The Pennsylvania Dutch, a group of largely German-American immigrants who settled in the southeast area of Pennsylvania, are known for contributing charming folk designs to everything from barn walls to dish ware.

There are many ways to mark important milestones in life. Many crafters enjoy scrapbooking, or framing photography.

Before these pastimes became so popular, some cultures, such as the Pennsylvania Dutch, prized illuminated drawings called fraktur. A fraktur is a certificate done in an elaborate style of Germanic script accompanied by folk paintings.

The Pennsylvania Dutch, a group of largely German-American immigrants who settled in the southeast area of Pennsylvania, are known for contributing charming folk designs to everything from barn walls to dish ware.

This personalized document would make the perfect alternative to a graduation or wedding card. If no occasion presents itself, consider substituting a favorite proverb or poem.

Traditional fraktur was done on parchment, but feel free to experiment. In any case, any standard sized, interesting paper will do – a highly textured or homemade paper would be great for this.

To add interest to the border, use a pair of scissors that cuts decorative edges to trim the sides.

Before starting on the content, you should plan the design, as well as get a feel for your calligraphy pens. Traditional Dutch motifs include distelfinks (a fictional bird that brings good fortune) and hex signs.

Hex signs are traditionally very simple, six-sided geometric patterns in bright colors. Many modern designs include non-traditional elements, such as animals and non-symmetrical art.

Next, lightly trace your designs onto the top and bottom of the page. Don’t forget that stylized writing is not very legible, so you may want to write in the center of the certificate, and leave the edges for the paintings. Open up your watercolors or pens and add bright colors. Red, yellow and blue were the most commonly used.

If you are uncomfortable with calligraphy, try printing your design using an antique-style English or German typeface. Otherwise, buy a calligraphy or scrapbooking pen with nice, rich black ink.

Now you have a truly unique wall decoration with a special history behind it. For more information on Pennsylvania Dutch art, visit the National Gallery of Art Web site at http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/iadpenn/iadpenn-main1.html, and see next week’s column to learn about scherenschnitte, Pennsylvania Dutch paper cutting. Goot gluck!

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