Outside the window of the weaving hall during the summers, one could catch a glimpse of a beautiful carpet of ferns.” – Carl-Erik Willman.

Carl-Erik, a former weaver at Klässbols Linneväveri for over 10 years, balanced his work with photography. He has a diverse background, from being a member of Sävsjöns camera group for nearly 30 years to living and working in Arvika. He has always had a passion for photography since childhood.

The Creation of the Ormbunke Towel – With a strong interest in photography that has been a significant part of Carl-Erik’s life, the idea emerged to bring the beauty of nature into the weaving process. Ferns were something that Carl-Erik found visually appealing, both in their frosty winter versions and in their beautifully green state. He drew inspiration from the beauty of nature, particularly ferns. He began photographing them and transformed the images into black-and-white abstract patterns using modern technology. These patterns formed the foundation for the unique Fern Hand Towel.

“Outside the window of the weaving hall during the summers, one could catch a glimpse of a beautiful carpet of ferns. I thought that they could be used as patterns. It also aligned with the zeitgeist of natural inspiration. One day, I sought out some beautiful ferns and brought them into my garage studio at home in Värmskog. I took a large number of photos and selected a few. Then, I processed them in an image editing program and created entirely graphic black-and-white images. Based on these images, I created a pattern that Urban Johansson (the third generation Johansson) continued to develop in Klässbols’ studio.” – Carl-Erik.

Thanks to Carl-Erik’s unique creativity, his beautiful patterns continue to thrive, and the Ormbunke Towel has become a favorite among many!