Excerpt from the book "MASTERS OF MUHU" by Irma Järvesalu
The brothers' children became embroiderers.
Both Floriida Tüür (b.1926) and Leida Kirst (b.1930) are from Igaküla. Their fathers were brothers – Floriida is the daughter of Joosep Osa and Leida Timofei Osa. Speaking of craft genes, it should be said that Leida's grandmother Eleena (Naaber) Sõber and Raissa Saaremäeli's father were brother and sister.
Craftswomen Floriida and Leida received their craft education at Kuressaare Technical School and studied at Tallinn Teachers' Institute. Both women worked as teachers and later for a long time at UKU.
Floriida Tüür loves family, crafts, flowers and drawing. The landlady of Koguva Männik has nicely described her birthplace, Välja: A tiny hut, a room, a chamber, an antechamber. Low, but always very clean. Rag rugs were laid on the unpainted wooden floor. Washing the floorboards with soap and soda turned them lime-white.
Floriida Tüür has embroidered shirts, jumpers, and wall paintings. In the cupboard, the Männiku hostess carefully keeps her mother's work from her youth - a quilt embroidered with roses. The embroiderer's patterns are born easily. She likes to add simple cornflowers and daisies to her designs. The embroiderer's work has reached Australia, Finland, Sweden, and elsewhere. Floriida's open, cheerful attitude is enchanting.
The same building also houses the now famous Männiku Handicraft Studio
The high level of Leida Kirstu's craftsmanship has been admired in Germany, Russia, Vietnam, Japan, Estonia and elsewhere. That's how far works were sent during the UKU. At the UKU, the master was awarded the title of a higher-ranking embroiderer. When the daughter of an English philologist acquaintance of Leida's ended up at a reception for the Queen in England, wearing a blouse embroidered by Leida, she was amazed by the beauty of the embroidery.
Leida Kirstu's life has also been a battle with illness and surgeries, but her passion for craftsmanship and her stubbornness have always been the winner. At her summer home in Igaküla, Antsu Matsi shares her experiences and wisdom with anyone who wants to. She has also done this at several gatherings, for example, at the 1998 Nautse Mihkli Saare rural women's gathering.
L.Kirstu has published a collection of patterns “Muhu Embroidery”. At the beginning of 2001, Leida Kirst wrote: This much about the birth of “Muhu Embroidery”: I studied painting and composition at the A. Laikmaa Painting Studio of the Tallinn University of Culture alongside my work. Then my instructor said that I have three qualities that not everyone has and that I should not keep them to myself.
These are:
1. The creator's gift in the sense of color and composition.
2. I have received instruction in this, I know the rules, tips and tricks of composition.
3. I know all embroidery techniques.
4. All my work in this field has been recognized at every level.
These were also the main reasons that contributed to the birth of the book "Muhu Embroidery".
Leida Kirstu's works have been exhibited in Tallinn and Kuressaare. In his paintings, L. Kirst has depicted the beautiful junipers and coastal motifs of his home island.
References: Järvesalu Irma. MUHU MASTERS 2001 Kuressaare