Courses

Minnesota’s history is interwoven with the history of hat-making. Europe’s hunger for beaver-felt top hats drove the voyageurs into the heart of fur country. Most of the fur traded at Grand Portage eventually became felt hats. There is no softer, warmer, or more pliant fiber than fur-felt. We will use…

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…

A pair of sandals that fits just right is a highly prized possession—and all the better if they are attractive and one-of-a-kind. Create a pair of custom hand-stitched leather sandals to enjoy for years to come. Students will spend some time sketching ideas and discussing execution, working from a few…

Up north, there's a saying that there's no bad weather, just the wrong clothes. In this course, you'll outfit your hands to protect them from the elements by designing a comfortable and warm pair of deerskin mittens to wear during the winter months. The mittens are ideal for daily wear,…

Remember the last time your feet were too cold to enjoy wonderful wintry weather? Do away with rigid, non-breathing footwear and discover the traditional footwear of the North: mukluks, the perfect footwear for your snowshoeing adventure. The flexibility of the natural materials used in construction allows the foot to generate…

Warm up winter by making your own woolen slippers or short boot liners. Using the ancient no-knitting wet felting technique, you will make a cozy, warm pair of slippers or boot liners. The craft hasn’t changed in centuries except we now use soap instead of ash or urine. It’s a…

Students will spend an hour or so the first day gathering pebbles and then will use diamond-encrusted drill bits to drill holes in them. The pebbles can then be made into pendants, necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Sterling silver wire, chain, tubing, and sheet will be used to fabricate unique pieces…

Rings on fingers have been around since the beginning of civilization. Egyptian and Greek legend place the wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand, because of a belief that the vein of that finger traveled directly from the heart. The Romans extended this description and called this…

Discover the designs, colors, styles, and techniques of traditional bead embroidery as you work with Ojibwe cultural specialist and Grand Portage band member Marcie McIntire, sewing and decorating a pair of moccasins in this course co-sponsored by the Grand Portage National Monument. The course begins with an overview of the…

Discover the textile craft tradition known as nålbinding and explore its Scandinavian roots. As a course project, students choose to create their own pair of mittens, socks, or a syltemjölkskopp – a “milk strainer” cap. Or draw from tradition to inspire a project of your own design in consultation with…

Students will be lead through the process of cutting, finishing, and polishing a variety of agates—perfect for your next craft or jewelry project. While the class will focus its exploration of the properties of fancy agates and jaspers, students are invited to bring their own stones as well. The techniques…

Every jewelry box is home to some neglected and abandoned treasures: pieces once loved or of sentimental value but now of questionable fashion, unfinished or slightly broken items. Inspired by the age-old folk value of resourcefulness, turn your old items into fabulous new jewelry. Jewelry design, problem solving, construction and…

The vest is a versatile part of everyone's wardrobe. It is a layer that adds comfort and style. When made from soft, felted wool it helps adapt your own body temperature to the outside environment in all of our Northern seasons. Men and women can make these vests - a…

Come explore the ancient tradition of chain making! You’ll use “Viking Knitting,” a centuries-old looping technique, to create a beautiful silver bracelet with a variety of unusual clasps. Historically, this unique method of weaving resembles “nalbinding” knitting and was used to fabricate everything from sweaters to netting for catching fish!…

Walk a mile in the shoes of a Viking by making your own shoes based on the archaeological finds from Viking-Age Denmark. Shoes will be made with a single piece of leather for the uppers, a single piece of heavier leather for the sole, and will be secured around the…