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The Language of Rosemaling

Posted April 17, 2024
by Tara Austin

Languages contain distinct dialects that reveal clues about a speaker's home. Rosemaling can be seen as a visual language with many dialects. In this blog post, Tara Austin ponders the language of rosemaling and its future evolution. 

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Meet Dr. Cynthia Lane, Botanist and North House Instructor

Posted April 16, 2024

We're excited to welcome Dr. Cynthia Lane, botanist and ecologist, at this year's Northern Landscapes Festival! Join her for a botany intensive perfect for naturalists, ecologists, herbalists, and foragers. 

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April Hard Hat Tour Update

Posted April 12, 2024
by Greg Wright

As spring emerges on campus, work continues on the new Welcome Center. Join Director Greg Wright for a peek at the progress and learn more about the classes that will take place here and when you can take a tour of the new building. 

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From the Forest to the Classroom: Shop Notes from Instructor David Abeel

Posted April 8, 2024
by David Abeel

David Abeel is a woodworking instructor from Traverse City, MI, who will be teaching several furniture-making courses this summer. In this post, David shows us the inspiration that springs from working with natural wood and its unique shapes. 

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Box Full of Stories: A Special Find at a Swedish Antique Shop

Posted April 5, 2024
by Mary Tripoli

In her most recent blog post, Mary Tripoli writes about her travels through Sweden, including her surprising discovery at a craft-focused antique shop.

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Northern Landscapes Festival 2024

Posted April 1, 2024

Spring is an explosion of life in the north! Deepen your connection to the outdoors and learn more about the natural world around us at this year's Northern Landscapes Festival, May 31-June 2. 

Textiles through Time

Posted March 28, 2024
by Liz O'Brien

The industrial revolution forever changed the way people live and create. In Bergen, Norway, Liz O'Brien visited a knitting factory museum to get a deeper understanding of textiles through time.

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“Modern” Design in Antique Textiles

Posted March 28, 2024
by Caroline Feyling

A visit to the Västernorrlands Museum unearthed a treasure trove of plattväv coverlets. In this blog post, Caroline Feyling shows us the surprisingy modern feel of these 19th-century pieces. 

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Visiting Sweden's Dala Horse Factories

Posted March 28, 2024
by Tara Austin

Tara Austin's rosemaled Dala horses are a beloved item in the School Store. While in Sweden's Dalarna region, she took a visit to two Dala horse factories. 

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Discovering Old Wooden Objects in Sweden

Posted March 26, 2024
by Mary Tripoli

When Mary Tripoli left for Scandinavia, she had one mission: to see some old wooden objects. In this blog post, she takes us on a photo tour of some of the treasures she's seen on her travels. 

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