Tobben Karlsson (he/him)
Tobben Karlsson is from Sweden and is active in the segment of what many would like to call Bushcraft. I come from a family where nature has always been an important part. From when I was young I have been in woods. Foraging mushrooms, picking berries, fishing and so on. The knife has also been a companion since I was 3 years old so whittling became a natural activity; making everything from bbqsticks for grilling sausages and walking sticks to bow and arrows.
The years pass and I never stopped playing in the woods, but my skills grow and broaden. I was really into survival for like 10 years but felt that it lacked much of what I wanted and was to narrow segment. It wasn’t until something like 2015 when someone told me that the things I was doing is called ‘Bushcraft’. It was a word I had heard some 10 years earlier but never caught my attention. I liked the description and ending up, with others, founding Bushcraft Sverige – Bushcraft association Sweden and Bushcraft Festival in Sweden. I run courses and events through my company Craft by Karlsson.
During the years my focus has turned more and more to old handcraft and traditions. My outdoorlife is strongly interconnected with something I call behovsslöjd “craft of necessity”.
So it has become a never ending story learning new things and I love it.
Tobben’s courses are in English and Swedish
Website: www.craftbykarlsson.se
Instagram: @craftbykarlsson