“Hafty Polskie”, http://www.haftypolskie.com.pl , is an embroidery magazine published monthly in Goleszow, Poland. A small magazine by British standards, containing only 36 pages, it provides charts for cross-stitch projects. There is little, if any, editorial content or advertising; the magazine consists almost entirely of charts, with thread requirements given primarily for Madeira but also for DMC, Anchor and the Polish stranded thread Ariadna.
I didn’t pay much attention to this magazine at first, as its projects were for large-sized pictures to be framed, and this was not of interest to me at all. Then, during the Autumn of 2006, I found that the current issue included charts for Christmas cards, and other designs suitable for this medium.
And that was how I discovered the Baby Angels. I was not familiar at all with the concept of small children as angels in Nativity art, but Maria explained that this was quite common in Polish and Italian churches, particularly from the Baroque period. The Baby Angel was usually depicted carrying a lantern or candle, to bring light to the Christ Child in the manger.
From the magazine I bought last Autumn I embroidered a simple design of a small child running with a lantern. A week ago I bought the November 2007 issue and am now working on its design of a slightly older child angel gazing in awe and wonder at the new-born Baby. This little girl angel is not carrying a light; the whole stable interior is flooded with an exquisite golden light, which seems to flow from the manger.
Perhaps the image suggests the later statement of Jesus: “I am the Light of the World,” John 8:12.
Tags: "Hafty Polskie"
