Lena and Ole are having BIG SALES

Thanks to all who came to the Lena and Ole Reduction sale last week. The sale continues Thursday, Friday, and Saturday June 6-8 from 10 am to 6 pm (call 414-745-4362 if you need a different time!). We loved seeing our customers again — we miss you all! Thank you for your business.

There are still great deals to be found at 40% or more off. Do your Father’s Day, wedding, Christmas shopping now. We have Danish Iron candle holders, lots of Christmas decorations, cookbooks, kitchen utensils, tea pots, linens, great selection of children’s books (and some Swedish toys), linens, limited selection of Norwegian Konge Tinn flatware, Scandinavian cards, framed art, Del Mundo jewelry and more…

If you want to bring along “nonshoppers”, we have coffee and treats and soft chairs for them to relax while you shop. No steps to reach the sale, just go around the back of our house to the lower level. Need a ride when you leave or come to the sale, Ole has his Gator ready!

For those of you who came and received the blue flyer about the next big sale, take it out and correct the dates

(it should be Thursday, June 27 through Wednesday, July 3 from 9 am to 7 pm.

This is the huge Moving Sale — Lena has to downsize to a house in Apache Junction half the current size so there will be household, holiday, collectibles, clothing, furniture and so much more available at great prices. Ole (under duress) is SORTING his huge workshop/garage to create an outstanding sale of tools, garden, and farm equipment and more. So bring everyone in the family and share the news.

We are located just a couple miles south of I-94 at 405 315th St (Wilson, WI) Watch for signs. Turn south at Exit 28 on Hwy. 128, immediately turn left on 50th Ave., go about 1.5 miles to 315th St., turn right — we are the 2nd home on the left. If you are coming from Menomonie or Spring Valley, you can take Co. N but be aware that it is under reconstruction.

Hope to see you soon!

Beautiful electric Wooden Candelabra available from Lena and Ole’s Gifts

7-light natural electric candelebra

Add this traditional Scandinavian electric wooden candelebra to your windows to create a welcome to your home. It has a long cord with a switch so also work well on the fireplace mantel or on a buffet.

The candelebra is available for $42.50 (7 light designs in natural as pictured. It can also be shipped immediately. We also have the special replacement lights (package of 3)bvavailable for the 5 and 7 light for $5.00 including shipping.

Please call 414-745-4362 to order.

Pocket Farcal is a Game for the Whole Family

A game that is new to many but actually has been around for a long time is Pocket Farcal.  For those of you that still remember (ha!) when we actually put film in cameras from little round canisters (before digital) and for those of us who still have a camera that uses film, you will find this new game to be an interesting addition to your family entertainment.  The Pocket Farcal game is actually 6 dice in a little canister that are used to roll for points.  As long as you can keep scoring points (according to the game's simple rules), you will keep rolling.  However, if you don't score points, it's a FARCAL.  I think kids (of all ages) love this simple game because FARCAL sounds like something your mother said you shouldn't say. 

Lena and Ole's carries Farcal in various colors including one with yellow dice called "Cheesehead" Farcal (of course since we are in Wisconsin and Ole is a die hard Packer Fan), and Uffda Farcal — blue dice (I have no clue as to why the dice are blue).  The game is great because it fits in your pocket, your purse, and travels well on a plane or in the car.  It's available at for only $7.50 including shipping. Call me at 414-745-4362 to order. It can be played by your family from age 5 to 105 and together — no age gets bored or frustrated because it's too difficult.

Gudbrandsdal bunad figurine

The Gudbrandsdal bunad was designed in 1923 by a team of a painter, his seamstress wife, and Hulda Garborg, who was, apart from being married to the famous author, Arne Garborg, a pioneer in rekindling the use of bunads and traditional culture. The Gudbrandsdal bunad is today made of blue or black material, but the deign was based upon a blue-green skirt with a polychrome flower motif. The original design is on display at the Norsk Folkemuseum. The apron is either in silk or wool with floral embroidery. The bunad can be worn with or without the apron. The silk apron is black, while the woolen apron is the same color as the skirt. The original bunads always had silk aprons, but this material became harder to obtain during and after World War II, which led to the use of woolen fabric as well. The Gudbrandsdal bunad is worn with two silver brooches and button cufflinks for the blouse.

