As much as I love the holiday season – the social gatherings and the festive air – I admittedly cringe when it comes time for holiday decorating. I love all the sparkle, but the designer in me simply can't handle the massive interruption to my carefully curated décor. With a six-year-old daughter, I have no opportunity to skip the whole tree and stockings thing (that would be super Grinch-y), so I have to get creative with finding décor pieces that bring the feel of festive without killing my overall aesthetic. Now that December has arrived and every shop seems to be full swing into Holiday mode, the panic of finding fun (and designer-approved) festive decor has set it.
During my hunt I came across the beautiful wall art of Scandinavia Wolf Designs; hand crafted by founder Kristy Hansen, each piece offers an element of natural glamour. While Scandinavia Wolf is by no means a holiday décor line, the pieces are created with a blend of hand-painted gathered woods, natural gemstones, wool and feathers that offer an ideal alternative to the traditional holiday décor for a modern home, yet reveal themselves as pieces you'll want to leave on display year round.
Hansen has spent many years in the creative fields, from interior design to fashion to painting, but found her niche within jewelry design and wall art, which she has coined “jewelry for the walls.” A craft that started with children's mobiles and has transitioned into a full collection to include chic minimalist decor for the discerning eye, Scandinavia Wolf Designs is becoming a household name for those in the know.
Premiering at this year's IDSWest, Hansen – alongside her partner Jeff – has quickly gained a strong network of supporters; you may have caught up with some of her designs at Main Street's Fall For Local, the Kunye Collective in North Van or the recent Collective Elements in Chinatown. Scandinavia Wolf has also been invited to feature an installation at the opening gala for Mike Wollin at Shoreline Studios, as well as a pop-up with West Elm's South Granville location on Dec. 20.
If you're looking for even more ways to give this holiday season, partial proceeds from every Scandinavia Wolf sale – year round – are donated to charity. Currently working with Covenant House, Hansen believes that the branches she incorporates into her designs represent the beauty in taking something overlooked and giving it opportunity to achieve its full beauty and potential.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m Kristy and my company is called Scandinavia Wolf Designs: a combination of art, jewelry, home décor and soon to be textiles. I’m originally from Nelson and that is where my love for nature was born. I had big dreams and felt I needed to move to Vancouver (20 years ago) to make them come true. It was a great decision – Vancouver has given me both nature and opportunity!
How did you get started running your own business?
I think the seeds of my business started as a young child when I loved to go and collect interesting rocks; I never lost that love for nature and its treasures and I’ve always wanted to incorporate these elements into my artwork. Initially I dabbled in interior design and then fashion but I also had a desire to design jewelry. In the end I didn’t want to do just one thing so instead I combined all of my passions within my Scandinavia Wolf brand.
What is your most quirky attribute?
I use coconut oil for everything: cooking, an ingredient in my breakfast smoothies, body lotion, hair treatment, and protecting wood (like cutting boards, wood utensils, etc). I also use it to polish my gemstones and as a primer on branches to be used for my wall art… oh, and I use it for eye make-up remover. I’m sure I’ll find some more uses for it in the near future.
Some people collect old cameras and typewriters, do you collect anything?
I collect rocks, gemstones, branches and fabric. I also have a pretty mean collection of misfit stuffed animals that I’ve created for a previous business – maybe I’ll bring them out again one day…
Is there a song or musician that inspires you to create?
Music inspires my mood, which in turn inspires me to create, but not one specific musician or song. My music taste is pretty eclectic. You can find me rockin' out with Elton John, groovin' with Bob Marley, picking away on the air banjo with my bluegrass faves Old Crow Medicine Show, even shakin' my booty with Snoop Dogg and the gang.
If you could speak to a room of youth who were considering careers in the arts, what would your advice be?
If you are truly passionate about creating, I think you should do whatever you can to follow your dreams. With that said, it’s a long hard journey. When things get really tough you might ask: “Maybe I should try something else?” But to be successful you need to have “No way in hell am I giving up!” in your head. If you’re in that mind set you’re on the right track!
