i made a pajaki

 

What is a pajaki, you may ask. The literal translation is "spiders of straw" and they are a form of polish folk art made from paper, wool and yarn. They originate in the village of Lowicz very close to my father lived in Warsaw. It is almost a year ago when I first saw one on the beautiful and very talented Laura Normandin's blog  and it was then I knew I had to make one. A year later it finally happened. Well you know the best intentions get buried and well, life happens. It also took me a very long time to find the package of straw tubes that I had stashed away many years ago after making some easter decorations. I like to use what I have and I knew it was somewhere in my home. I did finally find it and the other supplies were so much easier to locate : a wooden embroidery hoop, a vintage doily,  cotton thread, a needle, colored paper, colored tissue paper and tiny circles of felt for the center of the flowers. I am not planning a tutorial but I might consider trying to write one later. Right now my head is blossoming with images, ideas, colors and concepts and I need to let some of these escape first. 

I have wandered off on a little tangent but here I am back again. Why did I want to make a pajaki. I wanted to make one because they are so colorful and beautiful. They are polish like my father. In fact he loved straw ornaments and we always decorated our Christmas tree with them. If you read this blog you will know that spiders and webs are very important symbols in my family. I guess the last reason was simply because it didn't require me to buy anything. I had all the necessary materials within my reach. 

I think I made this uniquely resurrectionfern style by the addition of the web like yellow vintage doily inside the embroidery hoop. I really wanted to pay tribute to the straw spider. I apologize for going a photography overload. I found it to be such an interesting subject and I also was experimenting with different color of painted walls. Which one do you like best?

It was not difficult to make but does take a number of hours and I was a little fearful of my curious kitties tearing it apart but thank goodness that didn't happen. I am already planning to make some more for a very special porch party in the spring. If you want to see a wonderful post that Holly of decor8 made about these "chandeliers" you should read here. I am not the only one smitten. 

 

Deborah thinks it looks pretty fine in amongst her art collection and I think bear monster agrees. 
           

Comments

[Janae Easton]

I am in love with it, I saw it also on wrenhandmade and wanted to make one too. Yours is so lovely, congratulations.

[Anna]

I've been lurking on your blog for some time now, admiring your work, and even posting about some of it on my own blog, but today this post inspired me to write to you!

My mother is from Poland, and I spent much of my childhood there. My family still lives there and only I and my mother live in the US (I was born here) due to politics and whatnot in Poland during that time.

My blog is inspired by Polish folktales and includes some Polish themed posts. It is called "boginka's basket", and I just finished a pysanky stamp last night and this post you did made me smile. I just wanted to say HI! and let you know I've been lurking.

my blog is "boginkasbasket.blogspot.com"

[molly]

Sooooo Springly for a winter's day!! That is neat-o!!!

Molly

[annri]

wow! so happy looking. i think we need one here too...

best - annri

[Lauren]

Beautiful- I love it.

[Nanou]

Your colorful Pajaki will brighten up your long and cold winter days so happily !
Did I hear "a very special spring porch party" ?!!! :)
Concerning the color of the painted wall (I'm not sure I understood well the question), I prefer your pajaki on the blue wall.
Wish you a Tuesday as cheerful as this post !

[www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawn_wQ8DSe02Gw2CW9Vp66YSDwTmymetXJo]

This is so colourful and beautiful and I love that it comes from another country's tradition.It is the carnival time here and I think it would look great in my living room if I manage to make one!Thanks for sharing!Ariadne from Greece!

[nadine]

I LOVE it.. your colour choices are brillant! I think I should be more than motivated now to make my own for spring!
x nadine

[ale]

hola!!!how much joy and fun!!the colours,the hand made!!!l have just post in my blog something l made with the tutorials you give us in christmas!!l love themmmm!!thank you very very much!!l made the stone fishes...my hollidays are always in patagonia and in the lakes the stones are part of me ...so all the tutorials touched my heart and inspired me more than you imagine and for that is one word...GRACIAS!!!!muchos besos for you!!!!

[nath]

it's magnificent. i saw one last year on a blog - i can't remember whose and loved it utterly. i'd love some tips on making one!

[Lisa Boni]

Gorgeous! I've long been thinking of some type of hanging art for my studio and this inspires so many ideas! Love the picture of it haning by your inspiration board!

[maryellen]

<3 <3 <3

[melissa]

wow!! i love it, margie. so colourful and bright yet delicate at the same time.

[sumea]

It's so Fabulous and so Cheering! I would love to make one :o)
I have been reading though some of Your Beautiful blog. The Eulogy was very Lovely and moving, and has helped me come to terms with recently losing a Marvelous Grandmother at the age of 97. ThankYou x

Sumea

[Summer]

It's incredible! What a wonderful way to brighten gray winter days!

[Lovely World]

Cheerful. Nice to see on a February day.

[Patricia]

So gorgeous! Just what I need right now--color, color, color!

[Sarah]

Oh, so pretty! I love it against the green wall.

[elke]

*gasp*
how beautiful margie!!!
my pa was polish........
i feel in love with these on decor8 as well.
yours is STUN NING!
ok.
i've got to give it a whirl too now!
xo

[Lyla]

So CUTE!
Saw this also at Wren Handmade, and a binch of other sites.... it's such a fun craft, and so fulfilling!
I made one the other day, with a slightly different spin on it!
http://teainthesea.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-make-pajaki-or-polish-paper.html

[Kaylyn]

Would you mind telling me how you made your pajaki chandelier!!? I am so so curious! I would LOVE to know!

[Hair bows]

Adorable. I love these!

[Dinnerware]

The colour is perfect..I would love to see these hanging in my ceiling.

[headaches and hormones]

I love the flowers...I love the information, I commend them for their ideas.

[Unlocking Blackberry]

Will make one for my room as well. :)

[used professional video equipment]

Summer blooms inside my room are what they are! :P

[Marzena Zygora]

Hi,nice work,I am Polish living in Canada but a long time ago I remember,,,,SPIDERS made by my grandmother,they were used as a cover of lightbulb,as a lamp on the celing,theh were big and looking fun,Yours is nice too,good work

[Mel]

Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News.
Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo
News? I've been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Cheers Mel, http://gunmart.blogspot.gr/2011/01/naa-mini-ranger-break-top-revolver.html?m=1