w - North House Folk School

Birch Bark Boxes:Scandinavian Bark Basketrywith Fred Livesay9/7/13-9/8/1318th and 19th century Scandinavians commonly keptsmall, flat birch bark boxes in pockets for the then populartaking of snuff. Larger finger and lap jointed boxesoften held coffee, tea, tobacco, salt, tacks, paint pigmentsand even butter. Today they continue to be a treasuredplace for keepsakes, buttons, spare change, jewelry, driedfruits, oatmeal or a child’s found treasures. Discover howto make these charming little boxes following centuriesold traditions and techniques with new methods, too.length (days) 2 hours 9am-5pmtuition $150 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance) $130materials $20Birch Bark Tutorialwith Charlie Mayo/John Zasada9/21/13-9/22/13No patterns to choose from here - we simply offer thepersonal experience of two seasoned weavers willing topass along their knowledge. Join Charlie Mayo and JohnZasada, two birch bark veterans, as they tailor the birchbark weaving experience to meet your desired outcome- a simple finger ring, wall baskets and bread baskets forbeginners, and satchels, shoes or hats for experiencedweavers. John, a retired silviculturist, shares his knowledgeof bark selection and collection while Charlie sharesthe varied traditions of weaving bark throughout Scandinaviaand Russia.length (days) 2 hours 9am-5pmtuition $180 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance) $170materials $45Birch Bark Weaving:Bracelets & OtherSmall Projectswith John Zasada10/18/13Birch bark: not just for starting fires anymore. With alittle imagination, creativity and effort, birch bark can bewoven into a wide variety of shapes and objects. In thisone day session, you’ll focus on weaving a circular forms.These can become a bracelet, inspired by the Hawaiianlahala design, napkin rings or, add a little woodworking,and this same form can become a small box with a lid.Industrious students will likely be able to complete bothnewprojects. Great for learners of all ages!length (days) 1 hours 9am-4pmtuition $75 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance) $65materials $26age with adult 10+Black Ash Basketry: An Introductionwith Dennis Chilcote4/20/13-4/21/13Black ash splint is extremely flexible yet sturdy, makingit a most elegant and functional material. In this courseyou’ll learn the craft of preparing splint from the blackash tree, then use it to make a small black ash basket.Class discussion and hands-on experience includes learningto recognize black ash trees of basket splint qualityand the technique involved in producing the final weavingmaterial. Students will pound a log with a mallet toproduce splint and should be physically fit for the task.length (days) 2 hours 9am-5pmtuition $150 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance) $130materials $25888-387-9762Cattail Tote Bagwith Tina Fung Holder5/25/13-5/26/13Wondering what to do with all those cattails growingdown by the pond? Learn how to make a handy andstylish tote bag. Students will learn how to plait with thecattail leaves and assemble a tote bag. The basic checkerweave (usually done with palm fronds) will be taught usingcattails and iris leaves, giving this project a distinctlynorthern flair. As time permits you will be taught othermore complex weaves. Previous experience is not necessarybut sewing skills are helpful. Materials supplied.length (days) 2 hours 9am-5pmtuition $150 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance) $130materials $28Cattail Weaving:The Northern Fedorawith Tina Fung Holder7/20/13-7/21/13It’s inevitable...things are warming up and the sun’s raysare brighter than ever. Sunscreen isn’t just for the southanymore. Put a northern twist on a southern hat weavingtradition and make yourself a woven cattail hat to protectyourself from the sun during your outdoor activities.Palm fronds are the materials most commonly used forthis “strip plaiting” weaving project; however, nativenorthern cattails work as a northern substitute. You willlearn how to weave your own hat and get some foundationalbasketmaking skills along the way in this funproject. All the materials are provided.length (days) 1.5hours Day 1: 9am-5pm Day 2: 9 am- noontuition $115 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance) $100materials $10Craft Your Own Coiled Bee Skepwith Cathryn Peters5/11/13-5/12/13Basket making and beekeeping traditionally go handin hand, as beekeepers before the 1850s housed theirbees in handcrafted coiled bee skeps. Bring nostalgia toyour home or garden by crafting your own decorative,traditional straw bee skep or more prim/western skepout of rope. You’ll learn the traditional coiling basketrytechnique to create a skep, providing you the skills andinstruction to make a full-sized skep tailored to yourbeekeeping needs. Your instructor also will discuss thetraditions of bee skep history and lore as she learnedfrom her travels throughout England.length (days) 1.5hours Day 1: 9am-5pm, Day: 9am-noontuition $125 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance) $115materials $25Round-Bottomed Black Ash Bushel Basket7“the campusinstilleda sense offocuson ourcraft,not ‘crafts’.”- from a student evaluation formCrafting the TraditionalStake & Strand Willow Basketwith Lindsay & Lee Zeike Lee8/16/13-8/18/13When northern European emigrants came to NorthAmerica they brought with them a host of crafts andskills necessary for survival in their new world. The basketrytradition known as ‘stake & strand’ was one suchcraft, as baskets were used to store nearly everythingaround the homestead. Learning to weave with sticks ofwillow is a little different from reed, wood or bark. Willowyields to strong hands, giving beautiful results, andclass members will make a sturdy and functional roundbasket with a handle using a variety of weaves. You’lllearn the techniques behind the terms slath, twining,4-rod wale, French randing and border weaves. Classdiscussions will cover willow cultivation and harvest,traditions and lore.length (days) 2.5hours Day 1: 5-8 pm, Day 2/3 9am-5pmtuition $200 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance) $185materials $45Etched Birch Bark Basketrywith Jarrod StoneDahl7/5/13-7/7/13When birch bark is harvested at a certain time of theyear, it has a very thin layer that oxidizes and turns verydark. This bark is called “winter bark” and is prized forbasketry because designs can be scratched into the surface.In this class we will cut and fold “winter bark” intoa basket, sew it together with split root, and lash the rimon with black ash splint. After the basket is put together,we will focus on the etched design. The possibilities areendless; the technique is simple. The basketry style beingtaught focuses on the basic principles of working withbirch bark while allowing students to make 1 of 2 differentstyles of the folded and sewn type baskets.length (days) 2.5 hours Day 1 5pm- 8pm; Day 2 and3, 9am-5pmtuition $185 early bird tuition (6+ wks in advance) $175materials $55age with adult 14+more details, more photos: www.northhouse.org