Ateljé Lillsjönäset translates into English as 'workshop on the peninsula of the little lake'. It's on this peninsula that we live in Northern Sweden, in a small cabin in the forest. We decided to move away from London and our busy lives working as theatre makers in an attempt to reconnect ourselves with nature by living a more simple life. We both draw inspiration from the local crafts here. We have a lot of respect for the traditional lifestyle. Considerate of the nature, in-tune with the seasons, storing root vegetables to last the winter, fishing and foraging in the late summer/autumn. It is this thinking we try and reflect in the ethos of what we make and how we make it, using local wood, most of which is cut and seasoned by us. Reindeer leather sourced from Sweden (we use the local tanner wherever possible). We collect and fashion our own buttons and toggles from antler that have been shed by the reindeer in the mountains & use local textile whenever possible.

Ateljé Lillsjönäset is comprised of two workshops. Julia works from a rented cabin that is connected to the grid to allow her to operate her industrial sewing machine and other power tools that she uses for her upholstery business. In her spare time she makes locally inspired Sami jewellery and soft furnishings for the home with an emphasis on locally sourced materials.

The second workshop, which is our wood workshop, is situated in the forest next to our house. It was built in 2014. It has no utilities and is heated by a log fire stove, it can be a little cold on a winter morning with temperatures outside as low as -25! Jamie works from this shop making prints as well as spoons, bowls and other small wooden items for the kitchen & home.