Courses

Without question, the Adirondack chair is a timeless classic—its high back, large armrests, and contoured seat and back are unmistakable. For many, the Adirondack chair defines the ideal deck or lawn chair for a well-deserved break.  This course is the perfect opportunity for you to learn and expand basic woodworking…

Make your own sausage flavored the way you like it using your favorite meats. As a class, we will make and take home 4 to 5 kinds of sausage of your choosing from a list of about 10 varieties. These will be fresh, non-smoked, non-cured sausages like bratwurst, breakfast sausage,…

Have you made felt before and found yourself frustrated with the design?  The colors became muted and soft, the easily identifiable bird became a cloud?  This is a class for those who have worked with felt and want to focus on the details of design.  First, we will examine the…

Lace up your baking shoes and get ready for an artisan breads baking marathon. Combining the skills of our popular Artisan Breads I and II courses, this two-and-a-half-day intensive course allows students to dig deep into hand-crafted, long-fermented and hot-hearth baked breads. We’ll explore pre-ferments and a long cool rise…

This tutorial is intended for students with some experience with bowl turning on an electric lathe, and who want to learn more advanced woodturning methods. We will explore turning asymmetrical forms from bark-edged bowls to unusual end-grain pieces and burls. The tutorial will include selection of wood, cutting of bowl…

Cranks wind, gears turn, dragons chomp and birds fly. Welcome to the whimsical world of automata: simple wooden machines that delight and amaze. Join Cecilia Schiller for a four-day exploration of the art of making wooden machines and the mechanisms that make things move. Starting with the design process in…

Have you ever wondered how our ancestors produced sharpened tools of stone-like axe heads, knife blades, and arrow points? Learn how flintknapping evolved and how to identify appropriate base materials from which you can produce a variety of sharpened stone tools. This class will introduce the basic techniques of pressure…

Learn the planning, layout and joinery necessary to construct a traditional timber frame (post and beam) structure, such as North House's blacksmith shop, bread oven shelter, fish house classroom, and other structures around campus. The course begins with the basic mortise and tenon joint, and then expands on these techniques…

Discover the magic of “painting with beads” through your choice of seven different signature beaded lapel pin projects. In a reflection of the art and craft of bead embroidery, artist Jo Wood will lead you through your choice of one or two bead-embroidered projects, time permitting. The birch tree pin…

Brightly-colored seed beads have been used to embellish and brighten clothing and homegoods for centuries. Learn to make a beaded doily in this short class and experiment with color and pattern repetition to create a unique piece. Beadwork artist Marcie McIntire will provide instruction and materials for creating these lovely…

Hobby beekeeping is growing as people realize how rewarding it can be to collaborate with the amazing honey bee. A few pieces of equipment, a little bit of training, and a lot of patience can lead to not only delicious honey for you and yours, but a new relationship with…

Using tools and techniques of 19 th century tinsmiths, students will learn how to layout projects using patterns, cut tinplate, and assemble tinplate pieces into items they can take home, such as a tin cup or tankard, a tin sconce, tin ornaments and tinsel, cookie cutters, or a lantern. Students…

Fully experience the craft of making a traditional birch bark basket for the gathering and storage of berries or anything you please. This course includes time focused both on material preparation and on basket making. Day one includes an extended session in the woods to harvest the birch bark in…

Scandinavians & Russians commonly kept small, flat birch bark boxes in their pockets for the then-popular taking of snuff. Large finger and lap jointed boxes often held coffee, tea, salt, even butter. Today they continue to hold keepsakes, buttons, spare change, jewelry, dried fruits, oatmeal or a child's found treasures.…

Explore the history, construction, and use of the Native American birch bark canoe in this hands-on course. Paddled for centuries on the lakes and rivers of the interior, all the necessary materials can be sustainably harvested from a healthy boreal forest: birch bark, cedar, spruce root, and spruce gum. During…