MICHELLE , President

Ever since I was a child and my grandmother taught me to knit and embroider, handicrafts have been a passion of mine. I grew up with talented artisans -- my father was a folk artist and my sister is a bookbinder. In the more than twenty years that I lived and worked in Sweden, I developed a deep appreciation for the beautiful carving, weaving, and especially reindeer-leather jewelry produced by native artisans. My bracelet (tennarmband) collection grew slowly; I added a new one in a different pattern on each visit. My American friends admired my bracelets, and I found myself bringing them back on a regular basis. While living in Lapland near the polar circle, I got to know artisans deeply devoted to their crafts and the traditions they represented. It seemed only natural to introduce the beautiful creations of my new friends to a North American audience.

HANNA, Vice-president

Sweden has always been a big part of my life. Although I grew up in the U.S.,when I was little my parents spoke only Swedish to me, so it was my first language. I visit there at least once a year, usually for a few months. I am one quarter Swedish and have always felt a connection to that beautiful country. When I was younger, I admired my mother’s reindeer leather bracelet collection and longed for the day when I would get my very own "tennarmband." That day came on my thirteenth birthday, and I was ecstatic. I wore it to school, and when my friends asked where I got my bracelet and I responded “Sweden,” they expressed their frustration, since it seemed they would never be able to get one. When my mother suggested the idea of selling these bracelets and other Swedish handicrafts, I thought it was wonderful. Now, even if you don’t go to Sweden, you can own some of its most beautiful products.