Birgit grew up in a home with fiber artists. Both grandmothers taught traditional handiwork and sewing. Her mother was a professional seamstress involved in tailoring, dressmaking, and drapery work. With that background, Birgit took an early interest in fiber arts. She graduated from Vermont College with emphasis in art therapy and art education.
She spent many years in the 80’s developing new techniques, then traveling the country teaching her techniques at conferences, workshops, seminars and trade shows.
Birgit took a break from teaching to gain more education and to work in the Lutheran church. During this time, Birgit experimented on techniques for art quilting and is now happy to share those techniques with others. Her current quilting passions run in two directions. Art quilting where she uses a combination of techniques combining pen and ink illustrations with ink and markers, ink jet printer techniques, and thread painting on quilts. These techniques are used for portraits and word quilts.
She has worked quite a bit on mandala design. Combining several fun techniques, she uses the mandala form to tell stories and to make “a quilt in a circle”.
Birgit’s award-winning work has been exhibited internationally.
In 2017, Birgit began illustration work to tell stories about a favorite childhood subject – tomtes. Her first book was published in 2019 that tells the story about tomtes and where they get their hats. From the experience of illustrating and writing that first book, Birgit was hooked on immersing herself in the world of tomtes and in developing her colored pencil skills.
In 2021, Birgit made a switch from teaching and lecturing about fiber arts to illustrating and telling tomte stories through books and her newsletter “The Tomte Times”. She has enjoyed designing tomte inspired quilting projects, knitting patterns, and embroidery designs. You will find all her designs in the her store.
Beyond fiber arts, Birgit is married to her husband, Jim (of Finnish descent). Together, they love to cook, garden, do woodworking, and make music with a community chorale. Birgit, a classically trained harpist, also loves working with her harp students.