Ann Brovold
I spent my youth in the north woods of Minnesota and the uplands of Liberia, West Africa. My experiences and education helped to shape my love for physical adventure and creative exploration. My husband of 54 years and I raised two wonderful young men, taught school, developed products and started businesses before retiring in Barnes, Wisconsin. In 2005, we started the renovation of a 1940’s resort into a home, fondly known to our grandchildren as “The Cabin.”
I started making jewelry 30 years ago as a creative outlet during the long winter months. Having worked in the environmental field for 20 years , I am keenly aware of the importance of caring for our natural world. My birchbark jewelry is inspired by preserving nature. The birchbark I use is from dying trees on our property. It is preserved, shaped, embellished with semi-precious beads, lake stones, etched metals, pearls, crystals to give it a second life.
Every year, I take classes to learn more of the many techniques of jewelry making.
Eight years ago, I took a class on the ancient art of “Sami Viking Jewelry” after I was given a bracelet from Norway. The jewelry originated in the northern part of the Scandinavian countries. “Tenntraadsbroden” or “Tin Thread Embroidery” was created by the native Sami culture that are reindeer herders and still live in the Arctic Lapland. The Sami artists use reindeer leather, sinew, horn buttons, and wire coiled threads made of pewter and silver. The bracelets are buttoned, thin sewn leather with a simple wire braid. They are worn daily by women, men and children.
My Sami inspired bracelets use reindeer leather, horn buttons and coiled threads sourced from Sweden. In a bracelet’s design, I may also use lamb, cow, and fish leathers dyed all colors with leather cording, colored coiled wire, metal, glass, and semi-precious beads.
My designs of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets use birchbark, metal etching, lake stones, leather, and bead weaving.
I will be selling my jewelry at the Cable Community Center, Site #20, during the 2025 CHARAC Art Crawl. Also at Arts in Hand in Spooner, WI.
If you buy any of my jewelry, you are buying “One of a Kind.” I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed making it for you.
