Time for Gratitude

Recently, during National Sauna Week (Feb 15-21, 2026), I spoke about sauna textiles--past traditions, present and future possibilities. Many folks, directly and indirectly, inspired and supported me in bringing forward the idea that textiles are essential to sauna's sensory and cultural richness. I want to take time here to thank the many people that made my recent presentation Sauna Threads: Textiles, Tradition, and the Sauna Experience possible.

Gratitude is an important practice and it is on theme with both sauna practice and textile tradition to observe that tasks that take time provide a bonus--they slow us down, they require a certain stillness, provide space for thoughtfulness and help us feel relaxed and refreshed when we are done, whether it is--

• the time it takes to make a textile by hand,
• the time it takes to write a thank you note,
• the time it takes to relax and gather thoughts in the sauna.

My mum holding a tea towel embroidered by her mum.
It features sweet peas, a favorite in Scottish gardens, which often symbolize gratitude.

My interest in textiles comes from my mom who instilled in me an appreciation for the generations of women in our family who knitted dozens of sweaters in Scottish wool, embroidered tablecloths and sent kilts from Scotland--with colors and patterns that captured my imagination.

As a child, I spent many hours with my practical Swedish immigrant grandmother who, sewing on a treadle sewing machine, made (among other things) aprons. She mastered a pinafore style making it in all sizes and varieties of calico--suitable for a toddler's summer outfit and, of course, good for an adult baking in the kitchen. I am grateful to have had such a strong connection to these women who made things by hand.

“This apron was woven by my great-grandmother for my grandmother.”
ASI volunteer wearing a costume from Dalarna, Sweden.

Photo: Jack Steinmann, 2012

I am grateful to my community, the Twin Cities, a culturally rich and exciting place, where there are so many ways to honor and continue cultural traditions. I grew up with the American Swedish Institute (ASI) and the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA)--both places where I have learned so much about cultural heritage and the art and craft of textiles. The classes I have taken at the Textile Center, and the opportunity to serve on its board, pushed me from observer to creator and opened me up to a whole new community of like-minded makers and talented artists.

Bad Sauna under construction during the Covid quarantine

Thanks to family and dear friends--all of whom listen patiently to my proposals and bolster me. My dad in particular has always encouraged exploration of big ideas and takes pride in all that I do. My sisters who join me daily in our task of weaving the connections that keep us all together. My husband Jack and children Colin, Lucy and Jamie who are so much a part of me, like my heart and hands. They built the sauna in our backyard--a dream I never thought would come true. Special thanks to my stylist, social media advisor and treasure— daughter Lucy.

With Jim Kurtti: the Finn and his tuohikontti & the Swede and her björknäverkont

There are specific people who inspire me and have given me a helping hand forward: the good people of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan--Wakefield's Dorothy Popovich and her family; the Kurttis, Jim and Debbie, in Houghton, who share so much sauna lore with us and have a terrific collection of sauna textiles. We love visiting Hancock and Houghton, twin cities that gaze at each other across the Lake Superior canal. It is the place where I have learned the most about sauna culture. It was an exciting honor when I was invited to speak on sauna textiles in January during Heikinpäivä festivities in Hancock. Thanks to Copper Country Finns and Friends for sponsorship.

With Minea Lindqvist Herwitz at Mount Bohemia

The Kurttis also connected us to Finlandia Foundation National. I am so grateful for the relationship to this wonderful organization. Thanks to Tommy Flanagan, executive director, who leads the national organization with confidence and warmth--and impressively greets everyone in Finnish and Swedish. Our friend Eero Kilpi, Finlandia's Lecturer of the Year when we first met, who champions the deep rooted traditions of sauna. Special thanks to Minea Lindqvist Herwitz, FFN Communications Director, who is a talent and a visionary. She worked endlessly with me to put together Sauna Threads: Textiles, Tradition, and the Sauna Experience. She also took time to have fun and check out the saunas at Mount Bohemia with me. Sauna is a great way to do business.

How flaxen-haired are we?

It was Minea's proposal to bring together a panel including Jaana Hjelt of Lapuan Kankurit in Finland and Karen Rue and Dori Graff of Saunamekko in Minneapolis for our talk. It was a brilliant idea. Jaana, an international business woman living an ocean away, could not have been more accessible and kind. She runs an exemplary weaving mill when it comes to sustainability in textile production. I am such a fan of flax linen and love their sauna products--it was a great opportunity to hear her stories. Finally, Karen Rue and Dori Graff have become friends on this journey with natural fibers and sauna. They are breaking new ground in sauna textiles and doing so with great intent and authenticity. They have been so open and interested in my ideas perhaps because we are so in sync. I am really grateful for all of the time we were able to spend together preparing and talking through ideas.



All of these connections came together for the National Sauna Week talk. I have had nothing but good times with all of it. If you tuned in, thanks to you too. I am hard at work on a book on the subject of textiles and sauna. Feel free to contact me if you have thoughts to share.