north house folk school s/s 2014 course catalog

s u m m e r c o u r s e c a t a l o g 2014

2more details, more photos: www.northhouse.org 888-387-9762

orth house folk schooln is situated on Minnesotas North Shore of

Lake Superior and at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Our campus is located harbor side in the vibrant, artistic village of Grand Marais, Minnesota.

A number of colorful timbered structures on the harbor serve as classrooms, defining the campus flavor. An outdoor masonry oven and community fire ring are scattered amidst a central courtyard. Small, handcrafted wooden boats line the beach and our 50 schooner, the Hjrdis, is docked at the waters edge.

Prior to the beginning of classes, students gather to share a cup of coffee or tea, enjoying the morning stirrings on the harbor. Classes typically start with a campus greeting, and then students spend the morning engaged in their respective crafts. A midday break gives students the opportunity to gather for a brown bag lunch at a beachside picnic table or to check out one of the numerous eateries within walking distance of campus. At days end, students congregate to share their learned experiences and often on Saturday night enjoy wood-fired pizzas baked in the harborside masonry oven.

Students are as diverse as the course offerings themselves. Many are discovering a new craft for the first time, and others are continuing to pursue a lifetime hobby or trade. From breadbaking to knitting, basketmaking to woodcarving, we invite you to page through this catalog and see what suits you.

ommunity supportedc

Five basic tenets underscore all programs and classes at the folk school:

Create a rich, positive environment that inspires life-long learning in a non-competitive setting

Help students recognize and develop their creativity, talents and interests in a student-centered environment

Promote and preserve the knowledge, skills and stories of the past and present

Foster the concept of intergenerational learning

Provide creative and meaningful opportunities for individuals, families and groups

Enriching lives and building community by teaching traditional northern crafts in a student- centered learning environment that inspires the hands, the heart and the mind.

issionm Stop by the North House campus anytime

and one thing is immediately apparent North House thrives thanks to the creativity, investment, involvement and generosity of many people. Individuals, families, businesses, fundersits the collective strength of North Houses diverse community that lets us thrive.

How have donors helped move North House forward? Currently underway, Sharpen The Saw, a three-year commitment to use annual support to improve our classrooms. Another great example - in 2008-2012, donor giving fueled our Raise the Roof Campaign, generating $850,000+ of capital improvements to our campus. Our new Outdoor Commons, the expanded & enclosed Blacksmith Shop, a new teaching kitchenall donor supported and volunteer empowered.

Donors also help make programs thrive by funding featured speakers, welcoming guest instructors and ensuring accessibility via our Work Study program.

Put simply, North Houses family of supporters make a world of difference!

Every donor and every gift matter! And its simple to get involved. Become a North House donor/member. Become a volunteer. Even both! Donors receive a number of benefits throughout the year. Two annual catalogs.Our newsletter Shavings and our annual report. Members even Get The Pass at all of our special events. See page 55 for details.

n the coveroColor on campus! One of the wonderful

things about North House is the color we experience here.

Whether its the bright primary colors of our Red, Blue and Yellow buildings, shades of pink from a sunset reflected on Lake Superiors blue waters, or the great variety of colorful people who cross campus, were lucky to share in a craft community vibrant with color and life.

Colors happen in courses too. Pictured on the cover is the bounty of brightness found in the Natural Plant Dyes course (p18). In the class students enjoy the thrill of discovering natures palette by using plants to dye yarn and silk scarves. Its a wonderful moment - when the product of their hard work is hung up to dry, and we all get to enjoy the rainbow of colors theyve created.

Also pictured is a student in the Sew Your Own: Scandinavian Work Shirt class (p15). These utilitarian shirts help students learn the basics of sewing from a pattern, and once complete they have a bright new addition to their wardrobe. Tra-ditionally the shirts were made in bright blue or red striped cotton, which are still favorites among students, but nowadays there are plenty of addi-tional colorful fabric options.

And finally, youll find a picture of the Red Building on the catalogs cover. The big South doors of the building are open wide, giving students a spectacular view of the harbor. The Building has been here since before North House existed (and it was originally painted white), but in the last 17 years North House students and instructors have filled it with color through laugh-ter, learning and myriads of projects from timber framing to fiber arts.

We hope to see YOU here soon adding your colorful story to campus and enjoying a craft harborside!

PB more details, more photos: www.northhouse.org 3888-387-9762 888-387-9762

jewelry

about north house 2 on the harbor 3news to note 4 special events 5 basketry 6 blacksmithing & tool making 8 boatbuilding 11 clothing 14 fiber arts 16 foods 20 jewelry 25 music & stories 26 northern ecology 27 calendar 28-29 outdoor skills 32 painting & photography 34 sailing 35 shelter 37 sustainable living 39 timber framing 41 traditional crafts 43 woodcarving 44 woodworking & furniture craft 46 instructor profiles 49 registration & membership 55

inside

Post Office Box 759500 West Highway 61Grand Marais, Minnesota 55604phone: 218 387-9762toll-free: 888 387-9762fax: 218 387-9706e-mail: [email protected] of Directors

President Lou PignoletVice President Dave MorrisTreasurer Paul AslanianSecretary Mary AndersonMembers at Large Buck Benson John Bergstrom Nancy Burns John Farchmin Rob Ilstrup Layne Kennedy Scott Kindrick Jana Larson Anne McKinsey Kathy Rice Steve Surbaugh Martha Williams

North house Folk school

n the harboro

North House Folk School is supported in part by hundreds of contributing members as well as the Lloyd K Johnson Foundation, Cook County Community Fund/Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation, the Flora Family Foundation, and the McKnight Foundation.

Funding provided in part by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature, a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and private funders.

Print Production Journal Print Group

2014 North House Folk School

A 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit, North House Folk School welcomes charitable contributions that support its educational mission and vision. Gift types include annual support, memorials, in-kind donations and planned giving. For more information on giving, please contact us at 888.387.9762.

he cardboard box sits under an office shelf at North House. It is neither big nor small; picture something about the size of a large shoebox without a lid. And, as is often the case, the box is not what matters, it is what it holds. It is what is stacked inside and now rises above the boxs upper edge that beckons. A treasure trove of North House history copies of our course catalogs reaching back over seventeen years to our earliest days.

Opening the pages of each catalog is like riding in a time machine. The smiling faces of instructors, students and volunteers are familiar, though the haircuts and hair color have evolved a bit over the years. Pictures of campus speak both of joy and possibility, and also underscore how far we have come. Campus two historic timbered workshops, built in the 1930s as warehouses, needed more than a bit of work when we first moved onto campus. Our first wood-fired bread oven really did get us cooking, but it was too small we quickly learned. An old fish house, lost in a wrestling match with a run-away semi-truck, rose again from the cobbled beach as a new timbered classroom thanks to many helping hands. In each catalog, the stories are abundant, the growing community vibrantly evident, the deepening & strengthening commitment to northern craft rises off of every page.

One catalog more than any other seems to draw my curious fingers and eyes into its pages. Released in early 1997, North Houses first catalog featured twenty-three classes, all part of an initial summer of programming. For a new organization just trying to find its beginning, giving shape to that first rich series of courses was a herculean task. That said, it is made even more amazing when a simple fact is acknowledged - while the catalog was being created and printed, North House had no idea if or where its campus someday might be. The plan was simple: there were plenty of garages, workshops and community spaces in the area - if this dream called North House was supposed to happen, the founders trusted they would figure it out on the way.

Would there be classrooms? Students? Supporters? Volunteers? The only way forward was to believe, to believe in what some might say was impossible. And so with this simple yet profound act of faith, our journey began.

These words from that first catalog grace the first page and call out a welcome:

You are North Houses most valuable resource. We welcome your comments, suggestions and ideas to make our folk school an enriching, renewing experience for all who participate.

The work of our hands. The importance of community. The joy of creating beauty & utility. People who believe. North Houses vibrant emergence speaks on many levels. As is often the case, something plain and seemly innocuous, a humble box, a humble beginning, holds great surprises and stories within. The future is filled with possibility. This catalog, too, is filled with possibility. Together we can bring its stories to life. We hope to see you on campus soon!

t


Why work study? While lots of people love North House, not everyone can afford to take classes, and some people want to get to know the North House community better. Work Study offers the chance to do bothand its a great example of our mission at work and our commitment to accessibility.

