The Pond

If you are a regular reader of Thrums, you may recall a post where I featured a friend, Gudrun Weisinger, who had just completed an amazing tapestry.   Can I ask a favour of you and please read this post first.   Thanks!  We'll wait for you...


For those of you who are in a hurry, then read this bio:
Gudrun said:
My training:
My first year, I was an apprentice in a oriental carpet studio, repairing and weaving oriental rugs. After that year I went to the trade school in Sindelfingen, (Meisterschule fuer das Weberhandwerk) near Stuttgart in Germany for two years, finishing the journeyman certificate. Later I have been in several studios in Germany learning to weave on a Damask-Jacquard loom, designing home textiles, clothing and weaving with linen, and using all different fibers. I have been a weaver in an convent in Baden Baden weaving tapestries and ecclesiastical items. After three years I went back to Sindelfingen for one year finishing my master degree in weaving and designing. In 1966 I immigrated to Canada.


We used to live nearby each other and exchanged dinners to and fro. The meals were great fun and I still make Schnitzel like a pro, thanks to Gudrun, at least once a month.  We also talked 'shop' and would look at weaving drafts and various projects, either on paper or on the looms. If I wasn't sure of something, Gudrun would say "oh, that's easy...I"ll show you!"  She was (and is) so generous with her time and knowledge.


Well, recently we have been exchanging emails to and fro on the benefits of being grandmothers and she suddenly writes " Have  I shown you my new tapestry?"  Here's a picture and a close up:

"The Pond"   tapestry woven by Gudrun Weisinger 2012

details from "The Pond"

Well, I was gobsmacked!   It's beautiful and the intricate details...the light on the water....

So I asked Gudrun if I could  feature her creation here and share it with you all. What was her  inspiration, her materials?   To tell us anything she felt would help us to understand the process behind her master piece.

  Hello Susan,

Yes, if you like, write another story about my tapestry.

The inspiration came also from a calendar picture which was in my folders for years.... water.. I always like to put in into a tapestry.  Will it work out? Well, I tried and hoped it will turn out. I started weaving with 20/2 fine wool taking 3 strands together in different shades, I used linen, a boucle, a rayon for the white particles, I used odds and ends from colour cards out of the Borg's linen samples,cotton and just many other colours and textures.

While I was weaving it, I had no idea how it will turn out because I wove the tapestry sideways, will the shading for the water turn out as I planned? I used a lot of fine lines, dots, hachure's, weft blending , sometimes eccentric wefts and other techniques.

The time weaving? I started to make notes every day, but gave up.  It took about a year (approximately 2 to 3 hrs. a day, sometimes even 4 hrs).

It is always a surprise when a tapestry is woven and rolled off the cloth beam. It feels almost like Christmas, and hopefully it will turn out the way I planned it.  When weaving a tapestry, I only see a part which is in progress, (about 20 to 35 cm) and the finished part is rolled on the cloth beam.

To change something afterwards? (like a colour or unevenness) It is not possible. Painters can just go over with a brush.

 (Her husband) Alfred always said, yes it will turn out, do not worry, but I was not sure.

I was surprised myself, yes it turned out well.

I will send pictures while the tapestry was on the loom and some close ups.

We miss you both,

All the best from Gudrun.


Two to four hours a day for a full year and you don't know, won't know if it will turn out till it come off the loom?
.....Wow...


I feel rather inadequate to carry on a further commentary so here's the work in progress:

Don't forget it is also woven with the wrong side facing the weaver, in addition to being sideways as well! Please look at the enlarged pictures and see the cartoon in behind. Such fine details to become reality in wool and silks!

Please leave your comments and compliments for Gudrun and if you have any questions, I'll do my best to relay answers for you.   For those of you who skipped the older post, you might want to go and take a look now! Its equally amazing!