A Whimsical Tapestry for my Granddaughter, Jude
You may recall last November when I traveled to Churchill, Canada with my television crew to film the amazing polar bear migration. It was an incredible experience and I learned a great deal about the difficulties polar bears are facing as the ice they travel upon is disappearing. Churchill is located in the barren Arctic tundra and is very sparsely populated. As you know, when traveling, I love to experience the local culture. Churchill has some restaurants, some hotels, and a few stores. When perusing the store called The Trading Post, which carries items made by fine native artists and artisans, I came across a collection of adorable little animals made out of caribou hides. Studying these whimsical creatures, I instantly had a vision of a beautiful mural that would hang in my grandchild’s room. I enlisted the help of my talented staff to execute my vision and was amazed at what they had created. We even showed this project last week on my television show.
1 This is the little Trading Post in Churchill Canada.
2 We travelled to Churchill to see the polar bear migration for a television segment. This is one of the gorgeous creatures that we saw.
3 This is the Arctic tundra. Tundras are cold areas of the earth where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. Instead, dwarf shrubs, sedges and grasses, mosses, and lichens are found there.
4 In the back room of the Trading Post, I discovered these adorable carved animals. This art form has been developed from tufting and uses natural caribou hair to depict a variety of scenes of northern life.
5 A pattern is traced directly on the caribou hide, then the pattern is cut out and flipped over for trimming.
6 The caribou hair is then cut back until the artisan gets the shape he or she wants. Each sculpting combines unique aboriginal designs with Northern flair.
7 I purchased an assortment of these hand-made caribou hair designs because I instantly had a vision of a beautiful mural that would hang in my grandchild's room.
8 I enlisted the help of artisan Hosanna Houser and other very talented staff members to help execute my vision for this mural.
9 For the background of the mural, I matched two basic colors in the nursery using a Pantone color chart.
10 Hosana then matched those colors to the foundation fabric, which is a wool/cashmere blend.
11 Icebergs were drawn on craft paper, cut out, and traced onto the mural using a vanishing fabric marker.
12 The icebergs were then filled in with felting material.
13 The felting material is affixed to the foundation fabric using a pronged felting needle. It actually punches the felting material into the weave of the fabric.
14 When felting, you want to be sure to have a piece of soft foam beneath your fabric for the needle to penetrate.
15 Hosanna made ice patterns by felting in different directions and thicknesses.
16 I love these beluga whales.
17 This is the only igloo that I found.
18 The squiggles in the sky represent the northern lights.
19 The tundra was made with felt and the scrub tree was felted with coarse gray wool roving.
20 I think that this mural will inspired many, many bedtime stories.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Wow, that mural is incredible I love it.
Posted by: Toni Neilson | March 21st, 2011 at 12:39 am
Well, Martha, I don't know where I've been, but I didn't even know you had a granddaughter. When was she born, and how old is she? That is the same question, twice, but...I am blown away. Please fill me in on this great happening.
Oh yes, the mural is done beautifully.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | March 21st, 2011 at 12:45 am
...BEAUTIFUL!!!!...
Posted by: Monica | March 21st, 2011 at 5:13 am
I am so happy for you Martha. We miss you in Canada
It was only here that I discovered you had become a Grandmother - welcome to the club!!! - it is so wonderful. The best time of your life!!!
I am so hoping you will bring your show back to Canada so we can keep up to date with your news. I am looking forward to seeing you in person when you visit Toronto in June - already have my ticket to hear you speak at the Roy Thomson Hall.
We Canadians miss your daily calm program - always learned something and so beautifully done. When I visited NYC I made a point of going to many of the restaurants you talked about. Hoping to hear you are coming back to Canada??!!
Posted by: U Lynch | March 21st, 2011 at 7:17 am
This is the first I've heard of Jude as well. Best wishes to Alexis and to the new grandmother!
Posted by: Kimberly | March 21st, 2011 at 7:40 am
Congratulations on the arrival of your beautiful granddaughter!! What a beautiful idea for her room! You really can get inspiration from anywhere:-)
Posted by: Susie's Homemade | March 21st, 2011 at 7:41 am
Firstly, I'm overjoyed for you and for your daughter on the arrival of Miss Jude . So much fun to look forward too!! She is a beautiful baby! I'm just thrilled for you!
The mural is extraordinary !! I am a hand embroiderer and this just sends me to the moon with ideas. It is just brilliant !! The colors and textures. I can only imagine what it would be like to be a child and to lie in bed and make up stories while looking at that beautiful piece. Wow!!!!!
Posted by: Miss Holly | March 21st, 2011 at 8:00 am
When you designed the mural, did you know the baby's sex? The colors are so serene.