Work Study 2014 offers two work study options. Participants are invited to help out at North House on a weekly basis year round, or theres an option for a week-long work study experience in the warmer months, which includes a spot to stay at the campground next door. There are 27 week-long sessions from the beginning of May to the end of October, as well as two two-week sessions during our major special events (Wooden Boat Show and Unplugged). Work study is a wonderful way to plug in to the North House community while earning tuition credit for a future course! For more information or to sign up, visit our website or e-mail Volunteer Coordinator Matt at [email protected].

work, study, accessibility

How do you bring the story of North House and the story of craft alive for first-time visitor to campus? In two words: Live Craft. In five words: our instructor-in-residence program! New last year, a rotating slate of instructors set up shop under the timber frame on the Outdoor Commons during the warmer months. The goal: share their passion with the passing crowds. Face-to-face engagement and demonstrations ranging from wood-turning to flintknapping to birch bark canoe building. One look out the window said it alla circle of smiling faces amidst woodchips and more.

Again this year, were lucky to have a lineup of instructors who will call campus home for a week each, so when youre in the area this summer dont miss the opportunity to stop by campus and find the magic of craft taking shape.

instructor in residence

Thematic weekends are an important part of our missiontheyre an inspiring way to gather a community of like-minded people and focus on important themes through seminars, classes and special programming. Coming up in May is our Northern Sustainability Symposium focusing this year on Foods: Grown and Gathered. Dare we saya tasty lineup of programming awaits! Theres a veritable buffet of coursework from fermenting to cooking, as well as a workshop and presentation with straw bale gardening pioneer Joel Karsten. We also welcome featured instructor Mike Goblirsch who will share the A to Z (or A to Bzzz...) on beekeeping. Watch for more information in upcoming e-newsletters, and sign up for coursework now!

whats the buzz?

see YOU around town .How does a place like North House shine? Great partners! Meet our business partners

the folks around town who provide the welcoming lodging, dining, and shopping experiences signature to a North Shore visit. Curious who is part of that initiative? We hope so. Next time youre on campus, grab a copy of our new Around Town Guide from the bookstore.

North Houses Business Partners welcome you and hope you will stop in to say hello! New and old, our local businesses each have a special story to share from decades of history to a fledgling dream to be part of the rich fabric of our community.

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specialevents

April 18-20, 2014 Spring at North House means a time to freshen

up campus and work on projects in preparation for the busy summer season, and youre invited to lend a hand! During our Service Learning & Volunteer Weekend, there will be plenty of ways to pitch in.

On Friday and Saturday, there will be an abundance of projects for eager volunteers to dig into from spring cleaning to chopping birch for the brick oven. Another great way to learn new skills while also helping North House is by participating in a Service Learning course. This year, you can build Adirondack chairs for campus (p47) and craft useful hooks, hangers and other items for campus in the blacksmith shop (p10). As always, there will be plenty of good eats and great company. Thanks in advance!

ervice learning s& voluNteer weekeNd

May 1-4, 2014 Where does your food come from? With a little

skill, the answer can be your own yard! Courses in gardening, bee keeping, alternative heating, apple grafting, basketry and fermentation are just a few of the weekend options as we explore how food, sustainable living and health are linked. Strawbale gardening pioneer Joel Karsten will lead a workshop and give a presentation on this simple form of producing abundant food just about anywhere. Well be joined by bee researcher Mike Goblirsch, herbalist Gigi Stafne, chef Lucia Watson, wildfoods instructor Eric Edgin and many more. Coursework, tours, speakers, and opportunities for conversation will round out a weekend designed to inspire, engage and educate.

May 29-June 1, 2014Discover the birds, wildflowers, geology and

more of the dynamic and rich Northern landscape. The Northern Landscapes Festival features a series of interrelated, field focused courses, complimented by featured presentations and programs.

This year, the Northern Landscapes Festival turns our attention towards the basic elements of the North Shore: rocks and fire and the rhythms of the seasons. In addition to favorite coursework in birding, we offer new coursework in fire ecology (p30), phenology (p32) and additional geological exploration (p31).

We are pleased to welcome geologist Richard Ojakangas as the Featured Speaker this year. Dick will speak on Saturday night, unraveling the fascinating geological history behind the signature features of the North Shore: the craggy canyons of the rivers, the Sawtooth Mountains, the pebbled beaches and exposed rocks on Lake Superiors shores are all part of the larger geological story of the midcontinent rift system. Dick retired from UMD after 38 years of teaching and continues to lecture and pursue field work on six continents.

orthern landscapesn FestivalJune 20-22, 2014

Its the biggest celebration of the year! Try your hand at a workshop or course, be inspired by the stories of boat builders, sailors and travelers and plan your next adventure. Its a fun, family-oriented educational eventcuriosity is encouraged!

This year we celebrate the legacy of Minnesota canoe-builder Joe Seliga through the building of the Fisherman, a wood-canvas square stern boat built by Joe in the 1960s. The Seliga family has recently donated the form for this boat to North House and in the days leading up the Wooden Boat Show, a group of students will immerse in the Seliga legacy and pull forth a nearly completed boat (p11). The result will surely be a piece of Minnesota history!

Of course, all of the returning favorites will be on the schedule: the Lake Superior Chowder Experience, the Friday night boat parade, the Boats-to-Tools auction and abundant craft demonstrations, boats on display, speakers and hands-on learning. Oh, and puppets: theyll be here for the Saturday night solstice pageant. Hope to see you here!

ooden boat show w& summer solstice Festival

orthern sustainabilitynFoods: growN & gathered


basketryBirch Bark Berry Basket:

Workshop and Field HarvestBirch Bark Boxes:

Scandinavian Bark BasketryBirch Bark TutorialBirch Bark Weaving: An IntroductionBlack Ash Basketry: An IntroductionBlack Ash Pack BasketsBoundary Waters Travel Basket

Up the TrailCattail Tote BagCattail Weaving: The Northern FedoraCoiled Basketry Stitching Techniques

with Pine NeedlesEtched Birch Bark BasketryHanging Birch Bark BasketsPine Needle BasketrySwedish Decorated Birch Bark CanistersSweet Grass BasketryThe Harvest Basket: Red-Osier Basketry

Birch Bark Berry Basket: Workshop and Field Harvestwith Dennis Chilcote6/27/14-6/29/14Fully experience the craft of making a traditional birch bark basket for the gathering and storage of berries or anything you please. This course includes time focused both on basket making and on material preparation. Day one includes an extended session in the woods to harvest the birch bark in preparation for basketry. Then, make your own individual basket from a single piece of birch bark with stitched sides and a rim wrapped with split root. The instructor provides the peeled and split root, bent willow rims and required tools.

length (days) 3 hours 9am-5pmtuition $270 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$255 materials $37

Sweet Grass Basketry

Birch Bark Boxes: Scandinavian Bark Basketrywith Fred Livesay9/6/14-9/7/14Scandinavians & 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 childs found treasures. Discover how to make these useful and decorative boxes following tra-ditions and techniques that are centuries old with a few new methods too.


Birch Bark Tutorialwith Charlie Mayo/Julie Kean/John Zasada9/20/14-9/21/14No patterns to choose from here - we simply offer the personal experience of three seasoned weavers willing to pass along their knowledge. Join Charlie Mayo, Julie Kean and John Zasada, three birch bark veterans, as they tailor the birch bark weaving experience to meet your desired outcome - a simple finger ring, wall baskets and bread baskets for beginners, and satchels, shoes or hats for experienced weavers. John, a retired silviculturist, shares his knowledge of bark selection and collection while Charlie shares the varied traditions of weaving bark throughout Scandinavia and Russia, and Julie is a prolific basket weaver.


Birch Bark Weaving: An Introductionwith Fred Livesay7/25/14-7/26/14When the wild roses bloom, its time to harvest the bark of the birch tree around the northern hemisphere. From Estonia to Norway, Siberia to the North Shore, the prized bark has been used for centuries to craft beautiful, durable and useful objects. Learn these enduring birch bark weaving techniques in this course. Beginning with the selection and collection of bark during a field trip to the woods (conditions permitting), you will also learn how to weave three types of baskets including finger bas-kets (rings), round baskets, and knife or scissors sheaths. length (days) 2 hours 9am-5pm

tuition $190 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$170 materials $25 age with adult 12+

Black Ash Basketry: An Introductionwith Dennis Chilcote5/3/14-5/4/14Black ash splint is extremely flexible yet sturdy, making it a most elegant and functional material. In this course youll learn the craft of preparing splint from the black ash tree, then use it to make a small black ash basket. Class discussion and hands-on experience includes learn-ing to recognize black ash trees of basket splint quality and the technique involved in producing the final weav-ing material. Students will pound a log with a mallet to produce splint and should be physically fit for the task.



