Why use Pinterest?

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Martin

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and many more compete for our time and interests. Do we need another social media site? Many people clearly think so, judging by the rapid growth of Pinterest which grew by over 50% between January and February 2012 . I had never been able to raise a spark of excitement for such sites until now but I do rather enjoy Pinterest.

Pinterest

What is Pinterest? What is different about it? What is compelling about it?

Pinterest can be seen as a development of Google Images. Images are everything here with users taking their own photos, videos too, and those they encounter on the web which they place on their own online bulletin boards. They create these themed boards of their choice and add (pin) images of interest. Viewers can “follow” the creators and “like” their images, even placing (repinning) them on their own boards.

Thus Pinterest users can express their interests and dreams, sharing something of themselves with the world. So far I have never seen anything undesirable or stupid, users seem to enjoy saying “This is what I like or hope for.”

Pinterest for business

Below is a screenshot of some of our Pinterest boards for Tapestry Art. Today I added the two on the left: Van Gogh tapestries and Botanical wall art. Yesterday I added a board called Too mucha Mucha? No.. Within them I placed themed images of our tapestries. People can view these, go to our site, add them to their own boards, or just enjoy them.

Tapestry Art at Pinterest

Pinterest for pleasure

In time I will probably set up my own personal, non-business Pinterest page. I’ll probably have boards with topics like travel, architecture, art, gardens, design. It will express “me“. Even if no one else finds this interesting I will find it a fascinating exercise sourcing images which say something about who I am, what I like and respect and what I hope for. Is it any wonder Pinterest is meeting with such enthusiasm?

PinterestShare
Posted in Tapestry Art | Tagged | Leave a comment

Our favourite video … maybe

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Martin

Well, it really has to be a favourite video, even if not the favourite: it’s our own tapestries video!

We enjoyed compiling it so hope you enjoy viewing it too. In just over two minutes we have presented a really good selection showing the many styles of tapestry art, old and new. There’s something for everyone: medieval and Arts & Crafts, landscapes and elegant classics, florals, handwoven traditional and contemporary designs.

Later this year we’ll put together one or two more tapestries videos and will place them on our YouTube channel. I was rather pleased at the way the hauntingly interesting music on this video fitted the chosen images timeline so we’ll try to come up with new challenges next time. Until then, happy viewing!

PinterestShare
Posted in Tapestry Art | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Verdure tapestries

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Martin

Verdure tapestries have a timeless appeal with their peaceful natural settings.  The term “verdure” is derived from the French “vert”, translated as “green”, reflecting the lush greenery common to them.

They were first woven in the 16th century, hence after the medieval period and after the time of Raphael when the artistic interpretation of perspective was introduced (he died in 1520). The style was adopted by weavers in Paris, the Loire valley, Flanders, Brussels and the southern Netherlands.

Oudenaarde verdure tapestry - Mortlake tapestriesUnusually, one series was woven in England. In 1619 James I brought 50 weavers from Flanders to work at the Mortlake Tapestry Factory established by Sir Francis Crane. Here, on the banks of the River Thames, elegant tapestries were woven for the royal courts of James and of his son Charles I. The royal motive was probably a desire to have their own tapestry weavers: why should the French court have them and not the English?.  (Similarly, Flemish weavers worked in St Petersburg.) Above is the Oudenaarde tapestry, sometimes called Verdure Balmoral, one of these Mortlake tapestries. It is now woven in France and available as a complete design, as two halves, or in quarter portions.

The Forest of Clairmarais tapestry - verdure tapestry from Flanders

From Tapestry Art Designs

To the left is our most popular verdure tapestry. The Forest of Clairmarais tapestry was woven in Flanders in the early 17th century. Now it is superbly woven in France in 95% cotton; definately an heirloom piece. It is available in several sizes, one without the border, all lined with a rod pocket.

As a classic verdure tapestry it conveys a natural setting, usually partly forested, incorporating peaceful vistas of trees, plants, water and sometimes hills.

