Rag Rugs Were the Special Topic
at the Kalevan Naiset Meeting in Tapiola

The Ainon Tupa #13 Kalevan Naiset group met for their first meeting for 2008 at the Feed Mill in Tapiola. Since the group is celebrating their first 100 years of existence, a special topic is covered each month.

Members brought rag rugs along with stories of how, when, where, and who made them. Some of the rugs have survived many years of use and held some fond  memories. One rug was only a portion of the whole, as some families made enough rag rugs to carpet a whole room. There were rugs made on looms, placemats made on loom, plastic bag rugs, braided rugs, and even one that had rectangle pieces of rags sewed diagnally on to a piece of canvass. Phyllis Weisinger spoke on the history of the rag rugs and then each member spoke about the the rug they had. Elsa Robb had purchased a rug for $20 that had been made by the late Aina Holder-Hill of L'Anse. This rug depicts a story from the Finnish Epic "The Kalevala".

The 100 year celebration for Ainon Tupa #13 began in August of 2007 at the Finnish American Heritage Center  in Hancock with poems from the Finnish Epic "The Kalevala", in September of 2007 Ellen and Tom Balltosser held an open house for the Ainon Tupa #13 members, October was the Kantele presentation by Helen Mallosh and singing of "Maame". November was the month for quilting and Iitala Glass displays. In December the members celebrated "Pikku Joulu" at the Northwoods Candlelight of Ontonagon. The group did not meet during the winter.