Cattail Tote Bagwith Tina Fung Holder8/15/14-8/17/14Wondering what to do with all those cattails growing down by the pond? Learn how to make a handy and stylish tote bag. Students will learn how to plait with the cattail leaves and assemble a tote bag. The basic checker weave (usually done with palm fronds) will be taught us-ing cattails and iris leaves, giving this project a distinctly northern flair. As time permits more complex weaves will be taught. Previous experience is not necessary but sewing skills are helpful. Materials supplied. Please note, this class begins with a short-two hour evening session to make the most of your time on campus.

length (days) 2.25 hours Day 1: 6pm-8pm, Day 2 & 3: 9am-5pmtuition $185 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$175 materials $28

Cattail Weaving: The Northern Fedorawith Tina Fung Holder7/19/14-7/20/14Traditional 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 outdoor activities. Palm fronds are the materials most commonly used for this strip plaiting weaving project; however, native cattails work as a northern sub-stitute. Learn how to weave your own hat and get some foundational basketmaking skills along the way in this fun project. And, might we add, youll look fedorable? All the materials are provided.

length (days) 1.5 hours Day 1: 9am-5pm Day 2: 9am-noontuition $115 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$100 materials $10

Coiled Basketry Stitching Techniques with Pine Needles

with Tina Fung Holder5/24/14-5/25/14They may say that a stitch in time saves nine, but for this sweet little basket, its all about making beautiful stitches! This basketry project offers an opportunity to focus on decorative stitching techniques while making a small basket with a lid from local red pine needles. The same stitching techniques can be used with other materials as well. Whether youve experienced this style of basketry and are looking to expand your skills or are ready to start, this course covers both decorative and functional stitchery. Pattern and texture will be incorporated into your basket which will have a pine cone knob on the lid. A variety of samples will be available for inspiration.


Etched Birch Bark Basketrywith Jarrod StoneDahl7/11/14-7/13/14When birch bark is harvested at a certain time of the year, it has a very thin layer that oxidizes and turns very dark. This bark is called winter bark and is prized for basketry because designs can be scratched into the sur-face. In this class we will cut and fold winter bark into a basket, sew it together with split root, and lash the rim on with black ash splint. After the basket is put together, we will focus on the etched design. The possibilities are endless; the technique is simple. The basketry style being taught focuses on the basic principles of working with birch bark while allowing students to make 1 of 2 differ-ent styles of the folded and sewn type baskets.

length (days) 2.5 hours Day 1: 1pm- 5pm; Day 2/3: 9am-5pmtuition $185 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$175 materials $55 age with adult 14+

Hanging Birch Bark Basketswith Kurt Mead9/12/14The birch bark hanging basket is a wild-crafted, decora-tive household basket thats both simple to create and equally fun to gather materials for. Well venture out into the wonderlands here on the North Shore to learn how to gather our materials for this keepsake basket gather-ing birch bark from fallen birch trees, willow twigs for a bent handle-hanger together and a little salvaged lumber for the base. The basket can be used throughout the year for indoor and outdoor decorating, holding dried and fresh flowers. Adult-child pairs are strongly encouraged to enroll together, but adult participants are welcome to join us on their own in hopes youll share this wonderful craft with a little one in your life.

length (days) 1 hours 9am-5pmtuition $85 (or $130 adult-child pair) early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$75 materials $10 age with adult 10+

Pine Needle Basketrywith Paula Sundet Wolf9/20/14-9/21/14Create 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 from other pine species and information on how to gather and store materials will also be discussed. Assorted found natural objects may also be incorporated into the basket. No previous basket weaving experience is necessary, just your enthusiasm to learn.


Black Ash Pack Basketswith Ian Andrus9/26/14-9/28/14The black ash pack basket: its 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, youll weave the basket and finish it with a rim, handle, runners, straps and harness, using a free form weaving technique. The finished basket will stand 16-18 high, and be perfect for forages in the woods, excursions to the grocery store, canoe camping, ice fishing, or bigger adventures further afield. Its a classic project youll enjoy for years to come.

length (days) 3 hours 9 am- 5 pmtuition $225 early bird tuition (6+ wks in ad-vance)$195 materials $30

Boundary Waters Travel Basket Up the Trailwith Paula Sundet Wolf

10/3/14-10/5/14Join us for a unique North House experience up the Gunflint Trail! This course invites you to immerse in the rich ecological beauty and cultural history of the Gunflint Trail while harvesting materials and creating a one-of-a-kind basket. Using materials you will gather from the Boundary Waters area during the class, students will make a twined nest basket, approximately 8-10 in size. In addition, students will learn the coiled basket technique and make a small ornament from materials collected over the weekend. Since youll be collecting materials as you travel, your baskets will tell the story of where youve been. A variety of lodging options are available to students at special rates, allowing students to enjoy the beauty and northwoods hospitality of one of Minnesotas premier wilderness resorts and immerse in traditional northern craft while exploring the Gunflint wilderness.

length (days) 2.5 hours Day 1: 7-9pm, Day 2: 9am-5pm, Day 3: 9am-noontuition $170 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$150 materials $10

new

new

Birch Bark Berry Basket: Workshop and Field HarvestBlack Ash Pack Baskets


blacksmithing & tool making

blacksmithingBlacksmithing:

Crafting The Tools of the TradeBlacksmithing: The Basics & BeyondCrafting the Traditional

Pattern-Welded Puukko KnifeFolding Jack Knife: Make Your OwnForge-Welding a Damascus Blade

and Other ItemsForging Steel-Faced Woodworking ToolsForging the Norwegian

Laminated Knife BladeHand-Forged Using KnifeHooks & Hangers for Campus: Service

Learning in the Blacksmithing Shop

Blacksmithing: The Basics & Beyond

toolmakingBasic FlintknappingBuilding the Northwest Trade GunIntermediate FlintknappingKnifemaking:

Crafting the Norwegian TolleknivSharpening TutorialTool-Making for Wood Workers

and OthersTools for the Spring-Pole Lathe:

Craft Your Own

Swedish Decorated Birch Bark Canisterswith Jarrod StoneDahl5/16/14-5/18/14This type of box or canister has roots deep in Swedens folk craft history. Simple tools and simple materials are used to create a thing of beauty, with design possibili-ties only limited by the imagination. The techniques employed with this style of canister allow large contain-ers good for storing coffee and tea or other dry goods inside. In this class students will learn about the differ-ent qualities of birch bark and what kinds work well for canisters. We will learn to lay out and cut simple but inge-nious joints to lock the bark together and how to shape and fit the base and lid. The birch bark can be stamped with homemade punches made from deer antler and painted with homemade paints mixed from natural earth pigments and linseed oil.

length (days) 2.5 hours Day 1: 1pm-5pm, Days 2/3: 9am-5pmtuition $185 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$175 materials $30

Sweet Grass Basketrywith Paula Sundet Wolf8/9/14-8/10/14Work with locally harvested sweet grass, cattails, and sedges during this two-day class while learning the art of coiling a sweet grass basket. Well incorporate an elegant agate as a base for the basket. Hands-on instruction pro-vides students with an introduction to the traditions and skills of basket weaving, and discussion about how to identify sweet grass and gather materials for future proj-ects. No previous basket weaving experience is necessary, just your enthusiasm to learn.


The Harvest Basket: Red-Osier Basketrywith Tina Fung Holder4/26/14-4/27/1410/11/14-10/12/14The bright burgundy-red branches of the red-osier dogwood make this native regional shrub a standout in the northern landscape and a prime candidate for basketmakers in the north. With straight, flexible twigs, red-osier is perfect for learning basic basketmaking skills and creating inspiring pieces. In this class students will make a frame basket with a handle (also known as melon style). First they will learn how to spin cordage with iris leaves, braid cattail leaves, and then shape and weave the basket using the cordage and red-osier stems. Beginners are welcome, as with a little enthusiasm and no previous basket-making experience participants leave the workshop with a fine looking basket. Experienced basketmakers will enjoy exploring new horizons working with red-osier.


Basic Flintknappingwith Robert Keiper7/19/14Have you ever wondered how our ancestors produced sharpened tools of stone like axe heads, knife blades, and arrow points? Learn how flintknapping evolved and how to identify appropriate base materials from which you can produce a variety of sharpened stone tools. This class will introduce the basic techniques of pressure flaking and percussion, providing the basis for years of frustration, small cuts to the hand, and the exhilaration of crafting a thing of beauty and utility from a rock. Materials fee includes practice stone and tools for class use, a 3/4 dia. Bopper for percussion work, a hand pad for pressure flaking, a small pressure flaker, a coarse abraider,1-biface and several pieces of high quality flint flakes.

length (days) 1 hours 9am-5pmtuition $85 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$75 materials $85 Includes 7-piece knapping kit


Blacksmithing: Crafting The Tools of the Tradewith Dave Hanson/Cody Myers6/12/14-6/14/14Outfit your own blacksmithing tool chest while develop-ing and refining your skills on the forge. In this course, you will create the set of tools needed to become a backyard blacksmith, while simultaneously learning the basics of blacksmithing. Initial tool projects will include tongs and fire-tending tools. Heat treatment, forging, fire types and more will be covered as you cultivate both your skills and your tools. Chisels and punches will also be crafted as time allows. Forge-welding may be discussed. This class is suitable for beginners and those who would like to continue their learning. Materials fee includes the use of coal/gas for forgework and the cost of steel, etc. An optional fourth day is available upon request for $85 plus a materials fee.


