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Welcome to my Nisse workshop
Handmade in Sweden by Eric Lilja
Stories carved in wood.
Press play to watch and hear the video.
How a Nisse is Born – From Thought to Carving
A Nisse often starts as a whisper – a picture in my head, a feeling, sometimes just an idea that comes when I touch the wood. I sketch, sometimes in a notebook, sometimes directly on the piece of wood, until a shape begins to take form.
The material is always lime – a soft, light wood from Swedish forests, long favored by Nordic craftsmen. Then begins the careful work: with a knife, the Nisse is slowly shaped. There is no rush. Every cut means something.
Once the figure is carved, it receives a coat of natural vegetable oil that protects the surface and enhances the wood’s natural grain. Afterward, the Nisse is left to dry in peace. Some get a touch of color on their hats, others retain their natural tone, depending on who they wish to become.
It’s not just wood. It’s a story, presence, and a little Nordic magic in every figure. A Nisse not only carries my carving knife – it also carries the quiet moment in which it was brought to life.
Stories carved in wood.