New class for the National Nordic Museum

It’s been awhile since I’ve been out to Seattle, and with COVID, that’s understandable. Silver linings, though, right? Last year I invested in some nicer zoom equipment, and I’ve been teaching for Vesterheim Norwegian-American museum, the American Swedish Institute, North House Folk School, and … guilds or whomever else would like a lesson.

I’m really glad to add a class through the National Nordic next month. They are opening an exhibit on the landscape of the Nordic lands. And, the gorgeous mittens of the Skolt Saami peoples, inspired by the land, fit right in that topic.

As always, I am very thankful to the curators and people at the Sami Museum and Nature Center Siida in Inari, Finland who graciously allowed me to view their collection of Skolt Saami and Inari Saami mittens, as well as the wonderful curator in the Øst-samiske museet in Neiden, Norway and Heini Wesslin with whom I met in my visit there. All credit and honor go to the Sami artisans who created these beautiful hand coverings.

It is my desire to raise awareness of their art form and draw attention to it.

All the mittens I teach are based on museum samples I have observed in my travels in Sápmi or through my studies.

Skolt Saami mittens can be purchased at the Sami Museum and Nature Center Siida as well as the store in the Sami parliament in Inari, Finland.