Beautiful objects can be made with common and unusual renewable resources. An almost forgotten form, hairwork, the unique folk art of creating jewelry from human hair, is loaded with Scandinavian history and culture. In this course, students can apply skills gained in the Level I bracelet class to learn three new patterns and a new way to join braids. Braidwork will be done on traditional hairwork tables. Students will explore the cultural impact of this popular 1800s adornment practice through artifacts, literature, and story. Careful work will result in lovely and intricate braids we will assemble into a handmade human hair necklace. This second level class supports a skills-building path for the emerging community of hairworkers. 

Imagine traveling in the mid-1800s from a Swedish country village to St. Petersburg or London during the winter time with your daughter and her cousin across frozen lakes, on trains and ships to work for six months making hair jewelry for urban citizens. This was common and highly valued practice for many skilled women from Sweden, especially those from Våmhus, Sweden, the only village that, to this day, has kept this art form alive for over 200 years. Learn more about this unique art form and fascinating cultural history in this weekend course. This course is open to students ages 15 and up.

NOTE: Students must have experience in hairwork to join this course. Desired prerequisite - Woven: Traditional Swedish Table-Made Hair Bracelet (a Level I course).

Materials Fee

• A materials fee of approximately $15-$30 will be collected by the instructor during class.

Optional Tools

• Your favorite embroidery scissors
• Beads in colors of your liking and, if possible, a variety of sizes from small to medium size. I will also have an array of beads for you to choose from.
• I will provide horse and human hair, needles and thread to use during the course. If an individual wishes to bring hair to the class, please make sure it is at least 12” long. A hank of hair about 1-1.5”’ in diameter is sufficient.