Courses

Remember the last time your feet were too cold to enjoy wonderful wintry weather? Do away with rigid, non-breathing footwear and discover the traditional footwear of the North: mukluks, the perfect footwear for your snowshoeing adventure. The flexibility of the natural materials used in construction allows the foot to generate…

Explore krokbragd, or “crooked path” weaving. This beautiful weft-faced, twill based weave structure has Scandinavian roots, and was historically used to create heavy, warming home textiles. In this session, weavers dive into this detailed process to explore color and pattern, and learn how to design krokbragd using graph paper, or…

A great class for beginners and fun for experienced felters. This class is composed of two sessions, three hours each on Wednesday December 2nd and 9th. In week one, students will learn about the tools, tricks and techniques of needle felting sculptural items while making a 3-dimensional snowman (or abominable…

Hand pies, the Midwestern cousin of the British pasty, is a perfect treat for the colder months! In this class students will learn the theory of hand pie construction and make two different tasty pies, perfect for lunch on a chilly day or just as a luxurious snack. We will…

Design, weave, and sew your own custom wool tote bag, perfect for all of your north woods adventures. You’ll create a custom bag approximately 15” x 15” x 3”, woven with a basic twill structure. After designing and weaving their wool yardage, students will gain experience fulling their wool cloth…

Desire to be more self-sustainable with your health care and home? Dipped your toes into the deep waters of herbalism, and ready to learn more? Combine the intuitive art and solid science of botanical medicine, apprenticing with a Master Herbalist for an intensive weekend. Core components include: foundations in natural…

Nothing says the holidays like cookies! Have some fun in the kitchen learning cookies that are a little off the beaten path as we travel through Central Europe and Poland. A great class for households who want to bake together (sign up your family and pay just one tuition), or…

Learn to make your own sausage the way you like it.  Using your favorite meats and seasonings you will learn to make fresh, non-smoked, non-cured sausage like bratwurst, breakfast, Italian and wherever your imagination takes you.  While pork is the most common meat in sausage, we will show you how…

Oblique interlace is a technique for producing cloth that looks like plain weave turned onto a bias. The interlinking stitch taught in this course can form an introduction to fingerweaving and sprang: ancient fiber crafts that use just the fingers and minimal tools. Together we'll explore a low-tech method of…

Rosemaling is a decorative painting style originating in Norway. The Gudbrandsdal style of rosemaling originated in the Gudbrandsdal region and is recognized by foliage of the acanthus leaf. This course emphasizes the basic technique for painting these acanthus leaves, scrolls, and simple flowers. This style is best suited to students…

In this remote class, we will learn the fundamentals of spinning with a hand spindle. Students will receive a kit ahead of the class which includes a high whorl spindle, an assortment of wool, and downloadable instructions. Our classes will include online group meetings, supplemental video instruction, and one-on-one sessions…

Skinnfeller is a traditional Norwegian textile craft that until recently was little known in the United States. Though many textiles made the journey across the Atlantic with thousands of Norwegian immigrant families, for reasons lost to history these sewn and decorated sheepskins are rarely seen in collections in the US.…

Scandinavians know how to move on snow. Follow in their tracks, and take advantage of snow-covered roads, sidewalks and trails by crafting a kick sled this winter. Learn both basic and advanced woodworking  skills; from laminating wood to make runners to shaping a customized handlebar used for steering, you’ll walk…

In this class students will build one laminated paddle, similar to the fancy wooden paddles often seen in canoe outfitters shops. Not just show pieces, laminated paddles have several unique qualities that make them highly functional on the water. The lamination of several pieces of wood makes the shafts light,…

The wooden bowl is a reflection of both utility and beauty—an inspiring craft form to experience. Explore the grains of northern birch as you learn safe lathe operation and turning techniques to turn a wooden bowl on the electric lathe. From tree to bowl, working with fresh cut wood, learn…