Artists' backstories are as interesting as their work

Strike up a conversation with any crafter or artist at a show, and you’ll usually hear an interesting backstory. Natalie Norman is just one of these people. No doubt you’ve seen her selling her warm, fuzzy mittens at various shows, but it’s the waist bag she was wearing at the recent Salem Covenant Church Art Fair that caught my eye, and thus the questions began.

Norman makes Swedish “kjolvaskas.” She collects vintage Swedish needlework, honed the embroidery designs over the years and incorporates them into new bags. “I would say that the new ones are inspired by the old,” she said. Her passion for this specialized needlework earned her an invitation from the governor to meet with the king and queen of Sweden; and the princess has a special bag (and even one for her doll) created by Natalie. She was also invited to the Swedish Embassy in Washington D.C. to meet dignitaries from the Scandinavian country. Her kjolvaskas are available at the American Swedish Institute and the Gammelgarden Museum in Scandia. Pure Serendipity will be at three shows this holiday season: Saturday, Nov. 21- Christ Presbyterian Church Edina Holiday Boutique. Saturday, Dec. 5- Hudson Holiday Boutique- Saturday, Dec. 12- Womens Art Festival