North House Folk School

Carver’s Conference Schedule: Friday, March 15, 9am-9pm

As a special feature of this week, all classes will take a break on Friday to allow everyone to participate in demonstrations, presentations, and eat pizza. Participation in the Carver’s Conference Day is free for all in 2024. The public is welcome to attend.

9am  Featured Demonstration with Mark Gardner: Turn a Small Bowl with Handles

Mark will demonstrate how he turns a small bowl with handles.  A bowl is turned with an integral ring around the outside of the bowl.  Once turned, the ring is then carved and shaped into handles.

10:30am Featured Demonstration with Julia Kalthoff: Carving with An Axe

Julia’s passion for the axe has become a way of life for her, providing endless opportunity for research and development as she tests and designs new products for her company, Kalthoff Axes, to carry. Learn about what she looks for, why she believes the axe is the greatest tool, and how she finds her flow.

12pm Lunch and Learn: A Conversation with Jan Harm ter Brugge with Jögge Sundqvist and Peter Lamb

Since 2015, the Wille Sundqvist and Bill Coperthwaite Slöjd Fellowship has been awarded to craftspeople to further deepen the meaning, skills, and connections among those passionate about living close to nature and making handmade objects. We’ll screen a pre-recorded conversation with Fellowship founders Jögge Sundqvist and Peter Lamb that includes their vision for the Fellowship, the story of Wille and Bill's relationship, and an interview with Jan Harm ter Brugge of the Netherlands, the Slöjd Fellowship’s twelfth recipient. The conversation will be available for viewing on our website after this screening.

Afternoon Demonstrations | 1:30-4pm

Gather for presentations from makers on particular skill sets. Observe, ask questions, consider what your next course might be and learn. Some demonstrations offer participants the chance to try a skill.

• Liesl Chatman Kolrosing
• Jarrod Dahl Knutkorg
• Mark Gardner Wood turning
• Maeve Gathje Board Games: Hnefatafl 
• Wesley Hathaway Relief Carving
• Julia Kalthoff Axe work
• Paul Linden Carving Axe Sharpening and Tune Up
• Fred Livesay Yeast Ring Secrets
• Molly Sjöstam Carving
• Nate White Tramp Art: Crown of Thorns

4pm | Campus and New Building Tour

Join Director Greg Wright for a tour of our harborside campus! Learn stories from the past, visions for the future, and take a look at the progress inside our new Welcome Center. 

5:30pm | Wood-Fired Pizza Potluck Dinner

The classic North House student gathering makes a rare winter appearance! We will fire the brick oven and make plenty of pizza dough; you provide the rest. Please bring a topping or two and we’ll have a great smorgasbord of options. Come early (5:30pm) for Happy Chopping Hour to prep toppings. Baking will start at ~6pm. BYOB.

Evening Gatherings

All Wood Week students and the public are invited to attend these free gatherings.

Tuesday, March 12  | Open Shop, 7-9pm

Hosted by Mary Tripoli, Artisan Development Program.

As a special perk of Wood Week, North House will be open for students to carve away the evenings. Bring your own project; hosted by a volunteer instructor. Note: some hand tools will be available for use, but students are encouraged to bring their own.

Wednesday, March 13  | Talk: Broad Axes, Plumb Bobs and Camaraderie: Medieval Timber Frame Roof Reconstruction in France with Peter Henrikson, 7pm  

The fire that engulfed Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral in 2019 completely burned the iconic medieval timber frame roof. While a tragic event, the decision to replicate the roof as it looked the day it burned was an amazing opportunity to bring together skilled crafts people to share their knowledge and learn from one another. Peter joined a team of timber framers for seven months: hand hewing oak logs into timbers, marking joinery with the traditional French scribing technique (piquage), cutting mortises and tenons and assembling trusses, all while living in the French countryside and enjoying its pleasantries.

Thursday, March 14  | Open Shop and Skill Share, 7-9pm

Host: Wesley Hathaway. Skill Share: Chip Carving.

As a special perk of Wood Week, North House will be open for students to carve away the evenings. Bring your own project; hosted by a volunteer instructor. Note: some hand tools will be available for use, but students are encouraged to bring their own.

Friday, March 15  | Open Shop and Skill Share, 7:30-9pm

Hosted by Liesl Chatman. Skill Share: Meet my Spoon Mule.

As a special perk of Wood Week, North House will be open for students to carve away the evenings. Bring your own project; hosted by a volunteer instructor. Note: some hand tools will be available for use, but students are encouraged to bring their own.

Saturday, March 16  | Talk: Craft Exploration in Scandinavia, Finland and Estonia with Nate White, 7pm

At the conclusion of his participation in the Artisan Development Program, Nate White spent six weeks studying craft in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia.  He will share pictures and stories from the museums, cultural sites, schools, and craftspeople he worked with along the way, with a special focus on Estonian woodworkers Meelis Kihluane and Anders Ansper.

Sunday, March 17  | Open Shop and Skill Share, 7-9pm

Hosted by Paul Linden with special guest Slojdar Molly. Skill Share: Decorative Carving.

As a special perk of Wood Week, North House will be open for students to carve away the evenings. Bring your own project; hosted by a volunteer instructor. Note: some hand tools will be available for use, but students are encouraged to bring their own.