There have been far too many heated debates about the purpose of decoration among the Pennsylvania Dutch. Some say it’s “just for nice,” others point to deeper meanings — even back to pagan symbolism.

This week on my loom are some placemats in a pattern that I’ve called “Meadow Valley.” Meadow Valley is located just west of Ephrata (Lancaster County) in an idyllic setting around the tiny Meadow Run.

This past March, I returned to Marburg where I did most of my undergraduate college studies. While there, I wanted to head north a bit in the state of Hesse to learn more about the whitework embroidery practiced in the Schwalm.

This week’s post touches on two of my passions: collecting material culture and making material culture.