Courses

Few people are on the fence about rhubarb. But rhubarb lovers don’t mind the haters because that means more for us! Still, even devotees can fall into a familiar pattern of pies, sauce and crisps. This class takes rhubarb in new directions, transforming it into tart pickles, a velvety curd,…

Rosemaling means "rose painting" in Norwegian, and is done in many styles reflective of specific regions in Norway. The Os region in western coastal Norway is known for its fanciful flowers and bright colors, making it quite different from many of the other styles of rosemaling. In this course you’ll…

Rosemaling means "rose painting" in Norwegian, and the Telemark region in southeastern Norway is known for the classic look of its painting with asymmetrical scrolls and varied placement of leaves and flowers. In this course you'll study and practice basic techniques of this traditional decorative painting style. Students will begin…

Rug hooking is a textile craft, born out of necessity and the desire to bring beauty and warmth into the home. In this class, we will use the natural surroundings of the North Shore landscape to design a rug that is uniquely your own. We will go for walks to…

In the northwestern portion of Lake Superior is a unique and remote island archipelago. Isle Royale National Park preserves 132,018 acres of federally designated wilderness. The Park consists of one large island surrounded by over 450 smaller islands, located in the largest freshwater lake in the world. Set sail for…

Minnesota’s north shore is a 100-mile stretch of open water renowned for its scenic cliffs, water depth and clarity, and exposure. Excellent protection for mariners exists, but only sporadically along the shore, rending access difficult for daysailors or beginners. However, with a seaworthy sailboat and a seasoned captain, the north…

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…

Discover the satisfaction of making your own pretzel buns for sandwiches, fresh English muffins for breakfast, or the flakiest buttermilk biscuits for any meal. Baking your own bread is fun and economical, but it also enables you to vouch for every ingredient. We’ll explore the role of lye in a…

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 font of knowledge on many topics for…

Swedish Folk Painting, often referred to as “dalmalning” actually consists of several different painting styles based on region, subject, and artist. In this course we will discuss several of these different styles. Then we’ll practice the basic painting techniques of two of these styles and create our own individualized projects.…

Become a better wet felter in this class by sculpting two very different items with the same resist.  A french beret and a vessel have a similar beginning, wool carefully laid out over a round, flat resist and wet felted. How you finish it by felting and fulling will determine…

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…

This course offers students the opportunity to immerse fully in the craft of Norwegian timber framing by building a custom-designed structure in the Grindbygg style. Whether creating a woodshed, carport, getaway cabin, woodshop or retirement home, the unique beauty and durability of a Grindbygg structure offers a unique opportunity to…

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…

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…