For a soothing piece of art verdure tapestries are hard to beat provided that the style fits within the setting of your home. We have about 40 different designs for your selection.

PinterestShare
Posted in Landscapes tapestries | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Impressionist tapestries – new designs

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Martin

We have some new tapestries by Monet, Renoir and Gauguin. That is, new tapestries of old paintings by these Impressionist masters.

Weavers in France and Belgium have released several Impressionist tapestries recently, seemingly a trend; one we approve of thoroughly. These two, for example.

Camille and a Child in the Garden - Monet tapestryCamille and a Child in the Garden is a charming Monet tapestry from a Claude Monet oil painting of 1875 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. This personal family scene was painted in the Monets garden at Argenteuil four years before his wife Camille died of tuberculosis.

Dance at le Moulin de la Galette - Renoir tapestryAbove is Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Dance at le Moulin de la Galette. Le Bal du Moulin de la Galette was painted by Renoir in 1876, now exhibited at the Musee d’Orsay in Paris. (Incidentally, if you enjoy Impressionist art this the art gallery to visit.). It shows Sunday afternoon in Montmartre with Parisians drinking, dancing and eating galettes, flat cakes similar to pancakes. Now a Belgian tapestry, this Renoir painting is fifth most expensive painting ever sold. You can enjoy this masterpiece in one of three sizes for considerably less money!

You can browse among about 50 Impressionist tapestries including art by Monet, Renoir, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Degas.

PinterestShare
Posted in Tapestry Art | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Bob Pejman art tapestries – romantic landscapes

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Martin

Our Pejman Collection of tapestries comprises many romantic landscapes tapestry designs. Bob Pejman creates idyllic old-world scenes in settings like Lake Como, Venice, Capri, Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast which we are pleased to feature in the Landscapes section of our Contemporary tapestries. These are favourite places in the world for many of us, or are planned future destinations, and his paintings transferred to tapestry art beautifully characterise our memories and dreams.

Varenna Reflections - Bob Pejman tapestries

Bob Pejman tapestries

Bob Pejman’s paintings have been described as romantic realism, influenced by artists like Lawrence Alma-Tadema and Maxfield Parrish. “The scenes are already romantic, but my ideas is to make them even more so.” He continues,  “There are no people in my paintings, so you can imagine yourself in the scenes”.

Bellagio Village tapestry - Pejman Editions

Available from Tapestry Art Designs

The richness of Pejman Editions is wonderfully set off by the fine weave in 91% cotton of these Belgian tapestriy wallhangings. The yarn is quite thick but is tightly woven resulting in the tapestries having fullness and depth yet still possessing excellent detail. So Bob Pejman’s paintings transfer extremely well into the softer, more three-dimensionable characteristics of art tapestries. They have proved to be one of the most popular styles of our collection.

PinterestShare
Posted in Contemporary Tapestries, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

New – handwoven tapestries from Peru

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Martin

We love the wonderful new handwoven tapestries from Peru and have had a good response to them. Their vibrant colours, interesting themes and artisan quality make them distinct from our European machine-woven wall tapestries. A glance at the Espiritu Azul de la Tierra tapestry makes this clear:

Espiritu Azul de la Tierra tapestry

Available from Tapestry Art Designs

Since 1985 Maximo Laura tapestries have fused traditional and contemporary themes in an Andean style. Each of these Peruvian tapestries is hand-woven in alpaca wool and cotton using techniques developed by Laura with a three dimensional result unique in each of his many designs. There is always something new to appreciate in looking at his tapestries partly because of the complex nature of his weaving.

Maximo Laura says of his designs “The images of my work are born in my long walks and travels which stimulate my creative spirit, leading me to be near my encounter with vibrant and intense color, with elaborate and symbolic form, as well as with the refined technique of my tool: the loom. My work is nourished by symbols, stories, traditions, rituals, experiences, and by permanently returning to admire the iconography of ancestral Peruvian cultures. My search is a lyrical, spiritual and poetic language, product of this part of the continent and of this time.”

