Custom-Made Shamanic and Frame Drums

Made with deep nature connection and love by Helena Karhu

in North Karelia, Finland

Helena Karhu creates and paints individually crafted custom drums, each made as a unique commission. The drums are handcrafted in collaboration with Jaana Louhelainen (Louhen Polku) from North Karelia. These are usually reindeer hide drums with birch frames.

I also paint vegan drums, using high-quality, fully weather-resistant REMO Buffalo drumheads as the foundation.

The birth of each drum is a powerful healing event and an alchemical process in itself. My own work with each drum is centered primarily on its aesthetics and symbolism. I paint your drum intuitively, allowing the imagery and symbolism to emerge naturally through the creative process. If you prefer, you may also order a drum without a painted design.

The price of each drum is determined by the time and creative process involved in its making. Custom drum prices start from €750–850. The price includes a drum beater. All prices include 25.5% VAT. Shipping costs, if applicable, are charged separately. Personal delivery can also be arranged. (For USA, the postage and customs is too much at the moment, so delivery preferably only in Europe. If you want to order to USA, please expect minimum +300 EUR for additional cost.).

Please note that custom drums are made specifically for you and therefore cannot be exchanged or returned. I kindly ask that you are certain about your decision before placing an order. Every drum is, of course, carefully crafted to the highest standard and is guaranteed to arrive in excellent condition.

To commission your new drum, please contact me to discuss the details at info@karhuntalo.com.

EXAMPLES OF CUSTOM MADE DRUMS:

DRUM OF ITÄJTÄR, 2024

The magic of this drum lies in the power of trees to grow, of life to awaken, and of seeds to be sown—both metaphorically and literally. Painted in gold, the drum depicts heather in the South, a spruce tree with its roots in the West, a majestic ancient pine in the North, and the roots of a birch tree in the East.

Itäjtär is a forest spirit and guardian who nurtures the growth of trees and woodland plants through her sacred seeds and her loving magical power.

In the landscape of my inner vision, I see forests that have been clear-cut in our present time: Rising above them is the immense figure of Itäjtär. She is radiant and beautiful—a guardian of hope and peace. Like the Great Mother, she carries bags filled with seeds in her hands. From these seeds grow the native forests that belong to this ecosystem, restoring life where it has been lost.

FOUR SISTERS / FOUR BROTHERS – ANCESTRAL DRUM, 2024

The name of this drum seemed to echo from the depths of the Kolmiköytinen rock paintings. Four sisters, four brothers—but who are they? Do they stand in each of the four directions, weaving connection through every direction and every element?

In my mind's eye, I saw the colours that wished to be given to this drum—colours that reach back thousands of years. As I sketched the genderless figures from the ancient rock paintings onto paper, each sister and brother seemed to stretch toward one of the four stars that form the square of the Big Dipper.

When the process of birthing the drum with its reindeer hide began, I was given an exceptionally powerful hide. It contained thick, translucent areas and curious red pigments—like glowing embers from the campfires of our ancestors, carried across thousands of years into this very moment, into this very skin. As I cut the hide, I accidentally nicked my thumb, and my own blood became part of the drum's birth. It felt strangely appropriate, as though my heart's blood had mingled with the red ochre. In Finnish folk tradition, the thumb is the finger of the haltija—the guardian spirit that remains awake throughout a person's life, from childhood to old age.

Long before this, I had already begun shaping the drum's wooden frame. It seemed to seek a dialogue with another drum made by the late shaman Tapani Hietalahti. The symbols Tapani burned into that drum's frame began to speak, and some of them continue their journey here, forming an ongoing conversation with this new yet ancient drum. There is an inexplicable connection between them—one that invites us to explore it further together.

What was born from Mother Earth?

What came to bring healing?

What came to build peace?

What became a star in the heavens?

The people of three Finnish rock art sites converse within this drum. By tracing their ancient marks, I continue to understand them more deeply. The climbing figures on the western side represent the shaman's journey into the otherworld together with their helping spirits, the animals. The remaining figures portray shamans, human beings, and beings in transformation—human-animal forms that exist between worlds.

