Courses

For students who are confident with the basic stake and strand form and ready to move on, we welcome Steen Madsen of Denmark to teach two challenging willow techniques: the rectangular basket and an ’open work’ technique called fitching. Students will choose which project they prefer to focus on, but…

Learn the craft of birch bark basket weaving by working on a variety of projects. Choose from three designs, or make all three if you are a deft-hand. The never-ending basket, the square weave tray, and the cornucopia wall hanging each offer an opportunity to learn new skills and techniques.…

Fully experience the craft of making a traditional birch bark basket for the gathering and storage of berries or anything you please. This course includes time focused both on basket making and on material preparation. Day one includes an extended session in the woods to harvest the birch bark in…

Scandinavians and Russians commonly kept small, flat birch bark boxes in their pockets in the 18th and 19th century for the then-popular taking of snuff. Larger finger and lap jointed boxes often held coffee, tea or salt. Today they continue to be made and hold keepsakes, buttons, spare change, jewelry,…

Carry around your studies, tools, or groceries in this beautiful and functional large birch bark tote basket. Students will learn about sustainable techniques for legal harvest and then use hand tools to prepare their 1 inch wide bark strips, and weave them into a tote base. The bag will be…

Discover the sturdiness and the beauty of birch bark by weaving a medium table top basket; perfect for organizing or displaying with its large base, shallow walls, and sturdy rim structure. This rim design will elevate your weaving skills by adding a three-dimensional pattern that mimics the zigzags of the…

From birds to beads, there are so many possibilities when it comes to birch bark. Join accomplished weavers Jack and Julie to learn to weave a variety of small projects, including garlands and a three dimensional star and more. Learn about the ecology of this iconic northern tree and leave…

The black ash pack basket: it's beautiful, highly functional and can be made using simple materials. The first part of the class will be spent preparing black ash splint for your basket by pounding a locally harvested log. Next, you'll weave the basket and finish it with a rim, handle,…

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…

When northern European immigrants came to North America they brought with them a host of crafts and skills necessary for survival in their new world. The basketry tradition known as ‘stake & strand’ was one such craft, as baskets were used to store nearly everything around the homestead. Learning to…

The hex weave basket is commonly called a "cheese basket" because it can be used for processing cheese. However, this holey design is perfect for holding produce or other displayed storage needs. This project will be made from Black Ash splints, which the students will help cut and prepare. The…

Why “knot” use cattail leaves to make a handy tote bag? These abundant and easy-to-harvest materials are very flexible, making them a great material for knotted basketry. In this four-day class, students will construct a tote bag of natural materials including cattail leaves, willow bark, iris leaves and sweetgrass. The course…

Natural plant dyes and earth pigments (soil) can add infinite possibilities to highlight or accent your weaving by adding unexpected color to your projects. Instructor Karen Rognsvoog is an experienced natural dyer who is offering her knowledge to experiment with basket making materials. On the first day, we will use…

The North Woods is full of beautiful, colorful material suitable for basketry. In this class we’ll use a variety of local materials to create a sturdy basket, perfect for everyday use. Students will learn the ways of processing a variety of materials including black ash and birch bark while engaging…

Create a traditional coiled basket from locally-harvested red pine needles. Starting with either a pliable birch bark base or an elegant agate base, you will work with a variation of the spiral stitch to form a basket with a distinct spiral pattern inside and out. Samples of pine needles from…