Courses

Explore Japanese folk textile traditions such as shibori resist dyeing (itajame and stitch resist), Boro and stitching. Students will learn the history of Boro, fabric collage and the difference between sashiko and running stitch. As we work, students will learn advanced design techniques and principles such as composition, symmetry, texture,…

We may spend a great deal of time enjoying the gift of Lake Superior’s beauty from the shores or from a vessel. How often do we think of the delicious food ingredients dwelling below the surface? In this class, we will discover different species of fish that thrive in the…

Make the wood chips fly!  This course is for students ready to stand at the chopping block and to learn to use classic wooden bowl-carving hand tools—the adze, axe, gouge and push knife. Topics to be explored include selection of wood stock, elements of bowl design, strategies for hand-hewing, use…

This course takes students through the step-by-step process of crafting a wooden longbow, wooden-shafted arrow, and bow string. To facilitate learning about constructing a traditional bow, students start with a rough-cut stave of hickory. Bows are backed with flax-fiber linen.Each arrow includes a field point and feathers. String is made…

One interpretation of folk craft is simple and straightforward: the things people make using the materials they have readily available. In the twenty-first century, lumber yards and home improvement retailers always have a supply of dimensional lumber for relatively cheap; learn how to turn it into functional custom furniture for…

Pick up your hammer! This course is designed for students with little or no building experience who want to build a tiny home, small cabin, or workshop. The techniques for building a small frame building are not only for the skilled carpenter; nearly anyone can come away from this course…

There’s that old saying about teaching a man to fish, but this course lets students go a step beyond fishing to building their own fishing rods. We’re not talking sapling, string, and safety pin; under the guidance of professional rod builder Kris Kristufek, students will build a technically perfect spin…

In this week long course, students will build a kayak using the stitch and glue method, which uses copper wire to stitch plywood planks together, finishing with epoxy resin to glue them in place. These boats are durable, attractive and approachable to a beginning builder. Students will choose from the…

Create yourself a comfortable living space: a spare bedroom, office, studio, sauna, or whatever else you can dream up. The 18-foot yurt is an excellent shelter option that provides comfortable living arrangements for all four seasons. Working with skilled yurt builders, you’ll construct a simple yurt, complete with a door…

Here is a boatbuilding class designed with the boating family in mind. The reason we build boats should be to use them, not just to build them. The goal is to build a craft that will get folks out on the water quickly in a handmade boat. Using stitch and…

As the days get shorter, make vessels for your own light with custom candelabras and candlestick holders! This introductory course will help you shed a little light on the woodshop and get comfy with power tools and hand tools while making the perfect centerpiece for any table. Learn how to…

Pockets full of pebbles from the shores of Lake Superior? Ready to turn them into jewelry? Pebble drilling has long been a popular way to turn lake treasures into jewelry. But not all pebbles are meant to be drilled. In this four-day class, students will learn several different ways to…

Carve a wooden figure for the upcoming holiday season—either as a gift for someone special, or for yourself (since you are special, too, right?). Harley, who says, "If you can peel a potato, you can carve a figure," will lead new as well as experienced carvers through the process of…

The spoon is in the eye of the beholder. A crooked branch can become a perfect ladle; a slight bend makes a lovely eating spoon. Enjoy three days of handwork in this greenwood carving class focused on ladles and spoons. Working with native woods, you’ll use simple hand tools and…

This course offers students an opportunity to fully explore the traditional Anishinaabe craft of cedar bark weaving, from harvest to finished work. Led by Greg Johnson of Lac du Flambeau, this is a unique opportunity to immerse in a craft process and cross-cultural experience intimately tied to the northern forest…