Himmeli is a Nordic tradition brought to Minnesota by Finnish immigrants. Traditionally hung above a table or dining area, these intricate and beautiful geometric mobiles are a Christmas tradition and a link to old folk farming beliefs for ensuring a bountiful harvest. Himmeli can be enjoyed all year round though!

In this course students will construct a medium sized himmeli mobile. They will learn the skills necessary to construct a Keski Pohjanmaa himmeli style which is common on the Iron Ranges of Minnesota. As students learn the skills to create himmeli, they will also learn about the cultural traditions and history of the craft. This class will emphasize himmeli use in Finland but also include similar traditions in other Nordic and Baltic countries.

This course meets on two Wednesday afternoons February 10th and 17th from 2-4 pm each week. In order for the instructor to have time to mail materials to students ahead of time, registration for this course closes on January 27th.

You will need the following tools for this class:

Students will receive a mailed kit from instructor containing all the supplies for the project.

Additional equipment students will need to provide: 

• scissors, ruler, & an old towel
• A laptop or desktop computer with reliable internet access