This is one of a collection of many bunad figurines available for $22.95 plus shipping.

Lena has finally added something new as Lena and Ole travel to Olympia, Washington!

Lena and Ole are on the road again! We are on our way to Washington State, leaving the gorgeous sunshine and 80 degree weather of Arizona. We don’t want to make our midwest customers feel bad but we do want you to know we will attempt to fill our RV with the sunshine and warmth and bring it back to you in May.

Our next stop is Olympia, Washington, just south of Seattle. We will be part of Norway Day on April 20 from 10 am to 4 pm. The show is in the Exhibition Hall at the Thurston County Fairgrounds at 3054 Carpenter Rd. SE. You will discover Vikings of all ages and a day of food, music, geneology, Norwegian crafts and vendors with an array of Scandinavian wares. We have some new items we found at a recent show in Las Vegas including Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, and Finnish umbrellas. That should be a great item for Washington.

We hope you won’t need them (the umbrellas) for your Syttende Mai celebrations back in the Midwest in May. We’ll see you in Woodville, Wisconsin in the Lion’s Den as we participate in the Valkyrien Lodge’s Syttende Mai activities on May 17 and 18. Come to Main Street in Woodville outside Lena’s Gifts from 4 – 7 pm. for lefse and polse on Friday, May 17. Then join us all day for all the Norwegian goodies on Saturday, May 18 in the Lion’s Den. The parade is at high noon. Plus there will be a Norwegian/American worship service on Saturday afternoon at 4:30 with music and praise — it’s a very special event. We look forward to seeing you all back in Wisconsin.

Join Lena and Ole in Tucson, Arizona for the Nordic Fair

Lena and Ole are in Tucson, Arizona enjoying the 70 degree weather as they get ready for the 31st annual Nordic Fair on Saturday, December 1 from 9 to 3. The fair will be held at the Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church, 5360 E. Pima (1 block west of Craycroft). There will be Scandinavian crafts and collectibles representing the Danes, Swedes, Finns, and Norwegians. Enjoy ethnic foods while you are there and take home typical Norwegian baked goods. There will be entertainment including authentic dancing and more. It will be inside and outside in the beautiful courtyard. You will find Lena and Ole there ready to help you with your holiday shopping and to say hello.

Lena and Ole will be in Charlotte, North Carolina in November

Hello — I imagine most of you will not be able to join us in North Carolina but if you (or someone you know) is on the east coast, please come to Charlotte. Here’s the website for this Scandinavian Festival on November 10. www.scandinavianconnection.org. We have filled the RV with Christmas items, jewelry, t-shirts, books, linens, and much more. Indian Trail is near Charlotte. Remember we will be in Tucson on December 1st — watch for more information here or send me your e-mail if you’d like to be on our monthly update list.

Lena and Ole are on the Road Again

Hello to past and present customers and friends of Lena and Ole’s Gifts! We miss seeing you after leaving Woodville, Wisconsin. We want to let you know “where in the world” Lena and Ole are going to be. We will share information on the festival or show so that you can come and say hello if you are in the area. If you need a product that we carry, simply call or e-mail.

Upcoming Events:

We will have our favorite new product with us — the Swedish Dish Cloth — hard to believe this could be so wonderful. But it’s an amazing cloth that is ODORLESS and not only does a great job on dishes but cleans granite, stainless steel, laminates and glass top stoves without streaks!! It is made of eco-friendly natural cellulose and cotton fibers. You’ll throw all your other dish clothes away once you’ve used it.

Sunday, September 9: Visit us at the 33rd Annual Scandinavian Day Festival at Vasa Park, Route 31, South Elgin, Illinois, just 7 miles south of I-90 Northwest Tollway. Enjoy Scandinavian entertainment, food, vendors, crafts, games celebrating all five Nordic cultures and heritage from 9 am to 5 pm. Check out their website at www.scandinaviandayil.com

Saturday, November 10, Scan Fest of the Carolinas in Charlotte, North Carolina (more information to follow)

Saturday, December 1, Nordic Fair at Streams in the Desert Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona (more information to follow).