North House Folk School

Open Shop | Tuesday - Sunday, March 5th - 10th | 7pm

As a special perk of Wood Week, North House will be open for students to carve away the evenings. Bring a half-finished spoon and some stories to share. Note: some hand tools will be available for use, but students are encouraged to bring their own.

Film showing: Hands | Tuesday, March 5th | 7pm

Showing selections from Hands, a documentary series on traditional Irish crafts and lifestyles.

CARVER’S CONFERENCE | Friday, March 8

As a special feature of this weekend, all classes will take a break on Friday to allow everyone to participate in skill shares and open shop. Participation in the Carver’s Conference Day is included in the tuition for all other carving courses (some materials fees may apply). All others are welcome to attend for a $25 fee; click here to purchase a pass, or call for information (limited to 20 spots). Skill shares are designed to be drop-in; no pre-registration required for Carver’s Conference attendees.

All Day | OPEN SHOP 

We’ll be making woodchips all day in the Blue Building. Enjoy the camaraderie of working with other carvers, ask questions and drink coffee. No reservations required, 8am-5pm.

9am | SKILL SHARE: Axe Aerobics Angela Robins

Learn 3 key tips on carving with an axe while enjoying tunes chosen to keep a good rhythm

10am | SKILL SHARE: Meet a Few Tools that Sculpt Wood Jon Strom

From chainsaw to micro chisels Jon will share a little of his experience in sculpting wood.  Participants will be able to to try out some of these tools. A small project will be available to carve as time allows.

11am | DEMONSTRATION: Using the Chouna or Japanese Adze Jarrod Dahl

If you have ever researched Japanese Woodworking you are surely to have come across their adze with its forged head and curved wooden handle—you can’t help but be curious. In 2017 I was hired to texture 750 fence posts with a chouna for a Japanese garden in California. In this demo/try-it session I will share what I learned and you can try it out too.

1pm | DEMONSTRATION: Japanese Handplanes: How to use, Maintain, and Sharpen Masashi Kutsuwa

Not many people in the western countries are using Japanese handplanes, although Japanese chisels, saws and sharpening stones are all popular tools. I will bring some of my handplanes and show you how to use, maintain the base and sharpen the blade.

2pm | SKILL SHARE: Simple handles and Sheaths Mike Loeffler

Keep those edges sharp!  Mike will demonstrate the process of handling a knife blade as well as making a few simple wooden knife sheaths. The process is straightforward and can be done with a simple tool kit. Carved handles and sheaths with embellishments can add a lot of character to your stash of tools and are a joy to work with.

3pm | SCIENCE FAIR

The science fair is a style of show-and-tell: bring a piece or two of your work to share with the group or a few images that can be displayed on a laptop. We will break into groups of about 10-15 people. The first group will put their work out—everyone else will wander at leisure, ask questions and visit more casually with those who are displaying their work. After 20 minutes, the groups will switch. Please bring a few items to display or a few images on a jump drive; a few laptops will be available to display images.

5:30pm | PIZZA BAKE

The classic North House student gathering makes a rare winter appearance! We will fire brick oven and making plenty of pizza dough; you provide the rest. If everyone brings a topping or two, we’ll have a great smorgasbord of options.

7:30pm |  FEATURED PRESENTATION: "Van Gogh Chair" and the Japanese Arts-and-Crafts Movement Masashi Kutsuwa

This is a story about Tatsuaki Kuroda, Japan's first 'living national treasure' in woodwork, and the Spanish vernacular chair known in Japan as 'Van Gogh'. Tatsuaki was commissioned to design chairs for Japanese Imperial palace in 1967, so he traveled to Europe to study many types of chairs. He was most impressed by the work of Spanish chair makers who split and shave the green poplar logs, drill holes, and assemble a frame in just 15 minutes. Films will be shown.