Our Story

Hello! I’m Heidi Renée Aijala, an embroidery artist, writer, dreamer, veggie addict, and dog lover.

I have been embroidering since 2018 and created Sisu Handmade while researching my Finnish heritage and becoming enchanted with the Finnish concept of sisu.

Sisu (pronounced “see-su”) has a mystical (some might even say magical!) feeling. It encompasses the qualities of courage, perseverance, and purpose.

Sisu has taught me the power of dedication and persistence in daily life, from the mundane to the extraordinary. This is perhaps nowhere more clear than through my daily embroidery practice.

Embroidery is an embodied act that asks us to slow down, pause, and practice mindfulness.

It’s all about presence, persistence, and possibility.

If you’d like to connect, you can find me on Instagram @sisu_handmade. I’d love to see your completed work!

Use the hashtag #sisuhandmade