Blacksmithing: The Basics & Beyondwith Dave Hanson/Cody Myers5/16/14-5/18/147/17/14-7/19/14Always wanted to try your hand at the forge? This is the place to start and continue to develop your blacksmith-ing skills. You will be introduced to the basic skills of the blacksmith including safety, fire control, tools and equip-ment in both a classroom and on the forge setting. Stu-dent projects will be tailored toward individual skill levels. The class will begin with basic projects such as decora-tive nail-in-hooks to learn hammer skills. More advanced projects such as basic tool making and decorative/orna-mental work will be encountered as class progresses. The first day, the class will use coal forges and the remainder of your time may be on either a coal or gas forge. This course is tailored to meet your needs on the forge while ensuring consistent and quality work. You will leave with a higher skill level regardless of where you start. Materi-als fee includes the use of coal/gas for forgework and the cost of steel, etc. An optional 4th day is available for students who would like to continue learning for an ad-ditional $85 in tution, $25 in materials.


Building the Northwest Trade Gunwith Brent Gurtek3/21/14-3/30/148/4/14-8/13/14Students will learn the history and craft of the North-west Trade Gun, a muzzle loading firearm associated with the 18th- and 19th-century Great Lakes fur trade. Lightweight, rugged, versatile and inexpensive, it fully answered the shooting needs of this region and remains a fine north woods hunting arm. A brief history of the Great Lakes fur trade and the conditions leading to its design will fuel discussion as students undertake this challenging but rewarding project. Hand tools will largely be used in constructing an authentic Northwest Trade Gun, using essentially the same techniques employed by the early makers. This project is appropriate for first-time gunsmiths, but past experience in woodworking will be helpful.

length (days) 10 hours 9am-5pmtuition $795 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$745 materials $565 some variation possible ($520)age with adult 16+

Crafting the Traditional Pattern-Welded Puukko Knifewith Robert Burns

7/9/14-7/13/14For hundreds of years the puukko knife has been the prized tool of Northern Europe and Scandinavia for its versatility and simple elegance. In this course you will learn how to perform the traditional techniques used by Northern craftsmen for centuries including the forging of the blade, fitting and crafting of the handle, and the making of a sheath. The blade will be a damascus blade (or pattern welding), a steel that was used by the Vikings to create their tools and weapons. The handle will be made out of birch bark and small pieces of wood. Small birch bark squares will be stacked one on top of the other and laminated together to form a solid and beauti-ful handle. We will sew the sheath from leather. This course will bring these ancient techniques back to life to create a functional and beautiful tool.

length (days) 5 hours 9am-5pmtuition $425 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$375 materials $305 age with adult 14+

Damascus Folding Jack Knife: Make Your Ownwith Dave Hanson/Cody Myers8/1/14-8/3/14

The folding pocket knife needs little introduction as a handy and vital tool to have in your pocket. Starting with a folding jack knife kit, students will learn blacksmithing skills by modifying the blade and handle--its the perfect way to begin! Students will receive a Damascus steel billet, and will learn to forge it to shape, pack the cutting edge, and shape, draw, temper and normalize this high-quality blade. Students will then make the sides of the knife, called scales, from antler and wood, making a useful knife that is easy to carry. Students will also gain an understand-ing of knife assembly, which is important knowledge to have when it comes time to design your first custom knife! The finished knife will measure approximately 3.25 in size when closed. All materials will be provided.


Forge-Welding a Damascus Blade and Other Itemswith Dave Hanson/Cody Myers5/20/14-5/24/148/6/14-8/10/14Highly prized for centuries, Damascus steel is the elite art of the blacksmithing world. Damascus is metal goods created using different types of high carbon tool steel and a technique that gives them a distinctive appear-ance. Like a baker uses kneading and folding to create a loaf of marble rye bread, the blacksmith uses welding, folding and drawing techniques to create steel that is not only incredibly strong and sharp, but also distinctively beautiful with its swirling, intricate patterns. In this class, you will learn how to forge weld Damascus steel, and you will focus significant effort on a Damascus knife blade. This class is open to students at all skill levels, from stu-dents anxious to pick up a hammer for the first time to experienced smiths developing new skills. Depending on skill level your blade may or may not be fully completed. Surface finishing, including grinding and polishing, will also be covered. Cutoff pieces of your blade may be used for jewelry and other projects. Materials fee includes the use of coal/gas for forgework and the costs of steel, etc. An optional sixth day for extra knife work is available upon request for $85 plus a materials fee.


Forging Steel-Faced Woodworking Toolswith Kjettl Groven

8/19/14-8/21/14The quest for high-quality woodworking tools can take you far and wide: auctions, rummage sales, museums, dusty garagesits a life-long search for hidden gems. This course proposes an alternative: why not forge your own laminated woodworking tools the old-fashioned way? After three days of work, you have the potential to add a drawknife, mortising chisel, scorp and spoon bit to your toolbox, specifically designed for your prefer-ences. All will have a body of mild steel and high-carbon steel at the cutting edge. The drawknife will be 8-9 in size and is highly versatile. The scorp is used primarily for smoothing and hollowing out bowls. The mortising chisel presents some forging challenges, but is useful in log building and boatbuilding projects. The spoon bit, a skjenavar in Norwegian, is used for boring and scoop-ing out wood. As time allows, gouges and other chisels can be made.


early bird discountThe early bird gets the worm (or the early gull gets the her-ring?). For most coursework,

we offer a reduced tuition rate for students who sign up

six weeks in advance.

nuts & bolts

Intermediate Flintknapping

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Forging the Norwegian Laminated Knife Bladewith Kjettl Groven8/15/14-8/17/14The heart of the knife lies in its blade. This course brings the crafts of blacksmithing and knifemaking together as participants unlock the Norwegian bladesmithing tradi-tions. A thorough discussion of the history and culture as well as hands-on experience give you an approach to crafting a blade that is both a reflection of longstand-ing tradition and personal expression. Using a method popular in Norway but approachably simple, students will forge several laminated knife blades. Class will begin with the construction of tongs suitable for bladesmith-ing, and move on to forging, heat treating and grinding blades. Students may choose to take home the tongs as well as the blades or donate their tongs to the North House shop for future use. Previous forging experience is helpful but not required.


Hand-Forged Using Knifewith Robert Schulz6/17/14-6/19/14This class is just what the title suggests. We will begin class by hand-forging a blade of good quality, high-car-bon steel--starting from round stock, well forge material to the desired thickness, set the point, initial edge, and rat-tail tang. Upon finishing the blade, we will do heat treatments of normalizing, hardening, and tempering to get a knife that is able to hold an edge while being tough enough to withstand use. Students will either forge guards, or cast bolster and pommel fittings. All fin-ishing and sharpening will be done with files, sandpaper, and stones. Well work with antler, wood, or bone for handling these hand-made knives, ready to be used. Stu-dents are encouraged to bring their own special handle material, though instructor will have plenty to share.


Hooks & Hangers for Campus: Service Learning in the Blacksmithing Shop

with Dave Hanson/Cody Myers4/17/14-4/19/14A place for everything and everything in its placewere always trying to put this idea into practice around the North House campus. As our classroom resources grow, so does our need for the right places to store them. Help create more places for things in this service learning blacksmithing course, focused on hangers & hooks for the North House classrooms. Youll learn or practice fundamental blacksmithing skills on a variety of small projects that will be mounted and used all over the North House campus. As time allows, more decorative elements will be explored. We have a growing list of needs; come put your skills to use and leave our campus a more orga-nized learning environment for all. Your registration fee includes a daily lunch.

length (days) 3 hours 9am-5pmtuition $75 materials included

Intermediate Flintknappingwith Robert Keiper7/20/14This course is for students who have basic skills in flintknapping and who want to move on to the next level in this artform. We will begin class with a review of the skills in percussion knapping, pressure flaking and problem solving. We will also review how to thin down a biface by raising the edge and then carry this technique to the pressure flaking stage. Students will also be in-structed on how to work a slab of stone with a combina-tion of both percussion and pressure flaking techniques using 3 different tools, a medium sized bopper, a large pressure flaker and an ishi stick. A brief introduction to new tools for a flintknapping tool kit will be discussed along with art that can be made with a completed ar-rowhead. FOG or flake over grinding knapping will also be explained. The materials fee includes: practice stone and tools for class use, 1 biface, 1 ground preform, 1 5/16x2x4 slab of obsidian, and materials to create an arrowhead lapel pin.