Since these are hand-woven tapestry wallhangings each is unique and each is woven for you: an artisan piece of tapestry art.


 

 

PinterestShare
Posted in Contemporary Tapestries | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Martin

PinterestShare
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Lady with the Unicorn tapestries

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Martin

Viewing the Lady with the Unicorn tapestries in the Cluny Museum is one of the most memorable parts of a visit to Paris. All six of these tapestry masterpieces hang in their own round room where an atmosphere of awe and wonder reigns: I do not exaggerate.

A Mon Seul Desir tapestry

Available from www.tapestry-art.com

This is partly because of the setting but mostly because of the impact of seeing these six large magnificent tapestries which superbly represent an historical artform and also by knowing something about their chequered history.
These 12′ high masterpieces were woven in about 1511 and feature the arms of Jean le Viste. Each tapestry represents one of the senses except for the final enigmatic ‘A Mon Seul Desir’ (translated perhaps as “To my only love”). All of them were lost until 1844 when the novelist Georges Sands discovered them in the town hall at Boussac suffering from damage from rats and the damp walls. The Cluny Museum in Paris purchased them in 1853 and later carried out a rather poor restoration – you can see the colour difference of the restored lower portions.

These six medieval tapestries are now considered to be amongst the national treasures of France and I do encourage you to see them when next in Paris. The museum has a wonderful selection of medieval tapestries and surely the best overall collection of medieval art. Alternatively, you can purchase about 40 versions of them from our website, all woven by high quality long-established weavers in France or Belgium. We can advise you about the differences in weave quality. All are lined and have a rod pocket for easy hanging.

PinterestShare
Posted in Medieval tapestries | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

My favourite tapestry?

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Martin

Our tastes in home decor unquestionably change over the years. (When I remember my youthful orange phase this is surely a good thing.)  So my tastes in tapestry art have developed too.

We first started selling tapestries in 1994 at a time when medieval and William Morris tapestries dominated the market. Now, the available range has increased with so many more styles, both traditional and contemporary.

My wife and I have just placed our home on the market so are spending much time discussing the nature of our future home and its interior decor. We can decide on very little but know that a favourite tapestry or two will definately be included. So what might these be? We might select one of the bright modern Simon Bull tapestries in the previous post since we love their colourful strengths but we still love many designs from the past.

Our traditional tastes are more likely to lead us to a medieval tapestry like this favourite:
The Promenade medieval tapestryBut since we want a brighter look we might go for the most popular of the chateaux tapestries:

The Royal Palace tapestryHowever we sell many of that so let’s enjoy something a little less familiar. It really should be timeless to fit in a traditional home in a changing world and conform to our changing tastes. So … a William Morris tapestry it has to be. But which?

My favourite tapestry (well, today anyway) is toss-up between The Birds or The Tree of Life. I think the latter wins:

The Tree of Life tapestry by William Morris

All three are available from www.tapestry-art.com

My favourite tapestry really is timeless, has many small details to enjoy and is finely woven.

Now to find our favourite home for it!

PinterestShare
Posted in Tapestry Art | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wonderful new floral tapestries

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Martin

We have just added a series of wonderful floral tapestries to our website collection. Here is an example of one called Lydia:

Simon Bull tapestries

All are from the vibrant palette of British artist Simon Bull, inspired by his years in China and in the South American rainforest. The richness of his watercolours is accentuated by the full yet detailed weave of these Belgian tapestry wall hangings. Most are available in more than one size and, as with all our Europeant tapestries, they are lined with a rod pocket for easy hanging.

If you seek similar modern designs to these Simon Bull tapestries you will find them in the Contemporary section of our website or if you want botanical tapestries they are in the Floral section.

PinterestShare
Posted in Contemporary Tapestries, Floral Tapestries | Tagged , , | Leave a comment