Posted by: Janette @ The 2 Seasons | March 21st, 2011 at 8:03 am
What a great idea! It is beautiful. I love crafting with methods that are not run of the mill, methods that are ages old.
Posted by: Jamie | March 21st, 2011 at 8:21 am
I LOVE the mural! I love the colors, techniques but mostly the northern nature theme. I think the more closely we are connected to nature the happier we are.
CONGRATULATIONS to Alexis, Baby Jude, and you Martha! Such a wonderful time!
Posted by: Amy Lomasney | March 21st, 2011 at 8:25 am
What a beautiful gift with such heartfelt meaning behind it. Your grandchild will treasure this piece. It is a fine work of art indeed!
Posted by: Al | March 21st, 2011 at 9:51 am
Martha, Thats a beautiful Tapestry,one that I'm sure will be treasured for many,many years! Congratulations to You and alexis!
Wishing you alll many years of Pure Joy & Happiness!
Posted by: Paul Harrison | March 21st, 2011 at 9:58 am
Hi Martha, Your beautiful Granddaughter, Jude, is one lucky baby who not only has a creative mother, but has a wonderful creative grandmother who creates stunning things for her! These photos of you and Hosanna Houser creating that beautiful mural are fantastic! It was terrific to see you and Hosanna showing us how to create the tapestry on your TV Show and of course your trip to see the polar bears in Canads was another wonderful tour for us to see! I hope everyone will check out The Daily Wag today to see Sharkey, G.K., and Uncle Carlos going to Maryland to get Francesca and bring her back home!!! I just heard on Sirius Radio 112 that it is snowing there in New York. Sure hope it goes away very soon and hope you have a great day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | March 21st, 2011 at 10:06 am
Hi Martha,
The mural is going to look great on the wall. I hope you show us a picture after it's up and I'm sure Jude will one day tell you how much she loves it. It is very beautiful and unique! Trish
Posted by: Trish | March 21st, 2011 at 10:23 am
I have a feeling this is the first of many beautiful things you will create for Jude. I can't wait to see what else you and your staff have in store. When I saw this on your show I thought, what a great idea. Not only is it beautiful but such a wonderful teaching tool in the future. You seem so happy on your shows since her birth. I am really excited for you and Alexis. Thank you for sharing such a personal thing with your fans.
Posted by: Beth Salles | March 21st, 2011 at 10:48 am
Jude is a wonderful name and will be a joy gifting her with your talents and philosophies. Our mother created a tapestry depicting the house made of Dakota stones she grew up in. Seems that she gave it to Heritage Center and all we have is the memory of it.
"To the memory nothing is ever lost"
Posted by: ann | March 21st, 2011 at 11:04 am
Martha, I'm sure Jude will love this gift. Thanks for sharing this blog.
Posted by: KLBrown | March 21st, 2011 at 11:28 am
This is a new email but I keep up-to-date on your blog.This mural is so beautiful.Congratulations Alexis,miss your talk show but you will be a great mother.Martha you will enjoy being a grandmother.I have really enjoyed, their is nothing like it. Thanks for sharing your life with us as big fans.My best to all of you.
Posted by: Karlene Wissel | March 21st, 2011 at 11:49 am
A perfect gift you recieved,a bundle of joy and a reason to bring out the new you;BABY JUDE!!
I am so inspired by you and your website,just totally breath taking to the knowlege you carry and the obstacles you have walked over.You definately have kept your focus:)
I would like to extend the opportunity for you and the bloggers to check out my website.IT WORKS has put a new bounce in my step,a new look,a new vidion to help women change and become healthier...GO TO http://SCrommett.itworks.net use Distributor# 141962
God bless you richly for all you do
~Shi~
Posted by: Shilo | March 21st, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Love the wall mural - so pleased that you had such a wonderful trip to Churchill! As a Canadian, I am thrilled that you chose our polar bears and the surrounding area for your theme. Absolutely stunning! I'm sure it will be a family treasure for generations!
Posted by: Donna Olson | March 21st, 2011 at 1:32 pm
What a beautiful heirloom for Jude. Well done.
Love from Canada!
Posted by: nannah | March 21st, 2011 at 1:35 pm
I love this project and am waiting for the templates to be downloaded. God bless your grand daughter Jude I can imagine how happy and blessed you are. Today is Mother's day here I want to wish all moms a blessed day.
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | March 21st, 2011 at 2:18 pm
Congratulations Grandma!!! How exciting for you. Love the mural, especially the beaver! This Canadian is proud you chose our north to model your mural after.
Posted by: Frances | March 21st, 2011 at 3:39 pm
Martha...a very adorable and enchanting mural for your lovely granddaughter. As a former Manitoban, i am so proud that you choose something from the true north!
