It’s hard to imagine that nearly a year ago we were facing a lock down and requests to shelter in place.
We all have missed and put life events on hold like celebrations, memorials, graduations and so much more. We also had to make the computer our means of staying connected. I for one, miss very much the fellowship and vibrancy of the physical classroom and I’m already looking to the fall in hopes of making that expectation a reality.
That said, there were upsides to being able to meet students via Zoom classes from all over the world! I was able to develop new curriculum and class projects for the venues where I normally teach in person.
I’m excited to share with you one of those new projects currently being offered through the Vesterheim Folk Art School in Decorah, IA. If you’ve been looking for a bit of inspiration to get your creative juices going outside your pewter thread bracelet projects, check out this new “twist” on tradition. Check out my new Sámi Inspired Sparkle Hoop Earring Class!
Soft shimmer and lightweight
New! Sámi Inspired Sparkle Hoop Earrings
Explore a new “twist” on a traditional craft! Using pewter wire thread and a macramé style weave, students will create a pair of hoop earrings with a silver drop and sterling silver French hook ear wires. Finished hoops are approximately 1 inch in diameter and display a soft shimmery sparkle in sunlight and candle light. No previous experience is necessary, but a willingness to use hand tools is required. Kits come with all supplies needed (an $80 value!) with the exception of pliers. Two flat nose pliers are required, but if you don’t own a pair they can be purchased separately from the Vesterheim Museum Store. Get ready to rock your own jewelry tradition!
February is one of my favorite times of year. Yes, yes we all know that Valentine’s Day is around the corner but did you know that the month of February is host to Sámi National Day?
If this was a normal year I would be in Minneapolis, MN teaching Sámi Inspired Bracelet classes at the American Swedish Institute in honor of Sámi National Day . Teaching classes is always a great way to share and inform my students about the history of the Sámi people and the challenges they have faced culturally, politically and economically. Even though all my classes have moved online at the moment, I still like to celebrate this wonderful day by doing a bit of history about the Sámi culture.
So! Did you know that………
Sámi Parliament 2020
The Sámi are the indigenous “reindeer” people of Scandinavia and can be from Norway, Sweden, inland and parts of Russia.
Beautiful tin thread embroidery
Tin thread embroidery on reindeer skin bag
The Sámi national holiday is a relatively new day of celebration Norway adopted in 1992. Historically the Sámi people were forced to integrate more with the general population of Norway. Laws that were implemented even forbid the Sámi to speak their own language.
Today Sámi National day is celebrated all over the country. The Sámi flag is raised, the national anthem is sung and reindeer meat and fish dishes are prepared as celebratory food. You can bet reindeer racing is part of the festivities!
Sámi National Colors
Sami National Flag
How will you celebrate Sámi National Day? Why not start by learning more about Sámi culture ?
Life is quite different since I last posted and with most of Minnesota stuck at home I’m getting lots of orders for kits and requests for new projects. Since many of my classes have been postponed I’m busy filming and experimenting with new bracelet (and necklace!) designs I hope to hatch in April.
I’ve been receiving an uptick in emails from students and clients from all over the globe sharing photos of finished bracelets. Emi Sawaishi is a maker from Japan who has kindly allowed me to post her earring and bracelet photos.
Saami Inspired Earrings created by Emi Sawaishi from Japan
Saami Inspired Bracelets created by Emi Sawaishi from Japan
I also received the loveliest compliment from my client Tiina regarding the New York Times “Echoes of Scandinavia” article about Sámi craft and culture by Penelope Colston. If you didn’t get a chance to read the article here’s a link: Follow the link to the complete article: Link
“I loved the Times article. My entire life nobody but my husband knew who are the Saami people so I would say, when asked “I’m Finnish “ . You wouldn’t believe that about 85-90% of the people who asked my ethnicity would reply, “Finnished with what?” This doesn’t happen today because of the awareness that people like yourself are bringing to the American public, so thank you”
I get so much inspiration from all of my students and clients it’s hard not to sit down and make a few bracelets myself.
Saami Bracelets in Spring colors!
If you are a happy crafter enjoying the solitude of your home at this time check out our kits and our instructional videos for individual styles and downloadable pdf’s. Please let me know if you have questions or require different bracelet lengths.
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New York Times Interviews Liz Bucheit about Sámi Culture
Happy Spring (almost)
This year started off with a bang for everyone here at
saamisupplies.com!
