Fun with my Friend Phyllis; Examining a Barbro Nilsson Weaving
On a lovely summer day last month, a new donated weaving to the American Swedish Institute meant another opportunity for weaving immersion with Phyllis Waggoner: admiring, deconstructing, examining, figuring out … Continue reading
Billedvev Workshop at Vesterheim
I had the great good fortune to teach a seminar at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum last week, “Billedvev (Norwegian Tapestry Weaving).” Since it was the first time I taught this … Continue reading
A New Small Tapestry Loom and Destruction in Minnesota’s Forests
The day before I put together a small tapestry loom made of galvanized iron pieces from the local Ace Hardware store, I read an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, … Continue reading
A Star Becomes a Spaceship
It’s less than a month until I teach the billedvev workshop at Vesterheim, and my stack of samples is growing. Last week I started a narrow piece, beginning with a … Continue reading
The Enduring Appeal of Billedvev Virgins
I picked up a catalog from a 1988 tapestry show at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, The Essential Thread: Tapestry on Wall and Body, on the second-hand book cart at … Continue reading
Pancakes at Copenhagen City Hall
On June 14, I had the great honor of attending an opening reception for an exhibit at the Copenhagen City Hall, “København 850 år,” the guest of Ulrikka Mokdad, a … Continue reading
The Most Charming Weaving Instructions Ever
The new issue of the Norwegian Textile Letter is up! It includes two tapestry articles: a history of Norwegian tapestry by Unn Sønju, and an article by Unn about her influences … Continue reading
“Polar Bear, Polar Bear, Does Anyone Care?”
The title of this small tapestry (9.5″ x 15.5″) is “Polar Bear, Polar Bear, Does Anyone Care?” Surely not our current president, a climate change denier who proposes a 31% … Continue reading
Billedvev-Abstracted to the Extreme
At our meeting of the Scandinavian Weavers Study Group yesterday, I was honored by a compliment. Sara Okern, a master of serene rag rugs, said that she was inspired by my … Continue reading
Tapestry Food Quiz
A few weeks ago I spent a magical day looking at many tapestries from the storeroom of the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum. I’m planning which ones I will use in … Continue reading