Posted by: sherey | March 21st, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Congratulations on your granddaughter. What a wonderful gift for her...created by her grandmother with love.
Posted by: inga | March 21st, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Martha, what an adorable mural. Congratulations to you on the birth of your first grandchild.
Posted by: Robyn | March 21st, 2011 at 7:27 pm
It is so nice of you to partake in this project. I am sure your daughter appreciates this a great deal since time spent for this outweighs all those expensive store-bought hand embroidered things you gave her that she refused to spoil baby Jude. I love embroidered linens : you should go to the island of Madeira in Portugal or on Rua Augusta street, Maderian linen shop in Lisbon, actually the city itself is art decoconcentrates and there's an old fashioned glovemaking tiny shop. As a Canadian, I appreciate you immersing in First Nations and Inuit art since I fear it is not appreciated as much by Canadians at it should be. I think your tapestry is very suitable for a baby room. Their myths, the colour palette and natural textures of our artisans. You incorporated the swatches well. How could you not! You're Martha.Congratulations to Alexis and you both.
Posted by: Mia | March 21st, 2011 at 7:35 pm
Beautiful!!! What a lovely piece of art for your grandchild. Hope everyone is doing well. Your love of nature and sharing your info about these beautiful animals and these artisans is inspiring!!! Another proud Canadian!!!
Posted by: Debbie | March 21st, 2011 at 7:54 pm
That is gorgeous Martha and I am sure your little granddaughter is going to just cherish it forever. I love how it is so unique and has a story behind it. Maybe you can get one of those fabric tabs that you stitch onto the back and write a little story for her so she will have it forever. Just Lovely! I am considering getting PayTv (like cable in the US) just so I can watch you here in Australia
Have a Gorgeous Day x
Posted by: Fiona @Oh Gorgeous Baby | March 21st, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Martha and Alexis:
CONGRATULATIONS on the arrival of baby Jude. What a beautiful name. I'm a grandma of four kids. It is the most wonderful experience of my life. I have a five, six, two years and a seventeen years old. I have so much fun with them and my daughters and son in law. Your life will never be the same, Martha, Jude arrived to a beautiful home, and your daughter Alexis is beautiful, and will make a great mom.
Again, I'm an avid fan of your magazine and show since my girls were little.
Again, may God bless your family,
martha
Posted by: martha garrett | March 21st, 2011 at 10:25 pm
I LOVE bears
Posted by: Rose Garren | March 21st, 2011 at 10:35 pm
Congratulations, Martha! So happy for you and Alexis...she and Jude are very lucky to have you as their mother and grandmother. You are an amazing and beautiful woman. I admire you so much. Very best wishes and much love.
Posted by: laura hewitt | March 21st, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Congratulations for your Granddaughter, you must be a happy woman! And your granddaughter is a lucky baby, what you have prepared for here is just beautiful!
Posted by: FunkySteph | March 22nd, 2011 at 11:27 am
Martha,
Thanks for walking us through the creative process. It seems as if we have all been there with thought in mind and the transfering it to actual fact an interesting one. I believe having a talented helper, Hosanna Houser, would be the best while working the thoughts out into something memoriable. It will be that all right.
Enjoying the journal/journey of a new grandmother.
Posted by: Margie | March 22nd, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Congratulations on finally becoming a grandmother! I am so happy for you and Alexis and Jude. And the mural is beautiful...
Posted by: Pam | March 22nd, 2011 at 5:33 pm
Congratulations, Martha on becoming a grandmother and congrats to Alexis on her new baby girl!
Posted by: Vicki Flynn | March 22nd, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Congratulations to you Martha on becoming a grandmother! Being a grandma is a WONDERFULLY GOOD THING!! Best wishes to Alexis and her baby.
Posted by: Barbara Carlson | March 23rd, 2011 at 4:37 pm
You might want to read your grandchild some Inuit tales. My kids loved The Girl Who Dreamed Only Geese -- it's a treasure to look at, too.
http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Who-Dreamed-Only-Geese/dp/0152309799
Posted by: Kathy | March 23rd, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Martha, Your vision for the mural was pure genius. With it being an original handmade gift along with the soft, calm colors and the organic design, Alexis should love it! Your daughter obviously has your discerning eye for quality, simplicity, and practicality but I hope she will indulge you from time to time as far as allowing you to splurge on unique items (like the incredible hand-embroidery)for little Jude. After all, you've waited a long time for this opportunity and it's one of the greatest joys in being a new grandmother! Much happiness and all the best to you, Alexis, and little Jude.
Posted by: Mary | March 25th, 2011 at 1:59 pm