I had the pleasure of being interviewed by New York Times journalist Penelope Colston for her “Echoes of Scandinavia” article about Sámi craft and culture. Ms. Colston contacted me this past December about her upcoming piece and I am thrilled to have been included.
Who knew reindeer were strutting the streets of Manhattan! Many thanks to Ms. Colston for a fantastic
piece highlighting traditional and contemporary aspects of Sámi culture and
craft.
And in local news: We are currently putting together new kits for wider, multiple braid designs plus matching learning videos to guide you through the creation of each style.
Celtic and Posament Style Braid Bracelets
Don’t forget to check out our class dates for 2020. Easter is just around the corner and bracelets are always a welcome gift for anyone’s basket…as well as chocolate!
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After the whirlwind of the holidays and a bit of time off we
are ready to jump into 2020 with both feet.
Between verifying teaching venues, updating class calendars, making lists for new kits and instructional videos I was able resume a few projects I was exploring before December.
I started an experiment creating a cuff style leather
bracelet that doesn’t require a button. What sorcery is this you say? Well,
it’s amazing what a few days of being snowed in can do when you are alone in
the studio!
Check out this two tone cuff with the ruffle edge. The leather is sewn around (you guessed it) a metal cuff!
Steel Bangle Insert
Sami Inspired Leather Cuff
Leather lined interior
The stitching and finishing were a bit of a challenge and I haven’t quite perfected the bracelet ends just yet but I think the prototype looks promising. The interior leather lining is great for people with metal allergies and easy on the fingers for folks who have trouble with button closures.
Stacked Bracelets
I want to thank all of you lovely folks for a fantastic
2019! We are busy developing new and
advanced bracelet kit style offerings and upgrading our products to bring you
the best in 2020. Stay tuned for amazing kits featuring multiple strand braids
and twists for wider bracelets, repair tips and tricks and much more!
Saami Inspired Wide Bracelets
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We love to talk about our products, classes and information. We’re here to troubleshoot and assist you with your projects. We’d love to hear from you!
August is here and we’re moving into the “dog days” of
summer. It’s been pretty hot here in Southeastern Minnesota so I’ve been
working on several new projects in my sweet air conditioned studio!
I’m always developing new ideas for different kits so here
are a few new upcoming design offerings I’m working out. I prefer Sámi inspired
traditional leather dyes but I’ve been experimenting with brighter colors
(you’ll notice the Prince inspired bracelet!) and more creative bracelet
borders.
Celtic and Posament Style Braids for Bracelets
I love necklaces so I created this Egyptian style multi-color collar style using thin strips of reindeer leather and pewter thread.
Egyptian style necklace using reindeer leather and pewter thread
We’re also in preproduction mode for several new videos demonstrating more intricate braiding, beading and sewing techniques so stay tuned for those to drop in early September.
I mentioned in my previous blog we are already booking class dates beginning in January 2020. There are still opportunities to take a class before the end of the year so check our remaining calendar dates and start gearing up for Xmas!
Great students having a great time in our studio!
If you prefer to learn with your gal pals or fellow creatives, we can schedule a class date for your group in our beautiful Lanesboro, MN studio. Call us at 507-467-3078 for details.
Working on some cool projects of your own? Post your pictures on our Saami Inspired Facebook Page and email me your images for a potential feature spot in one of our upcoming blogs! I’d love to see what you’re working on.
Order up some color for your Sámi Inspired Bracelet styles!
I can’t believe I’m already planning 2020 class dates starting in January…..!
We’re headed into the dog days of summer so why not grab
some kits and get those fall birthdays, wedding and holiday gifts going?
Our new Four Braid Color Band Sami Inspired Bracelet Kit now comes in a variety of seven scrumptious colors to choose from. Unlike our other kit offerings that require sewing the finished braid to the leather strip, this style is perfect if you need a quick gift in a hurry. Plus, our handy learning video will have you braiding and finishing your project like a pro.
Mix and match several different bracelets together because
they’re like potato chips…you can’t stop with just one!
Don’t forget to share your projects on our Saami Inspired Crafts Facebook page and stay tuned for our upcoming gallery page featuring finished bracelets and necklaces.
Every time I teach aclassmy students inspire me to come up with different variations of braiding and weaving using pewter thread. Here are a couple of projects I’m currently working on that combine Celtic and Nordic influences.