Knifemaking: Crafting the Norwegian Tolleknivwith Gene Tokheim8/6/14-8/10/14Crafting the tollekniv (whittling knife) is a rich cultural tradition of Norway, kept alive by many Norwegian smiths and knifemakers today. Knifemaking explores three common craft traditions metal work, leather work and wood work. Using Norwegian knifemaking tech-niques and shared characteristics amongst Norwegian knifemakers, learn to fit a hand-forged blade to a wooden handle that you shape and finish by sewing a decorated leather sheath with hand-polished silver and brass embel-lishments. Dating back to the Iron Age, the craft has been passed down person to person, with specific materi-als, tools and equipment to make the best quality knives known throughout the world. The blade is made by a Norwegian blacksmith to ensure the best quality available and the flaming birch wood for the handle, known for its stunning character and superior strength, is imported directly from Norway. Working with Italian leather, preferred by knifemakers for its rich, smooth texture, you will also have the opportunity to solder, shape and polish the silver and brass work that makes the finished product stylistically represented as a Norwegian knife.


Sharpening Tutorialwith Dennis Chilcote3/29/14-3/30/14Get the Edge might be another appropriate title for this course. Chisels, planes, gouges, knives, scissors, spokeshaves and more--these tools of the trade func-tion at their best when the cutting edge is truly prepared for business. Ready to slice butter? This comprehensive overview of sharpening will help you understand the types of cutting edges, characteristics of steel, tempering, and the difference between grinding and honing through a series of demonstrations and hands-on applications. Power sharpening and hand sharpening will be explored. You are strongly encouraged to bring up to five hand tools to sharpen as a class project.


Tool-Making for Wood Workers and Otherswith Paul Linden3/21/14-3/23/14This course is an introduction to working with and heat-treating the common high-carbon steels used for edge tools. We will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different steel types and put this knowledge into prac-tice by creating several tools. We will analyze a number of different tools and compare their performance. Can you really make a nice, working knife from an old file? Blacksmiths and tool-makers know that you can, and we will do it in this class. We will each make a scratch awl and a small carving knife to start, but additional tools like marking knifes, scrapers, small chisels, and larger or curved knives are all possibilities.

length (days) 3 hours 9am-5pmtuition $255 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$225 materials varies ($25-$40) age with adult 12+

Tools for the Spring-Pole Lathe: Craft Your Ownwith Jarrod StoneDahl6/27/14-6/29/14In order to turn bowls on a spring-pole lathe efficiently one needs a well-made hook tool. These turning tools are not manufactured in North America and are therefore difficult to find. Most pole lathe bowl turners have to learn to make the tools themselves or find a blacksmith to help with the production of the tool. In this class students will learn basic tool smithing, while forging a few hook tools. Well cover everything from tending the forge to hardening and tempering the tools edge through this simple but valuable project. This class is intended for people who have previously turned some bowls on a spring-pole lathe and need to make their own tools. A pole lathe will be set up to facilitate discussion on tool design and trials of the new tools.

length (days) 2.5 hours Day 1: 1pm-5pm; Day 2/3 : 9am-5pmtuition $185 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$170 materials varies ($36-$75)

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- from a student evaluation form

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big family

class


boatbuildingbuild your own

Building The Classic Wooden Rowboat: Build Your Own Susan Skiff

Building the Fisherman: Joe Seligas Square-Stern Wood Canvas Canoe Form

Cedar-Strip Boatbuilding: Build Your Own Canoe or Kayak

Coracle Boat: Build Your OwnHand Crafting A Northwoods PaddleOar Construction: Make Your Own SetPram Boat Building: Build Your Own

Traditional Norse or Swedish PramWood-Canvas Canoe: Build Your OwnWood Canvas Canoe Repair Series

Session A: Surveying Your Canoe Session B: Ribs & Planking Session C: Fairing/Sanding/Clinching Session D: Canvas, Fill, Paint & Varnish Session E: Finishing Touches

learn the techniquesBirch Bark Canoes: Traditional ConstructionCedar-Strip Boat Construction:

Techniques & FundamentalsFundamentals of Traditional Wooden

Boat BuildingTechniques of Pram Boat Building:

Old World Boatbuilding Traditions

Birch Bark Canoes: Traditional Constructionwith Erik Simula6/16/14-6/19/14Explore the history, construction and use of the Native American birch bark canoe in this hands-on course. Paddled for centuries on the lakes and rivers of the interior, all the necessary materials can be sustainably harvested from a healthy boreal forest: birch bark, cedar, spruce root and spruce gum. During the course you will work on several birch bark canoes in different stages of construction. Coursework includes harvesting and pro-cessing materials, canoe design characteristics, hand tool usage, traditional construction techniques, and histori-cal use. This is a rare learning opportunity for anyone interested in the construction and history of the birch bark canoe.

length (days) 4 hours 9am-5pmtuition $360 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$340 materials included

Building The Classic Wooden Row-boat: Build Your Own Susan Skiffwith John Beltman10/6/14-10/21/14This is an ideal boatbuilding course for someone who has always dreamed of building a classic wooden boat and spending the time to fully enjoy the traditions, smells and trades of the wooden boat building shop. In just over two weeks students will mill the lumber, lay the planking and finish a flat-bottomed, square-stern 11-foot rowboat. Working with the talents of a professional boat-builder, students will build their own Susan Skiff, a classic wooden boat with a carvel-planked bottom and lapstrake sides. Set for rowing or attaching a small outboard motor to enjoy a fishing outing, this classic wooden boat will provide a lifetime of memories and skills for the builder. Students are strongly encouraged to bring a partner to helpthis can be a great family project. In this tutorial course, you will have an apprenticeship experience work-ing side by side with trained professional boat builder John Beltman.


Building the Fisherman: Joe Seligas Square-Stern Wood Canvas Canoe Form

with Jeanne Bourquin6/11/14-6/19/14In 1938 renowned Minnesota canoe-builder Joe Seliga built a form he called a square-sterned canoe. Joe built just 33 wood/canvas (or fiberglassed) canoes on this form, the last one in 1971. Recently, the Seliga family graciously donated the form to North House to use for classes. Join Joes friend and fellow Ely canoe builder, Jeanne Bourquin for nine thought-provoking days engaged in understanding and building on this historic form. The rich traditions and skills of wooden boat building will be encountered at every corner. The goals are simple: immerse in the Seliga legacy and pull forth a nearly completed boat, ready for finish work. The result will surely be a piece of Minnesota history! At the close of the class, the boat will be for sale to interested stu-dents who would like to complete the project. If multiple students are interested, a drawing will be held on the final day of class. Students interested in participating in just a portion of the course should call to inquire about availability.


Oar Construction: Make Your Own SetCedar-Strip Boat Construction:

Techniques & Fundamentals

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Fundamentals of Traditional Wooden Boat Buildingwith John Beltman10/10/14-10/15/14Explore the grace and craft of wooden boatbuilding and unlock the secrets of hand-crafting your own wooden watercraft in this six-day hands-on course. Combine classroom sessions with shop time to become familiar with the entire wooden boat-building process, from transferring boat plans into real size through lofting to steam-bending and proper caulking techniques. By the end of this course youll feel more comfortable pursuing your own project knowing you learned from an experi-enced boatbuilder. The class project for the course is the cherished Susan Skiff, a classic wooden rowboat with a carvel-planked bottom and lapstrake sides.


Hand Crafting A Northwoods Paddlewith Mike Schelmeske6/23/14-6/24/14Create the traditional paddle used by Northwoods travelers for hundreds of years. In this course, a North House classic, students will learn about wood selection and wood grain considerations as well as paddle sizing and the theory of shape as applied to handles, shafts and blades. Choose from a variety of different classic paddle designs and leave the course with a custom-designed paddle constructed with simple hand tools, including a traditional spokeshave and blockplane. Many students have shared this experience with a child or grandchild, creating two paddles and memories that will last a life-time: children 12+ welcome with an adult, a 25% tuition discount for the child applies.


