Courses

If the shoe fits…maybe it’s because you made it yourself! Learn to make the Squire boot with professional shoemaker/cordwainer Molly Grant. Students will choose from an array of colors to make their own leather boots, learning a variety of leatherworking skills along the way, including skiving, folding, glueing, lining, lasting…

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.…

Soap—so simple, yet so misunderstood. Have you ever pondered the ingredients contained in a typical bar of soap? Petroleum distillates, sulfates, and many other unpronounceable additives. Whatever happened to that good old-fashioned soap that Grandma made? Using the same ingredients Grandma used, animal fat and lye, learn how to make…

Discover the historical craft of hand carding and spinning on a spinning wheel. Beginning spinsters will strive to “get the feel” for the simple act of creating consistent yarn. Those with some prior experience will work to improve their techniques. Class will include ample time for discussions of many topics,…

Spring offers excellent birding opportunities on the North Shore: with the arrival of warblers and other migrants, there is the potential to see an unusual number of species in a short amount of time. Join Michael Karns, avid outdoorsman and life-long birder (and fountain of knowledge on many topics) for…

In this two day course, we will explore two different styles of surface design on fabric. On the first day, we will use earth pigments and natural plant dye extracts to paint paste resist designs on fabrics. You will paint directly on natural fibers that have been pre-treated with soy…

Do not panic, this is a test. This is only a test.

Most of us have opinions about the Italian flatbread known ‘round the world.  There are so many pizza styles, recipes and methods, but what really makes a good homemade pizza? This class will explore the four basic elements that define a pizza: the dough, the sauce, the cheese, and the…

Do you have a sewing project that never quite got started or that needs some TLC to get it off the shelf and into your closet? Bring it to North House for our ‘Unfinished Wardrobe’ sewing festival. Enjoy the company of others who love sewing, while making progress on your…

Tired of unimaginative, small outbuilding kits available from your local lumberyard? Explore all the basic elements of timber frame construction and take home a hand-crafted building. More than 100 timber frame buildings have been built and raised throughout the country by North House students since 1997.  During the first days…

Whether they are built for the workshop or used to support a tabletop or workbench, timbered sawhorse trestles are reliable, sturdy and reflective of the craftsmanship that goes into timber framing. During this course, you'll focus on the layout and cutting of the mortise and tenon joints needed to create…

Have bench, will travel? Indeed, with this workbench you can do both! A fine workbench is an essential fixture in the home workshop. In this class, students will build a sturdy timbered workbench based on early American designs, using simple and classic joinery that echoes timber framing techniques. Mortise and…

This course is an introduction to working with, and heat-treating, the common high-carbon steels used for edge tools. We will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different steel types and put this knowledge into practice by creating several tools. We will analyze a number of different tools and compare their…

The earth moves through seasons and cycles, as humans do. Yet, there are times when we humans can become disconnected. During each cyclical shift there is a predominant element with correlating energies, foods and botanical medicines. Reconnect with your true nature. Watch weather, observe the animals and plants. Learn which…

Come and make wood shavings fly as you learn how to create wooden bowls on the electric lathe. Students will explore the form and function of this age-old craft while learning about lathe use and terminology. Paper birch from the North Shore will be used for the bowl blanks. Examples…