Hello! My name is Merilin Kaustel-Lehemets, founder of NORDIC STORIES.
After finishing high school, I explored various fields of study without a clear direction – music, political science, and law.

About ten years ago, I moved with my family to the countryside of Nuckö, where my creative side flourished, and I began to focus on photography and graphic design. The Nuckö area had also been home to my Estonian Swedish ancestors, including my grandmother, whose native language was Swedish. She was one of the few who spoke the mysterious Nuckö dialect. Unfortunately, there are no active speakers of this dialect anymore, but today it remains an exciting subject of study for linguists.

Over time, my interest in the history and culture of Estonian Swedes grew, which led me to study Swedish. I graduated in Scandinavian studies at the University of Tartu, specializing in the Swedish language and literature, while also studying Danish and Norwegian.

Currently, my three main areas of focus are photography, graphic design, and translation.
Through graphic design, I have created visual identities for many Estonian and international companies and organizations, ranging from websites to printed materials. My photographs have been published in Estonia’s largest newspapers and magazines. I have captured weddings, families, and produced product and food photography. One of the cookbooks I contributed to with my photography – “Våra smaker av Nuckö” – was presented as a gift to the King of Sweden.

My translations from Scandinavian languages into Estonian have been recognized two years in a row with the Best Young Translator Award by the Estonian Writers’ Union. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in European languages and cultures at the University of Tartu, as well as at the University of Gothenburg, where my focus remains on Scandinavian studies, translation, and the Estonian Swedish language.

To bring together all my experiences, knowledge, and skills, I founded NORDIC STORIES, where I create visual and verbal narratives for you.

By collaborating with the best professionals in the field, I can offer you captivating Nordic stories in both words and images.