Oar Construction: Make Your Own Setwith John Beltman4/3/14-4/4/14Give your boat a taste of traditional nautical life by handcrafting a classic set of wooden oars. This two-day workshop provides a thorough, hands-on introduction to the craft of oar making. Youll use traditional hand tools including a spokeshave, drawknife and block plane to shape a custom set of oars from basswood and learn about finishing the oars using traditional leatherwork for handles. Create a set of oars from a variety of patterns and styles, or you can design your own to specifically fit your boat. Theres nothing like an early morning or sunset row - get equipped and out on the water. Under the instructors supervision, participants may experiment with a variety of handcrafted wooden oars and wooden boats on campus to determine their preferred sizes.

length (days) 2 hours 9am-5pmtuition $180 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$170 materials varies, approx $110

Pram Boat Building: Build Your Own Traditional Norse or Swedish Pramwith John Beltman3/22/14-4/2/14Take this one-of-a-kind opportunity to build a custom-sized, traditionally built wooden lapstrake boat, origi-nating in design and construction from the fjords and fishing villages of Norway and Sweden. You may choose from two options: 1) the Norse Pram (12 days), an inshore craft that makes an excellent tender or rowboat at the lake, and is often referred to as the water wheel-barrow of the fjords of Norway; or 2) the Swedish Pram (10 days), a square-ended wooden watercraft, built in a wide variety of shapes and sizes to meet the specific needs of the intended user, traditionally fishermen, farm-ers, or tenders.

In consultation with the instructor, you build and design your own 10 to 16 pram using traditional materials including white spruce, white pine, oak and copper fas-tening to meet your intended uses for the boat. Students interested in building the pram as a sailing vessel are wel-come to do so. The pram is built using old-world, simple and honest construction techniques. Students will learn to loft by eye, making it a great project for the first-time boat builder, who will walk away with a lifetime of skills, or experienced builders interested in this unique style of construction. In the traditional fashion, the boat will be finished with pine tar, linseed oil and turpentine. Stu-dents are encouraged to bring a partner to helpthis can be a great family project that will result in a lifetime of memories. The instructor will consult with each student six weeks prior to start of the course to assess materials needed for the intended boat to be built.

This Build Your Own option allows you and your friends/family the option to build either a Norse Pram, a boat with a rounded, more complex sweep to it, allow-ing it to gracefully roll over swells, or a Swedish Pram, a boat with squared end, simplifying construction.

**Norse Pram: 12 days - $1400-$1700 for materials**Swedish Pram: 10 days - $1000-$1200 for materialshours 9am-4pm tuition $3225 per boat

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Cedar-Strip Boat Construction: Techniques & Fundamentalswith Ken Koscik6/24/14-6/30/14With more than just aesthetic appeal, cedar-strip boats are known for being lightweight, strong and quick to build. Gain the know-how and confidence to complete a boat project in your own backyard through seven days of hands-on instruction building a tandem canoe with other students. Techniques involve setting up the strongback and templates, planking, fiberglassing and fitting out the canoe, as well as other boatbuilding skills. Just like the title says, a solid foundation of the techniques and fun-damentals provides the skills to complete your desired cedar-strip boat building project.Students are also invited for informal evening slideshows that introduce the techniques of birch bark canoe con-struction and steam bending. Separate tuition payment and cancellation policies apply to this course. At the close of the course, the student-built canoe project will be for sale at a defined price to interested students (cost of materials). If multiple students are interested, a raffle will decide who will go home with the tandem canoe. An easy project to cartop back to your waterway and start your paddling adventure!

length (days) 7 hours 9am-5pmtuition $560 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$525 materials included age with adult 14+

Cedar-Strip Boatbuilding: Build Your Own Canoe or Kayakwith Ken Koscik9/25/14-10/5/14Enjoy the contrast of light and dark wooden strips, the quiet lapping of water on wood and the pride of craftsmanship that stems from building your own cedar-strip boat. From start to finish, cut thin cedar planks and learn to assemble an appealing pattern for your canoe or kayak. Students may choose from three cedar-strip boat projects: an 18 1/2 tandem cruiser canoe, a 16 trip-ping canoe or a 17 kayak. Students must bring a partner, family member or friend (or two!) to helpthis can be a great project that will result in a lifetime of memories. Due to the nature of this course and intensity of instruc-tion, this class is limited to two boat projects per session.

length (days) 11 hours 9am-5pmtuition/materials $3,500 per boat age with adult 14+

Coracle Boat: Build Your Ownwith Lindsay Lee8/22/14-8/24/14A coracle, or currach, is an ancient boat of Irish and Welsh origin which was used in the rivers to net salmon. Originally covered with a single cow hide, these modern (built in the last 300 years) coracles will have a canvas cover stretched over a woven willow frame. These are simple, super lightweight (under 30 lbs) boats that can be built in short order so you can get on the water. Here in the shop, theres a saying that goes lets not get fancy, lets get fishin. A coracle is NOT a white water craft, nor is it for big water. It is too small to license, and too round to paddle (a scull stroke is used). However, it fits inside many cars, can be carried some distance and it can get you far enough from shore to make some nice, discrete casts.


Birch Bark Canoes: Traditional Construction

Coracle Boat: Build Your Own


Techniques of Pram Boat Building: Old World Boatbuilding Traditionswith John Beltman3/22/14-3/26/14An old Norse saying goes, A man without his boat is a mere prisoner. This class is a one-of-a-kind study and hands-on look into the techniques of traditional Norwegian and Swedish boat builders: well explore the developments and skills required to build wooden lapstrake boats that have plied the fjords and fishing vil-lages for centuries - stemming as far back as the Viking era and into today across Scandinavia and the Baltic. In a group setting, you will build a 10-16 wooden rowing pram. Along the way, you will learn how to loft by eye, design and build a full-size rowing pram using lapstrake techniques, bevel watertight planking, cut compound bevels for framing and riveting while working on a full sized boat. After this course youll be capable of return-ing to your own backyard and building a pram at minimal cost. Simplicity of boatbuilding, use of readily available lumber (from your own lumberyard!), no mold construc-tion, minimum number of tools including simple carving knives, versatility of creating different shapes or custom-izing the boat to your needs, (which may include sailing, iceboating and a variety of rowing positions, depending on how many people wish to use the boat), make this approach to boatbuilding a valuable investment of time and energy.

length (days) 5 hours 9am-5pm (some evenings)tuition $495 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$475 materials included

Wood-Canvas Canoe: Build Your Ownwith Jeanne Bourquin5/17/14-5/30/148/16/14-8/29/14Poetry on the water wood-canvas canoes are the classic boats of the Northwoods. In this course you are im-mersed in the complete process of building your own canoe from steam-bending her ribs to stretching and filling her canvas. Participants generally build the 176 Atkinson Traveler, but the 166 Oteer or Lutre models are possibilities as well. Canoes are built, canvassed and filled during the class and then taken home, painted and varnished and will provide many years of pleasure on the water. Many hands make work light, and students should plan to bring a partner (or two!) to helpthis can be a great family project that will result in a lifetime of memories.

length (days) 14 hours 9am-5pmtuition/materials $4,950 per canoe2-3 builders per canoe age with adult 14+

Wood Canvas Canoe Repair Serieswith Jeanne BourquinBreathe some life into that old wood-canvas canoe in the rafters and turn it into a classic wooden canoe suitable to be paddled for another generation or two. The process of repairing a wood canvas canoe can be a daunting journey that requires careful planning and prioritizing. To help you on your way, expert builder Jeanne Bourquin offers a series of repair courses, each focusing on a different step along the way and offered throughout the year. Bring your canoe and take the whole series from start to finish over the course of a year, or go a la carte and pick and choose the steps you need help with your own project. Participants are encouraged to bring a part-ner to help complete the work at no additional charge.

Session A: Surveying Your Canoewith Jeanne Bourquin5/31/149/16/14Step One: Survey Your Wood-Canvas Canoe Repair.Bring your canoe to class and as a group we will look at each canoe and decide what repairs need to be done, create a work flow plan, and discuss sources for wood, fasteners, paint, tools, and other repair supplies. Leave with a plan and ready to start your repair. Students can opt to stay for a second day for an additional $50 in order to make a repair plan.

length (days) 1 hours 9am-5pmtuition $85 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$75 materials varies

Session B: Ribs & Plankingwith Jeanne Bourquin6/23/14-6/24/149/18/14-9/19/14Step Two: Making and Steambending Ribs/Replacing Ribs and Planking. Day One you will each make 2 or 3 ribs and bend them over your canoe to dry. The next day you will replace those ribs and learn how to replace bro-ken planking. Both days we will be removing broken ribs and planking, and talking about how to keep your canoe fair while you replace your ribs. Please bring a partner to work with you.


Session C: Fairing/Sanding/Clinchingwith Jeanne BourquinPlease Call to ScheduleStep Three: Fairing/Sanding/ClinchingThis step often takes more than 2 days and is the final preparation for canvassing and filling. You can take this class either to learn how to do it or as final prepara-tion for the canvassing and filling class if you have most of the work done before arrive. We will learn how to clinch and wet out the hammer blossoms and then sand the outside fair. Before you arrive for the canvassing and filling class, or by the second afternoon of this class, there should be no tack heads above the surface of the canvas, no sharp tack heads on the inside, and the out-side should be sanded fair and coated with boiled linseed oil. You will get lots more done if you bring a partner with you to help.

