaving School Friend
During my first days in Norway I stayed with my friend Inger Berit Myhre in Bjørkelangen. We studied weaving at Valdres Husflidsskole in Fagernes, Norway,
Frida Hansens Hus–Coming up Soon!
My suitcase is almost full; my American Scandinavian Foundation sponsored trip to Norway begins May 1. I haven’t accomplished my best-laid plans to have a
My Sudoku: A Shadow Weave Rug
My husband and his sister are both fanatical Sudoku players; if they need a minute to relax or switch gears, they pop up the grid
Carol Johnson’s Tapestries–Buildings and Landscapes
The final wall of “Scandinavian Tapestry Treasures from the Collection of Carol Johnson,” features outdoor scenes, buildings and landscapes. The display is up at the
Molly Elkind’s Collage to Tapestry Workshop
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
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
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
Billedvev Talk on January 18!
When I worked for the Legislature, my friend Catherine would call and tell me when my voice mail message still said I was out of
