Ruotsala, Birgit: - Birgit grew up in a Scandinavian home with strong influences from her Swedish and Norwegian grandparents. Adding to the fun, Jim, her husband, is Finnish. Preparing for and celebrating Christmas has always been filled with traditions that Birgit has cherished. It is Birgit's desire to pass down the traditions that were practiced in her family. The tomte stories share these traditions with a bit of humor and full of love. Using colored pencil drawings has been an enjoyable way to share characters and stories as well as a way to learn a new art form. In her other life, Birgit is a fiber artist with a strong connection to needlework rooted in Scandinavian techniques she learned from her mother, grandmothers, and aunts. Her quilts have received national attention and traveled with international exhibits.She grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and now lives with her husband Jim in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They enjoy ethnic cooking, gardening, woodworking, art, and music. For more information about upcoming tomte books and projects, or speaking engagements, you may follow Birgit on her website: www.birgitsdesigns.com. Contact her at tomtetimes@gmail.com