For centuries, Scandinavians created perpetual calendars on flat wooden sticks called primstav that tracked important holidays, community events, and anniversaries. In this three-day workshop, students will create their own primstav, highlighting special days and stories in their own lives each year practicing the traditional Scandinavian decorative art of kolrosing. Kolrosing uses simple tools to “tattoo” the wood. The kolroser creates an enduring design by cutting lines into the wood, rubbing pigment and oil into the lines, and then burnishing the cut closed. By kolrosing a summer side and a winter side with images, words, and symbols with personalized meanings, the primstav becomes a terrific project for either learning kolrosing or building on previous kolrosing skills. This class is suitable for beginning to advanced kolrosers. No woodworking experience is necessary

Required Tools

• All required tools are available for loan from the instructor; students may also purchase tools from the instructor  OR Kolrosing knives and antler burnishers are available to borrow from instructor; also custom models are available for purchase.

Optional Tools

• Eye magnification, such as magnifying glasses