Journaling . Chapter Two

Bauernmalerie...let's break that word down. Bauern means "peasant" or "farmer", Malerie means "painting". How easy is that? It means "folk art painting". For centuries, farmers made their furniture and painted it so they would have something decorative in their homes. The paint also had a practical purpose of preserving the wood.

I was born in Europe and returned many times to visit my grandparents in Bavaria, the land of beer, costumes and folk art everywhere, on buildings, clothing, furniture. Visiting museums, I became fascinated with the old traditional folk art. Much of the painting on furniture was images depicting farm life, weddings, or flowers. These images were stories in pictures and gave me a glimpse of how farmer families lived their lives many decades ago and into the 21st century. Much of the furniture painting I saw in museums was very primitive; stencils cut from potatoes, dipped in paint, then applied to the furniture to look like roses. Other techniques were much more sophisticated as itinerant painters would travel from farm to farm and, for room and board, paint the furniture.

I love bauernmalerei painting. It speaks to my soul, my heritage, who I am and where I come from. Soon, back home in America, I was painting primitive flowers and leaves on anything and everything I could find. My mother said I would paint anything that wasn't standing still. Those first years were such exciting times. Every morning, I woke up filled with of enthusiasm and inspiration to begin the day, often painting 10-12 hours. Eventually I opened a little shop down the street and when customers would ask me to show them how to paint, we'd sit around a card table in the middle of the shop and share stories and strokes. That was the beginning of a long career, my own folk-art story. Over the years, my art became more refined, however I never lost the enthusiasm of creating something beautiful and sharing it with others.

As I reflect on my life, I always love sharing my memories and those events that make me who I am.

I wrote this in January 2021. “Thursday, December 31, 2020, was the last time in 40 years that I took down the open sign of my shop, Pipka's Door County, in Sister Bay, Wisconsin. It was a bitter sweet day and moment. In those 40 years I meet so many wonderful customers, and many of you have become friends. Over the past few months, so many people have wished me luck and encouragement and thanked me for all the years they were able to visit Pipka's during their Door County vacations. It's really me who wants to say "thank you" for all the memories which I will carry in my heart as I move forward to new adventures. I'll keep you posted! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Life is good.”

My Folk Art Life

My Store in Door County

It all started on a cold blustery winter day. The snow drifts reached the windowsills of my studio. I had to wait for the snowplow before I could leave so it seemed like a good time to paint some Christmas gifts for my family. My mother loved Christmas, so I decided to paint an old-world Father Christmas for her on a large wooden cutout.

It was warm and cozy in the cottage, the aroma of fresh coffee filled the room and music came from the radio as I began my first Santa painting. Memories flooded my mind; the magical Christmases our family had celebrated and all the customs of our German heritage they kept alive. We had real candles on our Christmas tree decorated with homemade gingerbread cookies and always a creche set under the tree.

That first Santa inspired me to research the history of Father Christmas in other countries thus beginning a lifetime of travel, storytelling and designing more Santas. In 1995 I met two people who would share my vision and change my life. Michele and Gary started a company, Prizm, Inc., making my designs into exquisite collectible figurines that were sold all over the country. It was the most wonderful journey that all began on a cold blustery winter day in a little village in Door County, Wisconsin. Christmas dreams do come true!

Santas,

Santas,

Everywhere

Nest...a place of rest, retreat, or lodging. Although I think of a nest as a place for birds making a home for their eggs, it's also a place I associate with my home. A man has his castle, a woman has her nest. We are the nurturers, soothers, care givers so our nests should be peaceful and comforting even if we are just nurturing and caring for ourselves. Our nest can be just one room, or a corner of our home filled with books we love and a cushy chair we can sink into. My nest is my bed. The first thing I say when I get into bed at night, lay my head on my down pillows and pull the duvet up to my neck, is, "Thank you, God, for my bed". I'm tucked into my nest.

Nest...a Place to Rest