(bright music) (loom clanking) (loom clanking) (bright music continues) - My name is Tea Rahkamaa and I weave rugs and carpets and fabrics.

People around the world do this, but we have a very strong tradition of making these kind of rugs.

(bright music continues) (loom clanking) I use old bed sheet and worn-out curtains and cut them to these slices and do.

But nowadays, people also use industrial material, so this industrial waste, which is used for carpet-making.

It was important then when we were poor and didn't have much money, we used everything we had, but now it's equally important.

We don't have another planet.

(pensive music) Yes, and of course, it used to be more popular, but nowadays people get so much stuff from IKEA (laughing) and they don't want to make things, but- - [Off screen] Time, people don't have time.

- Time, and the equipment and things, but it's still strong and ongoing tradition to make those carpets.

- [Off screen] And floors are cold here.

You need carpet.

(pensive music continues) - First, I studied under, I was Master of Science and Engineering.

I did that for 20 years, but I got a bad burnout twice and I didn't know what to do.

But I was always interested in handicraft.

I knitted a lot and then I went to school again for 2 1/2 years and learned the practice.

(inspiring music) The bobbin lace thing, that was also, I went to this adult education center once a week and little by little learned it and my own teacher retired and I took over.

Now I work in five different places as a teacher.

It looks more complicated than it is.

Just trying to remember what I was doing.

As you can see, I have no pattern here.

I'm making it up as I go.

When I started making bobbin lace, I started with traditional Finnish lace patterns, but nowadays, as I teach a lot, I do these small experiments and then things and from different places in world.

This is Slovenian version, this is Spanish lace, this is Austrian lace.

But now I am doing these little experiments of my own.

I am interested in making something really my own.

(gentle music) Rug-making is very, you have free hands.

You can do it like you want to, but if I make things with my looms, the products are big and large and they need lots of space.

Here I can do some little things and put them in plastic (laughing) and they don't fill my house with all the material.

(metal clanking) (loom clanking) I'm not doing this very efficiently.

I know that people who are trying to make this as a profession, they wouldn't do this like I'm doing now.

But this is something I'm just trying to get to learn this big loom, and I'm doing this for my daughter so I don't care that it takes so much time.

(metal clanking) (loom clanking) - I think because you make it for your loved one.

- Yes.

People love from other.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) - [Narrator] "Postcards" is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

Additional support provided by Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.

Mark and Margaret Yackel-Juleen, on behalf of Shalom Hill Farms, a retreat and conference center in a prairie setting near Windom, Minnesota.

On the web at shalomhillfarm.org.

Alexandria, Minnesota, a year-round destination with hundreds of lakes, trails and attractions for memorable vacations and events.

More information at explorealex.com.

The Lake Region Arts Council's arts calendar, an arts and cultural heritage funded digital calendar showcasing upcoming art events and opportunities for artists in West Central Minnesota.

On the web at lrac4calendar.org.

Playing today's new music, plus your favorite hits, 96.7 KRAM, online at 967kram.com.

(upbeat music)