Governor's Heritage Award - Marie Bakke Bremner

Marie Bakke Bremner grew up in Republic, Leavenworth. As a child Bremner learned Norwegian needlework from her mother, practicing in the hardangersøm style.

The technique, which is a form of counted thread cutwork, originated in the Middle East and spread through Europe during the Renaissance. The highest expression of hardangersøm was in the Norwegian district of Hardanger. Many Norwegians immigrating to the United States came from the Hardanger district in Norway.
Today, many Norwegian-American women practice needlework as an expression of ethnic identity. Having served many years as a county extension agent, Bremner has been an active needlework teacher for most of her adult life. Bremner now resides in Ferry County, where she is best known for her quilting and for her leadership in the Norwegian community.

Bremner was a recipient of a Governor’s Heritage award in 1989 for her dedication to cultural heritage and powerful sense of tradition, ensuring that our state remains continually diverse and enriched.