Growing up surrounded by the sewing and embroidery crafts of my mother and grandmother, I learned these skills very quickly, but folk drawing has become my favorite craft. In my husband’s village, where I moved to after our wedding, I was introduced to Antal Treszka, an elderly folk writer who taught me how to draw patterns on tablecloths for embroidering. As she watched me work, she suggested that I utilize my talent and pursue this as a vocation. Her support encouraged me to keep on drawing.
The first things to learn are the basic designs and the floral motifs. The most important factor for drawing and design is the way the vines curve, which is also the essence of Kalocsa embroidery. I like wall painting, too, but there is very little demand for it nowadays, so I only paint on office walls or demonstrate the craft at shows.
Every bouquet starts with a big round smear, using a paintbrush. Mistakes are simply corrected by turning the leaves and tendrils to make the design line up right. We draw all patterns by heart, and we can modify them until the very end.
I was granted the title of Folk Artist in 1993, and Master of Folk Art in 2002, an honor that is dearest to me.