The drum handle is made from wood gathered on Kolmiköytinen Hill in South Karelia. The drum beater is carved from linden wood from Joensuu, using a branch that had fallen naturally from one of the old trees in the enchanting park surrounding Vainoniemi Villa.

The drum is made of reindeer hide and has an exceptionally beautiful voice. It was born in Koli, North Karelia, through a collaboration between Louhen Polku and Karhun Talo over the course of several months. Helena burned the symbols into the drum's frame, dyed the wood, bound the drum, and created its artwork. Jaana assisted throughout the drum-making process. The head of the drum beater is wrapped in Finnish sheep's wool.

THE BIRCH DRUM, 2026

….with fairy spirit.

This drum was long time in creation. It started its metamorphosis from primal material into a drum over a year ago. The reindeer leather was blessed with birch sap from Koli area. The wooden frames got their magical symbols and words which are the old Finnish magic charm words…

Koivu on kolmen luonnottaren…

Birch is from the tree nature goddesses…

Juuret yhteen yhisty…

Roots may join together….

Even though the birch is the main healing tree medicine connected to this drum, it brings together three different plant medicines.

The birch, as the main healer, stands for renewal, vitality, and ever-young energy. I believe that the person who comes to use this drum will also work with birch in some way — for example, in drum healing or relaxation sessions, perhaps using birch with the person receiving the drumming. Or maybe the person simply drums for the birch family and feels a deepening connection to the clarity and energizing essence of the birch medicine tree. The birch sap, which was also used in the blessing of this drum, is one of the finest nectars nature provides. It brings deep clarification to body, heart, and mind, blessing the way toward a clear connection between the human soul and the soul of nature.

The second healing plant medicine connected to this drum is heather. Heather brings calming, earth-bound energy so that the uplifting upper-world energies of the drum can be firmly rooted in the body and bones. Heather offers gentle relaxation and also supports a good night’s sleep (I slept 11 hours before painting the final parts of this drum — feeling so rested and balanced!).

The third plant carries a strong connection to flower essences and fairy spirits. The flower of hill willowherb (mäkihorsma in Finnish, Epilobium collinum in Latin) looks as if it is ready to fly. This plant is not common in the North Karelia region but is more widespread in southern Finland.

This drum was created with love in North Karelia, Finland, in cooperation with Jaana Louhelainen and Helena Karhu. Helena burned the magical signs and words into the wooden frame, prepared it, and painted the drum. Jaana helped by making the ties and knots to prepare the drum skin, and she crafted the drumstick.

PATH OF THE WOLF DRUM, 2026

The Dream Seer's Drum, 2023

I had the great honour of bringing this drum into the world for a newborn child. It is a godparent's drum—a gift from a godparent to a precious new member of the family. What a remarkable little seer this child must be, to receive a drum the moment they enter the world. ❤️

The drum took several months to come into being, with Jaana Louhelainen of Louhen Polku serving as its doula throughout the process. Around the time of the Spring Equinox, the drum's frame, colouring, and bindings were completed. During the first weeks of April, I quietly devoted myself to painting the drum, reflecting deeply and intuitively on the symbols, animals, and plants that wished to become part of it. Each element carries its own meaning and holds its own place within the whole.

The drum beater is carved from pine root, and the drum itself is made of reindeer hide.

The Drum of the Pike Cooks, 2022

This is an exceptionally large drum, measuring 55 cm (21.7 inches) in diameter. It is a vegan REMO Buffalo drum, renowned for its exceptional durability, complete weather resistance, and strength.

The drum was lovingly painted with acrylics by Helena Karhu in North Karelia, Finland. It comes with a wooden drum beater.

THE IMPERMANENCE OF LIFE, 2020

The message of this drum is to find joy in realizing the impermanence of life.

We are here only for a short moment! Let’s make most of it, together!

The Fairies are very present with this drum of light, love, joy, and the incredible lightness of Life!

The Tara Buddha Mantra is circumambulating the edge of the drum.

This cute healing travel drum is tailor-made for a beautiful healer woman in the west coast of Finland.

The drum is made by Helena Karhu, in cooperation with the drum master Ari Kuivalainen in Joensuu, Finland.

These round drums are made with reindeer from Lapland. The frame is tar covered birch play wood. The drum stick is made by pine tree. The stick is also made with Finnish natural wool.