by two weavings
Today I have thinking again about possible designs for this year’s Christmas cards. I usually like something red and something that has a bit of a story and is a bit personal. We have many weavings in our home, many were gifts to us or inherited from my mother. I thought I’d play with some scans of sections from a few of them. Above is one that came from Switzerland, I think. It is a reversible table runner. The other side has the red colour dominant.
This one is a section from an old Finnish weaving that had been in my parents’ home as long as I can remember but I don’t recall who made it and gifted it. I would not be surprised if it came from a great-aunt who was an amazing weaver, but there are others in the family as well. This is a small wall-hanging, also reversible, but with two layers, a very old traditional technique I believe. The design areas are woven together while the top edge is sewn together. The bottom edge has a fringe.
To me, both of these are like children’s storybook illustrations. So, I then became inspired to try a card design with one of them – can you guess which one?
November 22, 2013 in Being an Artist, Culture, Finland, Estonia & Finno-Ugric, Home by Marja-Leena
Marja-Leena, these delights remind me of the many cross stitch embroideries that were around in my childhood, and are now in my attic. We did not stick to red and white, though, which is much more a northern European tradition, and which I very much like, especially as you say for Christmas.
To me the woman with the basket looks ideal for the original spirit of this time of year, but the couple look jolly optimistic, which is also an appropriate attitude at the approach of a new year.
Oh my! I have placemats from Austria with that couple dancing. The mats are just as you describe, reversible with mostly red. I very much like your Finnish weaving. Especially that the woman with the basket is in motion and that the doggie seems very interested in what’s in that basket!
Olga, I think we’ve touched on this before. I have a Greek weaving that is of a subdued multi-colour but most are Finnish, certainly favouring the reds. I see you like both images for a card.
Rouchswalwe, my thoughts indeed about the Finnish one!
Really, then both these images would be suitable for a card. We’ll see which works out for the best!