Hemslojd is one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce because they are the only shop in the U.S. that handcrafts Dala horse shaped signs and other traditional Swedish crafts and are the leading Swedish gift catalog and website in the U.S. as well as an international tourist site.

"Hemslojd" is Swedish for handicraft. Throughout Sweden you'll find small hemslojd shops where crafts of wood, textile and other materials are made and sold. Hemslojd, Inc., in Lindsborg carries on this tradition of handcrafted items made in the Swedish style featuring personalized wood Dala horse signs, Swedish door harps, Swedish style clocks, candleholders and etched glassware. The shop also serves as promoters of Swedish heritage in America.

In 1984 by Ken Sjogren and Ken Swisher established Hemslojd in Lindsborg as a Swedish import shop and woodworking shop on Main Street. Ken Sjogen retired in 2004.

You are invited to watch the craftsmen at work and visit our gift shop of Swedish and Scandinavian imports.

• Hemslojd came out with their first catalog in 1989 and went online in 1997. Today, they are the leading Swedish gift catalog and website in the US-- and maybe in the world. During November and December up to 300+ catalog and online orders are shipped daily.

• Since opening, more than 36,000 Dala horse signs have been sold.

• In 2007 Hemslojd was the #1 importer worldwide of traditional Dala horses from the largest producer of Dala Horses, the Nils Olsson Dala Horse Factory, in Sweden.

• Note: All the 4-legged wooden Dala horses are made in Sweden. Hemslojd is allowed to make the 2-legged horse-shaped signs.

• Hemslojd got into the custom-etch glassware (www.glass-decorators.com) business in 1985. Customers include Burger King, Ann Taylor, Grand Canyon Railroad, and Volvo, to name a few.

STORY OF THE DALA HORSE

The original Dala Horse (Dalahast) has been around for many centuries, and probably was created by Swedish woodcutters in the province of Dalarna near Mora (though soldiers are also credited for this). During the long winters, these lonely men would spend their evenings away from their families, and passed their time by carving little toys for their children. While these carved wooden toys, made from the scraps of the men's occupation, were mostly horses, some were also roosters or pigs. However, the most enduring of these little creatures remains the Dala Horse.

IMPORTANCE OF THE DALA HORSE TO LINDSBORG

With Lindsborg's strong ties to Sweden, the Dala Horse was adopted several decades ago as Lindsborg's community identity icon and welcome symbol.

WHEN TO VISIT

Our store in downtown Lindsborg is open daily all year Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (7:30 p.m. during the summer); Sunday 12:30-5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Source:  www.dalahorse.com; www.hemslojd.com

E-mail:  swedes@hemslojd.com

You Tube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMW3bWRnLN4