Nordic and Celtic Inspired Braids – These are braided patterns
This pattern is nicknamed ‘Viking Star’.
“Viking Star” Triangular Knots – This is a Knotted pattern
There’s also this fancy ‘Josephine’ and ‘Viking Star’ combination.
Josephine and Viking Star Knot Combination
What’s in your imagination these days? Share your latest projects with our community on our Saami Inspired Crafts Facebook page!
Winter has been long here in the Midwest so we’ve had lots of time to work on developing some unique and exciting bracelet kits. We are also stoked about our new corresponding instructional videos to help you with your individual projects. Whether you are buying a kit or want to purchase pewter thread or other materials individually, our videos will help you measure out the proper length of materials for different braid styles without the waste.
Our Four Strand Double Braid Bracelet kit provides the materials to create this beautiful dense weave. If you have purchased our original Saami Inspired Double Braid Bracelet Kit and are ready to be challenged this is a great project to expand your skills.
Sami Bracelet Kit
The Four Strand Double Braid method is also an introduction to the myriad design possibilities you can explore. Try substituting one of your pewter thread strands with our 1.00 mm round colored leather cord. You can also try round silk cord, ribbon or even beads! If you find styles online and need help figuring out what to order in terms of length for particular braids don’t hesitate to contact me.
I’m happy to answer your questions so please leave me a comment and if you haven’t subscribed, please do and get 20% off your first order!
We have survived driving in the snow and rain to host our classes this past winter and I am excited to announce our Sami Inspired Bracelet class schedule for 2019. The number one question I get asked by my students is ‘where else do you teach?’.
We have taught classes for weaving and textile guilds, conferences, private parties, museums, folk schools and even Scandinavian specialty shops. The number two question posed by my some of my students is ‘what is a folk school?’. I love this question because some of my skills are the direct result of having attended a folk school myself.
The folk school model is a tradition associated with Scandinavian countries where life long learning is part of the culture. That means folks don’t stop taking classes after they’re out of school. Discovering and building things by hand regardless of age or gender strengthens community and brings people from all walks of life together in an environment where everyone is free to be creative.
Folk schools also give people an opportunity to work with their hands and try something new or hone skills they might already have. Folk schools keep the legacy of craft traditions alive by offering classes in a relaxed environment with talented local and regional instructors as well as international teachers. I was lucky enough to attend Raulandsakadimiet in Rauland Telemark Norway in order to learn traditional filigree and metalworking techniques. However, you don’t have to travel to Norway (although it’s pretty sweet!) in order to experience a folk school environment.
For example, we’ve been teaching at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN for over 16 years and it is the first established folk school in Minnesota to offer classes celebrating Northern European craft. You can take a variety of classes including blacksmithing, silversmithing, boat building and timber framing as well as a variety of jewelry classes. The campus is right on the shores of Lake Superior and the view from many of the classrooms is stunning. This is the first folk school where I began teaching Sami Inspired Bracelet classes. Since then we’ve taught at a variety of venues where we are invited to teach annually. Our current schedule includes some new venues so you have additional dates to choose from if you are busy planning your upcoming summer and fall getaway.
Saami Inspired Bracelet Class
North House Folk School – Photo courtesy of Bryan Hansel
North House Folk School Blacksmithing Class
North House Folk School Willow Fence Class
The Marine Mills Folk School located in Marine on St. Croix, MN is a brand new facility. Their mission is ‘to support and strengthen connections by inviting all people to discover the joy of creating together through traditional arts and crafts’’ I was thrilled they contacted me to be their first Sami Inspired Bracelet class instructor and we are already busy planning additional classes and dates for 2020.
As I mentioned, we recently braved a swathe of cranky Minnesota weather to teach at the Marine Mills Folk School for the first time to a group of determined students who wanted to know more about the craft as well as the Sami culture. Students asked questions like, ‘is it okay to use the term ‘Sami tribe’ or ‘Lapplander’?” (which are not culturally acceptable or accurate descriptions) or “what is the origin or history of pewter spun thread?”
Instructor Liz Bucheit – Saami Inspired Bracelet Class
My students and I also shared and exchanged several resource books on the Sami culture for further reading and information. So if you are looking to learn something new in a low stress, hands-on class with like minded people interested in traditional crafts, the folk school environment is for you! Check out our class schedule for 2019 and contact me with any questions you may have. Classes fill quickly especially in the summer so register at your preferred venue early.
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