Courses

Luffarslöjd is an old craft that is part of the tradition of making beautiful and useful objects for everyday use using one’s hands and simple tools. Farmers used wire to mend fences and make and repair basic tools around the house and barn. Hobos traveled across the country offering to…

The North Shore once boasted a commercial fisherman for every mile of shoreline. But the work didn’t end when the boats returned with their catch; fisherman also had to tie and repair their own nets. Get "caught up" in one of the elemental crafts of the area and learn the…

The “crooked knife” is known by many names – mocotaugan (Cree), waagikomaan (Ojibwe), couteau croche (French), and the aforementioned English version. It is an old tool of Native American origin historically used as the primary means for a wide variety of woodworking projects - birch bark canoes, snowshoes, paddles, ax…

Let’s turn to bright citrusy flavors during our dark northern winter and learn the fundamentals of preparing and canning marmalades. Longtime home canner Erin Swenson-Klatt will share some of her favorite recipes utilizing grapefruits, oranges, lemons, and kumquats. The class will work together to prepare several marmalades from start to…

Masonry heaters originated in Northern Europe where winters were cold and fuel wasn’t always plentiful. The natural response? Create a wood-fired presence that was at once incredibly efficient and highly attractive, capable of generating abundant heat and ideal for cooking/baking. Masonry heaters are built with fire bricks and utilize their…

You eat meat, you love meat, but it is hard to find (and expensive to buy) meats prepared without unnecessary preservatives or from responsibly sourced animals.In this class you will revisit time honored skills that have fallen out of daily use and learn important lessons about how meats have been…

Discover the textile craft tradition known as nålbinding and explore its Scandinavian roots. As a course project, students choose to create their own pair of mittens, socks, or a syltemjölkskopp – a “milk strainer” cap. Or draw from tradition to inspire a project of your own design in consultation with…

Celebrate the oncoming winter by nålbinding neckwear. Nålbinding is an ancient form of fabric construction that dates back to the Iron and Bronze Ages and was used in many regions of the world. For hundreds of years, Scandinavians have used nålbinding techniques to make hats, socks, milk strainers and mittens.…

After a long winter, all northern creatures relish fresh spring breezes, emergent greenery and the flickering energy of the wild about to burst into bloom. Begin the new season with an inspiring session about attuning to Earth's cycles, foods, herbs and energies for your health and wellness this season. Learn…

Dip into the long history of natural dyes and discover the color choices they offer, mordanting techniques, the dyeing process, and some color theory. We will use readily available extract dyes like indigo, cochineal, quabracho red, logwood, pomegranate, fustic, and madder. First, we will dye yarn samples in each of…

Enjoy the “thrill of discovery” in the many colors which can be achieved, and the variation of color that can be found in nature's palette, by learning the complete subtleties of dyeing with natural materials. Dyeing with natural plants is more than a craft, it's a fascinating and inexpensive hobby.…

A turkey walked across the road. A leaf fell in the forest. So, what’s the big deal? Writing and storytelling can reveal the inspiration and joy found in nature. During this workshop participants explore how to gather and share these stories and their moment-to-moment magic with others. Jon Turk, author…

Tired of synthetic ‘fluff’? Clad your torso with the miracle fiber: wool. Learn the history of wool, why it works, and how to maximize its performance as clothing with outdoorwear designed by Kevin Kinney, owner of Empire Canvas Wear of Duluth. In this class you will learn the basics of…

Combine bead embroidery and needle felting to create a unique landscape “painting”. Learn the basics of both needle felting and bead embroidery in this two day workshop. Participants will bring a landscape image (photo, magazine image, postcard etc.) to inspire their beaded piece. First, we will create a simple needle…

Bring your holy wool socks back to life and bring your dull wool sweaters, shirts, skirts, hats to be transformed with colorful wool, a felting needle and a little imagination. Using a needle felting tool is a bit like using a paint brush but more forgiving and no experience is…