Karen Keenan
Karen teaches table-made hair braiding, also known as hairwork, at NHFS and the American Swedish Institute. Hairwork was a popular late-1700’s to early 1900’s folk art done in Scandinavia, Europe, the United States and elsewhere. Students taking part in Karen’s classes explore the history and contemporary application of hairwork’s sentimental and decorative aspects, learn how to braid and assemble jewelry, and help bring to life this interesting and almost lost art form. With fellowship support from the American-Scandinavian Foundation, Karen apprentices with master hairworkers in Våmhus, Sweden, the community known for its professional hairworkers and home village of her ancestors. She has presented and/or written articles on the topic of Traditional Swedish Hair Jewelry for the Nordic Center, Duluth, MN;, Vesterheim Museum, Decorah, Iowa; the Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe, NM’, the Norwegian Textile Letter; FinnFest:, and Prairie Star Care Fram, Princeton, MN.
Current Courses Offered by Karen Keenan
Woven: Traditional Swedish Table-Made Hair Bracelet
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Thu, Oct 22nd, 2026 - Sun, Oct 25th, 2026Day 1: 4-6pm; Days 2-3: 9am-5pm; Day 4: 9am-3pm
Woven: Table-Made Hairwork Sampler
Day 1: 4-6pm; Days 2-3: 9am-5pm; Day 4: 9am-3pm
