Fred Livesay
St. Paul, MN
Fred made his first spoon at age seven and since then has focused his life and career on traditional handwork. He later trained as a wheelwright and carriage-builder for seven summers and then went on to study Scandinavian folk art, decorative arts, art history, and museum studies. Thirty-five years of teaching and study in the U.S. and in Sweden gives him a clear understanding of the joy that handmade objects bring to everyday living, the healing art of craft, and the meditative connection between hand and heart. Fred is a founding instructor of North House Folk School, as well as a founder of the Spoon Gathering in Milan, Minnesota. He teaches internationally and locally.
Current Courses Offered by Fred Livesay
3 Days
Birch Bark Boxes: Scandinavian Bark Basketry
Instructors:
Fred Livesay
Scandinavians & Russians commonly kept small, flat birch bark boxes in their pockets for the then-popular taking of snuff. Large finger and lap jointed boxes often held coffee, tea, salt, even butter. Today they continue to hold keepsakes, buttons, spare change, jewelry, dried fruits, oatmeal or a child's found treasures.…
Fri, Jul 12th, 2019 – Sun, Jul 14th, 2019
Instructor:
Fred Livesay
3 Days
Wooden Spoon Carving Traditions
Carving wooden spoons is a tradition in Scandinavia, where carvers crafted spoons for home use, for seasonal income, and to give as gifts. The techniques, designs, and embellishments commonly used today are deeply embedded in centuries of cultural history, but spoon carving is also a vibrant and growing craft tradition…
Sat, Apr 27th, 2019 – Mon, Apr 29th, 2019
Thu, Nov 7th, 2019 – Sat, Nov 9th, 2019
Past Courses Offered by Fred Livesay
Make Your Own Kebiki: The Essential Japanese Woodworking Tool
Plane Talk: Restoring & Tuning Hand Planes
Swedish Classic: 18th Century Style Lyre-Base Trestle Table