Please call for schedulinglength (days) varies hours 9am-5pmtuition $75 per day materials varies

Session D: Canvas, Fill, Paint & Varnishwith Jeanne Bourquin4/21/14-4/22/148/14/14-8/15/14Breathe some life into that old wood-canvas canoe in the Step Four: Canvas/Fill, Discuss and Demo Painting & Varnishing. You should arrive for these two days with your canoe sanded fair, tacks clinched, and the outside linseed oiled. It is recommended to have some of the varnishing done also before you canvas and fill, though this is not necessary. The first day we will canvas, and the second day fill the canoes. It would be better not to try to load your canoe for travel until the 3rd morning, or to arrange for canoe storage in Grand Marais while your filler cures. Alternatively you can learn the filling method on someone elses canoe the second day and take your canoe home to fill. The filler takes 4-6 weeks to cure ready to sand and paint. Bring your own Filler/Canvas/Tacks, or you can purchase from the instructor. Please bring a partner to work with you. At some time during this class we will spend time talking about the painting and varnishing process.

length (days) 2 hours 9am-5pmtuition $170 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$150 materials varies

Session E: Finishing Toucheswith Jeanne Bourquin4/23/14-4/25/14Step Five: Finishing Touches--Wood Canvas Canoe Repair (Gunwales, Seats, Stembands, Keels). Your canoe should be mostly painted and varnished when you bring it for this class. The first day is to install gunwales and then sand and shape them. The next day we will hang seats, make dowel spacers for seats, (1/2 day), attach stembands (1/2 day), and or keel (1/2 day). The 3rd day we can practice wet sanding for that perfect last coat of paint, and cover some ideas for applying your paint. (2 to 3 days depending on your needs, please bring a partner with you to help.)

length (days) 3 hours 9am-5pmtuition $255 (2 day option $170) early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$225 (2 day op-tion $150) materials varies

Wood Canvas Canoe Repair Series: Ribs & PlankingCoracle Boat: Build Your Own | Photo by Bill Lyders


Expedition Footwear: Making Hide & Canvas Muklukswith Jo Wood11/14/14-11/16/14Remember the last time your feet were too cold to enjoy wonderful wintry weather? Do away with rigid unbreath-able footwear and discover the traditional footwear of the north: mukluks. The flexibility of the natural materi-als used in construction allows the foot to generate heat, and a breathable layering system allows moisture to es-cape. In this course youll be guided through the process of pattern making, and handcraft your own pair of hide mukluks with knee high or shorter uppers. Booties or liners must be purchased or made before the workshop. Some sewing experience is helpful but not necessary.

length (days) 2.5 hours Day 1: 3pm-7pm; Day 2/3: 9am-5pmtuition $200 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$190 materials $80

Expedition Footwear: Making Hide & Canvas Mukluks Up the Gunflint Trailwith Jo Wood10/31/14-11/2/14North House is pleased to announce an opportunity to experience the rich ecological beauty and cultural history of the Gunflint Trail AND immerse in the traditional northern craft of mukluk making. This session of Expe-dition Footwear: Making Mukluks will be taught by long-time North House instructor Jo Wood at Gunflint Lodge.

Remember the last time your feet were too cold to enjoy wonderful wintry weather? Do away with rigid unbreath-able footwear and discover the traditional footwear of the north: mukluks. The flexibility of the natural materi-als used in construction allows the foot to generate heat, and a breathable layering system allows moisture to es-cape. In this course youll be guided through the process of pattern making, and handcraft your own pair of hide mukluks with knee high or shorter uppers. Booties or liners must be purchased or made before the workshop. Some sewing experience is helpful but not necessary.

A variety of lodging options are available to students at special rates, allowing students to enjoy the beauty and northwoods hospitality of one of Minnesotas premier wilderness resorts, and leave with a sturdy pair of hand-crafted mukluks to keep their feet warm & snug when the snows begin to fall.

length (days) 2.5 hours Day 1: 3pm-7pm; Days 2/3: 9am-5pmtuition $200 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$190 materials $80

Sew Your Own: Scandinavian Work Shirt

clothing Mending Made EasyMillinery: Blocking the Straw HatNlbinding MittensNlbinding Mittens, Socks, Caps: The

Scandinavian Textile CraftSew Your Own: Scandinavian Work Shirt

apparel

footwearAniishiinaabe-Style Bead Embroidery &

Moccasin SewingExpedition Footwear:

Making Hide & Canvas MukluksExpedition Footwear: Making Hide &

Canvas Mukluks Up the Gunflint TrailMoccasin-Making & Bead Embroidery in

the Aniishiinaabe-StyleShoemaking with the Cordwainer ShopShoemaking:

10th Century Scandinavian Turn ShoeShoemaking:

Internal Stitchdown Workboots

Aniishiinaabe-Style Bead Embroidery & Moccasin Sewingwith Marcie McIntire3/13/14-3/16/14Discover the designs, color, styles and technique of tradi-tional 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. You will design a pair of moccasins to make, choosing from either a baby or childs moccasin pattern or an adult-sized pair. Using quality tanned deerhide, Marcie will teach the steps required for assembly and help you design a pattern to finish your pair of moc-casins with bead embroidery. Your materials fee includes the fabric, interfacing, beads, needles and thread. As time allows, additional beadwork projects will be included.


Shoemaking with the Cordwainer Shop


Foot Felting: Slippers or Winter Boot Linerswith Elise Kyllo11/20/14-11/21/14Warm up winter by making your own woolen slippers or boot liners. Using the ancient no knitting-wet felting technique, you will make a cozy, warm pair of slippers or boot liners. The craft hasnt changed in centuries except we now can choose plastic instead of animal skins and soap instead of ash or urine. Its a simple, almost magi-cal technique that transforms fluffy wool into a durable thick material that is sculpted to the owners foot through patient, energetic agitation. We will discuss options for adding soles. Supposedly, the 100% wool liners are warmer than the poly fiber mix that is so prevalent, but youll have to be the judge of that yourself.

length (days) 2 hours 9am-5pmtuition $170 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$150 materials varies ($35-$50)

Mending Made Easywith Carol Colburn6/7/14

Wondering what to do about holes in knitted socks and sweaters, torn backpacks, worn hiking pants, damaged couch cushions? This class will give you practical life saving tips to keep your favorite textiles alive through many years of hard use. Practice hand sewing stitches and learn simple machine sewing techniques for repairing and adding new life to your wardrobe, household goods, and camping gear. You will take away samples of tech-niques helpful for making sturdy repairs to either fine fabrics or tough canvas. Class will include an opportunity to troubleshoot your repair problems. Bring something that needs restoring from your mending basket.

length (days) 0.5 hours 9am-noontuition $45 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$40 materials $10 age with adult 14+

Millinery: Blocking the Straw Hatwith Emily Moe

8/9/14-8/10/14Stylish, cool and durable, these are a far cry from a farmers straw hat! Craft your own personalized straw hat using millinery parasisal or Panama straw blanks. Over a two day period, you will block and finish at least one straw hat. Starting with a blank, finely woven straw that comes from skilled artisans in Ecuador and China, we will transform them into functional and beautiful hats. A variety of options from the classic Panama hat to the pork pie to something you dream up from your own sense of style are possible. Students will choose from an array of buttons, ribbons, beads and feathers to person-alize their creations.


Moccasin-Making & Bead Embroi-dery in the Aniishiinaabe-Stylewith Marcie McIntire9/5/14-9/7/14Discover the designs, color, styles and technique of tradi-tional 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 Grand Portage National Monuments historic collection of footwear and bead embroidery. You then design a pair of moccasins to make, choosing from either a baby or childs moccasin pattern or an adult-sized pair. Using quality tanned hide, Marcie will teach the steps required for assembly and help you design a pattern to finish your pair of moccasins with bead embroidery. Your materials fee includes the fabric, interfacing, beads, needles and thread. The class will take place in the cultural heritage classroom at the Grand Portage National Monument Visitor Center in Grand Portage, MN (35 miles northeast of Grand Marais). Please note, most students who chose to make adult-size moccasins will finish one moccasin in 3 days, but leave the with materials and knowledge to complete the project at home. For those interested in staying for an optional 4th day to fully immerse in the project, this is available for an additional $50. Please notify North House at the time of registration.

length (days) 3 hours 9am-4:30pmtuition $225 optional 4th day $50 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$195 materials varies - $75 adult size, $65 child sizeage with adult 9+

Nlbinding Mittenswith Larry Schmitt10/21/14-10/23/14Nlbinding, similar to but far older than knitting or crochet, is a way to make a looped-structure fabric with a single needle. Nlbound mittens are valued for warmth and practicality and in this workshop youll learn nlbind-ing, as well as the basics of shaping a Scandinavian-style work mitten. A variety of finishing techniques will be demonstrated, and time will be devoted to the folklore surrounding nlbinding. Lesson materials, needle, and an appropriate amount of yarn for the first samples are provided. You will also have the opportunity to make your own needles.


