Courses

An old Norse saying goes, “A man without his boat is a mere prisoner.” This class is a one-of-a-kind study and hands-on look into the techniques of traditional Norwegian and Swedish boat builders: we'll explore the developments and skills required to build wooden lapstrake boats that have plied the fjords…

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…

Meet Jock Holmen, the “Norwegian Termite:” when it comes to carving on timbers, you can’t “stump” him. From blueberries to little people, lettering to logos, Jock can help you chisel your ideas into white pine as you design and carve decorative embellishments for your home. Choose from a variety of…

Even the most simple timber frame structures require careful attention to basic engineering principles. Gain insight into how to design like a timber-framer but think like an engineer in this introductory course. Starting with a basic overview of how to determine the forces one can expect a traditional timber frame…

This course offers students the opportunity to immerse fully in the craft of timber framing by building a larger and/or a custom-designed timber frame structure. Whether creating a getaway cabin, woodshop or retirement home or structure for your community or organization, the beauty and durability of a timber frame structure…

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…

The belief in tomtens – or rural elves – started in Sweden and continues to be part of the folklore of the winter/holiday season. Tomtens are often portrayed both helpful and mischievous: they’ll do the chores, and then steal the cookies. Sound like a young person you know? No wonder…

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…

Enhance your winter adventures with these lightweight, durable ski poles which are based on the types used by northern Minnesota Finnish immigrants for winter travel. The poles are constructed with birch shafts, copper rivets, whitetail-tanned buckskin grips, and moose rawhide and bent birch baskets. You will make your custom-sized ski…

A chainsaw is a powerful tool that requires a specific set of skills to safely operate and maintain, even if those skills are only put to use on an occasional weekend at the cabin. This course will be one part logging history, one part maintenance and one part in-the field…

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…

The twig chair is the hallmark project for someone who appreciates the traditional craft of twig furniture making. In this course you will work with native alder and willow following a basic twig chair design that can be individualized with curved, bent, or straight twig furniture techniques. A harvesting field…

While we may associate the sounds of the ukulele with more tropical locales, this easy to pack and play instrument has a lot to offer any musician--aspiring or professional, Northern or otherwise.  Join luthier David Seaton to build a northwoods ukulele in just four days made of locally harvested maple,…