Courses

The graceful curve of the deer antler provides a creative springboard for the emerging folk-art form of antler basketry. In this course students learn to weave a stunning rib-style basket from dyed and natural rattan reed, incorporating a deer antler as the handle or focal point of the design. The…

Join John and Julie for birch bark basket weaving. Students may choose one of two designs: a lidded square basket or a handled basket made with diagonal weave. The lidded basket is made using a willow stick that is attached to birch bark loops added to the basket and lid.…

Learn to weave a basic wide Bias weave Birch Bark basket based on Native Alaskan Athabaskan style work. The piece may then be taken to the extreme and sewn with teacher prepared and dyed spruce roots, or kept a bit more basic with user friendly waxed threads (or a combination…

In this class we will create two different birch bark boxes, one based on a classic style produced throughout the birch forests of North America by native peoples, and another typical birch bark container produced throughout the Scandinavian countries. The North American style is created from a single sheet of…

No patterns to choose from here - we simply offer the personal experience of seasoned weavers willing to pass along their knowledge. Join Julie Kean and Jack Sneve as they tailor the birch bark weaving experience to meet your desired outcome - a simple finger ring, wall baskets and bread…

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,…

Traditional northern craft meets Don Draper? Fedoras are definitely back in fashion, DIY is all the rage, and in this fun course you can combine them both. Put a northern twist on a southern hat weaving tradition and make a woven cattail hat to protect yourself from the sun during…

When northern European emigrants 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…

Clyde Estey is a third generation basketmaker from White Earth, Minnesota who learned to weave black ash from his father, who realized that the tradition was being lost and learned the craft from his mother-in-law. The intricate baskets have been made and sold for generations in his community. In this…

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…

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…

Work with locally-harvested sweet grass, cattails, and sedges during this two-day class while learning the art of coiling a sweetgrass basket. We'll incorporate an elegant agate as a base for the basket and make a small birch bark ornament wrapped in sweetgrass. Hands-on instruction provides students with an introduction to…

Whether you’re curious about using local materials, looking to add handmade items to your daily life or just can’t get enough baskets, this course has it all. Using willow, birch bark, cedar bark, spruce root, black ash, and basswood bark, students will weave three useful little projects: a sturdy willow…

This basket, made with black ash splint, is highly functional for everyday needs. It can appear rustic or refined. It can be filled with veggies from the market, groceries from the store, or binders and paperwork for meetings.  It can also be a perfect fit for in-between the bucket seats…

Learn the basics of traditional Roma frame basketry. The travelling people of Europe would harvest willow, hazelnut and hawthorne whips from the hedgerows along the road and weave these ribbed baskets. There are endless opportunities to play with shape and size and students will get all the basic techniques needed…