Artisan Development Program
Harvesting Hickory Down South
Hickory bark is not easily purchased, so acquiring it often means venturing out to the woods. In this blog post, Resident Artisan Gabe Strand writes about harvesting hickory bark with friends in Central Appalachia.
Making Handplanes with Björn Svantesson
Handplanes are an essential tool for the woodworker, and they're something that anyone can build. Gabe Strand writes about making handplanes with Björn Svantesson in Sweden.
Vernacular Habitation of Dalarna
Like a dialect, houses in rural Sweden bear distinct differences that reflect the way of life in that village. Resident Artisan Ty Sheaffer shares about traditional homes in Dalarna and the stories told by their construction.
Hello from Norway
Color is a central part of Cooper Ternes's craft. In this blog post, Cooper writes about being inspired by color in Scandinavia, including the surprising hue he searched for throughout his trip.
Fibers Unleashed: Finding Textiles in Unexpected Places
Sometimes, treasures are found in the most surprising places. In this blog post, Riley Kleve writes about traveling through Sweden, and the unexpected textiles and tools they found along the way.
Dispatch from Sweden: Making Bentwood Boxes
The Resident Artisans are in Sweden! In this blog post, Gabe Strand writes about his travels through southern Sweden, including making bentwood boxes at Helena Åberg's workshop.
Embracing Winter as a Grand Marais Artisan
Winter can be an intense season in northern Minnesota. In their latest blog post, Riley Kleve writes about embracing their first-ever winter in Grand Marais: from skiing to studio time to welcoming guests from Sweden.
Open Secrets, Tools for Basket Making
It's difficult to make a truly unique basket. Basket making tools, however? That's another story. In this blog post, Ty Sheaffer shows us the many tools they use in their basket making practice.
Good Yarn, Bad Yarn
Good yarn, bad yarn: in this blog post, Riley Kleve dives into their stash of novelty yarns and writes about the many surprising uses they've found for "bad" yarn.
Make Haste, But Slowly: Applying “Slow Productivity” to Professional Craft Work
Make haste, but slowly: in a fast-paced world, Resident Artisan Gabe Strand writes about the power of slow productivity, from making room for creativity to choosing quality over performative production.