Nlbinding Mittens, Socks, Caps: The Scandinavian Textile Craftwith Larry Schmitt5/14/14-5/18/14Discover the textile craft tradition known as nlbinding and explore its Scandinavian roots. As a course project, students choose to create their own pair of mittens, socks, or a syltemjlkskopp a milk strainer cap. Or draw from tradition to inspire a project of your own design in consultation with the instructor. Nlbinding is a way to make looped structure fabric with a single needle and, when worked in wool, it is valued for warmth, durability, and practicality. The course covers the basics of nlbinding and explores those related crafts that are often incorporated in Scandinavian-style nlbound items. You will make your own nlbinding needles. Time will be devoted to the history and folklore of nlbinding as well as nlbindings influence on Scandinavian craft traditions. Scandinavian-style nlbinding reflects both place of ori-gin and local culture. Students at North House will create nlbound items inspired by Scandinavia and infused with the spirit of Grand Marais!


Sew Your Own: Scandinavian Work Shirtwith Carol Colburn9/4/14-9/6/14It works! Sew your own Scandinavian work shirt, de-signed for comfort and for your favorite outdoor activi-ties. Learn a life-long skill while creating a shirt you will love to wear. Traditional shirts in the Scandinavian coun-tries are great for layering and designed for outdoor life. Natural fiber striped fabrics of cotton, linen, and wool in many colors and textures can be used to make distinc-tive shirts. When made of traditional blue or red striped cotton, Scandinavians enjoy wearing these comfortable shirts to reflect their heritage. Sewing patterns and in-structions are based on historical examples. Patterns are based on squares and rectangles. As you create your shirt, you will be guided step by step, adjusting your pattern, cutting, machine and hand sewing, and adding the finish-ing touches. Scandinavian work shirts are ideal for men, women and children who enjoy all kinds of outdoor life.

length (days) 2.25 hours Day 1: 5-7pm, Day 2/3: 9am-5pmtuition $170 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$150 materials varies ($25-$90)Shoemaking: Internal Stitchdown Workboots

Expedition Footwear: Making Hide & Canvas Mukluks

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fiber artsBead EmbroideryHandcraft A Wool Braided RugHistory to Handcraft: Highlight on Fiber ArtsKumihimo: Japanese BraidingOld-Fashioned Rug HookingPenny Rugs: Woolen MosaicsTaking the Hard out of Hardanger:

Norwegian NeedlecraftWool: The Full Experience

feltingFelting a Seamless Wool VestFelting: Seamless Mittens and MoreFoot Felting: Slippers or Winter Boot LinersNo-Knit Felted HatsWooly Critters: Intro to Felting

weavingRug Weaving for FamiliesTablet WeavingTapestry Weaving: Painting with FiberWoven, Decorative Bands: Weaving

on the Modified Rigid Heddle

spinningFiber Exploration for SpinnersSpinning Fibers On A Wheel

dyeingNatural Dyes in the SteamboxNatural Plant DyesRed, Yellow, Purple, Blue:

Exploring Extracts for DyeingShades of Blue: Intro to Indigo

Help Yourself To Knitting: Beginning Knitting Class

Intermediate Knitting SkillsKids Knit!

knitting

Shoemaking with the Cordwainer Shopwith Molly Grant/Candace LaCosse7/17/14-7/20/147/21/14-7/24/14Learn the age-old art of being a cordwainer. Using the original patterns designed in the mid-1930s by Paul and Edward Mathews of The Cordwainer Shop, Molly and her apprentice Candace will teach you to hand-stitch and hand-lace your own pair of Cordwainer Classics of the same design worn by Hollywood legends such as Caesar Romero, Shirley Temple, Mary Pickford and the original Henry Ford. Class will begin with a brief presentation on the history of the business and the original designs. Then we will move on to leather and color selection, cutting of patterns, and hand lacing using antique hand tools. The uppers will then be laced to the soles, placed on shoe lasts and baked before finishing. Made of non-synthetic materials, your handmade, one-of-a-kind shoes will only get better with time and last a lifetime if well-cared for. Upon enrolling, students will be sent a foot outline form with explicit directions to be sent back to the instructor.

length (days) 3.5 hours Days 1-3: 9am-5pm, Day 4: 9am-1pmtuition $350 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$330 materials $220

Shoemaking: 10th Century Scandinavian Turn Shoewith Jason Hovatter10/2/14-10/5/14Crafting functional, durable and attractive footwear with your own hands is a deeply satisfying (and sole-ful!) task. We will begin by making a casting of your foot (shoes will truly be custom built) then move on to patterning and leather selection, cutting and skiving, butt stitching and assembly. Once the upper and sole are attached we move on to turning and hammering, closure and finish-ing and finally gooping the soles. A wide assortment of leather working techniques and tools will be covered, and after learning a few simple methods and skills, youll be ready to let your imagination run wild on your next pair of shoes. This pair of shoes could easily last you for the rest of your life if well taken care of!


Shoemaking: Internal Stitchdown Workbootswith Jason Hovatter9/25/14-9/28/1410/9/14-10/12/14Its hard to imagine a more functional and necessary piece of footwear than a solid workbootand one that is custom-fit to your foot? What more could you ask for really? We will begin by making a casting of your foot and then move on to patterning and leather selection, cutting and skiving, seaming and assembly. Well use in-dustrial sewing machines--some sewing experience would be helpful but is not necessary. Once the upper and sole are attached we move onto closure and finishing and finally attaching and trimming the vibram outsole. Suit-able for adventures of all sorts, these boots are full of possibility (rumor has it, you can even wear them skiing!).


Wool: The Full Experience


Handcraft A Wool Braided Rugwith Traudi Bestler10/10/14-10/12/14The three-strand-braided wool rug is reminiscent of an era when rag rugs were considered an affordable way to reuse worn clothing and blankets to create a rug for the home. Early American immigrants and rural pioneers handcrafted the rag rug and created a fiber tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation. In this class, you will learn the craft of braiding rugs by making your own oval rug (about 2x3). You are welcome to bring old blanket-weight wool to incorpo-rate into your own rug, though the instructor will bring enough colors of wool, braiding tools, and other supplies for creating your own heirloom rug.length (days) 3 hours 9am-5pmtuition $255 early bird tuition (6+ weeks in advance) $225 materials varies ($50-$60) age with adult 14+

Help Yourself To Knitting: Beginning Knitting Classwith Kate Hartman6/18/14-6/19/1410/16/14-10/17/14This class is an enjoyable, two-day beginning knitting class which focuses not only on basic stitches and skills, but also on recognizing and correcting common mistakes which often frustrate the beginner. Topics include basic knitting skills, yarn basics and pattern reading. You will be provided with a beginning book, one pair of size 8 (Am) knitting needles, practice yarn and several easy project patterns to help you get started in this enjoyable craft and past time. Children and adults may choose to participate together on this learning experience, taking advantage of a special intergenerational rate.length (days) 2 hours 9am-5pmtuition $150 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$130 materials $15 age with adult 10+

History to Handcraft: Highlight on Fiber Artswith Carol Colburn9/12/14

Join historical textile expert Carol Colburn for a be-hind the scenes look at local history. This course will highlight various pieces of the Cook County Historical Society collection. After a brief introduction at North House, the class will visit the local museum, located just a few blocks away. Students will have an opportunity to observe close-up fiber craft currently on display, as well as pieces from the archives. Featured will be selections of household textiles as well as garments, textile tools, and historic photographs depicting these items in context. Some of the techniques represented include spinning, weaving, knitting, garment making, embroidery, and a variety of rug making techniques. Some of the artifacts have personal history available about the makers. Con-nections between handcraft we learn at North House and life in earlier days of Grand Marais will make the artifacts come to life. Besides this unique look at an aspect of the history of Grand Marais, the mornings tour provides an introduction to utilizing an historical collection for inspiration for handcraft today.length (days) 0.5 hours 9am-noontuition $45 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance)$40 materials included

Bead Embroiderywith Jo Wood8/2/14-8/3/14The use of beads has spanned cultures across the globe for more than 6,000 years. Learn how this traditional needle art can be used in an innovative way. Jos goal is to demystify the basic materials and techniques of bead embroidery, and introduce you to painting with beads. While working with bead colors and textures, you will also learn about composition, transferring patterns, and how to add depth a

north house folk school s/s 2014 course catalog

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