Amina Haswell

Amina is a Winnipeg based Broomsquire (The official term for broom-maker) and the Creative Director and Owner of Prairie Breeze Folk Arts Studio (PBFAS). PBFAS is an artisan driven home décor and design company, specializing in quality-crafted brooms, brushes and other home accessories. Amina has been making brooms professionally for just under two years, selling her brooms both locally and through-select retailers in several Provinces.

Amina was first drawn to the art of broom-making in 2011 when she purchased her first handmade broom in Western Canada. Since then she has been honing her skills in the folk-art form of broom-making, sharing ideas and collaborating with broom-makers across Canada and the US. Attending various institutions in the US that provide in-depth training opportunities in Folk arts. Amina also teaches the art form/trade to others which allows her to experiment and develop new techniques.

Amina is inspired by colour and fibers and so broom making seemed a natural fit. Amina spends her days binding naturally unprocessed broom corn ( also known as sorghum bi-colour) grown locally on her acreage and imported from North American sources and binds them with natural and synthetic fibers to make over 36 varieties of brooms, in over 42 different colours.
Amina harvests many of the handles she uses in her broom making by foraging the forest for the perfect sticks in areas across Manitoba. and across Canada when possible.

Amina’s arrival to broom making is in completed juxtaposition to her professional exploits as a Compliance and Fraud Investigator. Amina continues to remain professionally active in this area but focuses much of her time on PBFAS as she is drawn to the solitude and grounding nature of broom making which rejuvenates the extravert in her and keeps her feeling inspired and balanced.