I teach single-day and multi-day Slöjd Workshops for all ages that involve harvesting wood from the local landscape and carving those pieces into spoons, bowls, plates, cups, figures, faces, wands, walking sticks, and more.

Fundamentally, "slöjd" is the Swedish word for "handcraft". Slöjd education involves teaching craft skills such as woodcarving, sewing, leatherwork, and knitting. Slöjd projects are both useful and beautiful, and come from sustainably harvested local materials!

If you're curious, I have written more about the history of slöjd as well as modern interpretations of slöjd practice.

I love to teach people how to play and make Ancient Games, such as Fidchell, Hnefatafl, Three Man's Morris, Nine Man's Morris, Fox & Geese, Shogi, Senet, The Royal Game of Ur, and more. Old games have so much wisdom to share!

I've taught ancient game-craft with Maeve Gathje at North House Folk School and with Anna Sharratt at Great River School.

I teach workshops on Natural Basketry by bringing students out into the landscape and harvesting local materials. When we weave a basket, it is a way to connect ourselves to the land on which we live. I've taught basketry workshops at the American Swedish Institute, Minnesota New Country School, the Arts Center of Saint Peter, and the Mankato Makerspace.

They say that Spoon Carving is the gateway drug to all other woodcraft. If that's true - and I think it is - then I've opened the door for students at the Mankato Makerspace and Minnesota New Country School. Like natural basketry, spoon carving requires only simple tools and local materials in order to craft an object that is durable, beautiful, and practical.

Wool Spinning is the process by which a sheep's fleece begins to become a sweater! In 2021, I received the Teaching Tools Grant from the American Swedish Institute in order to purchase a spinning wheel, drop spindles, and wool carders. Since then, I have used those tools to teach a variety of fiber-related workshops to both adults and children.

A very ancient, very fast, and very fun craft, Jugglebraiding is a two-person fiber craft which can be used to create shoelaces, drawstrings, bracelets, ropes, and bowstrings. It is easy to set up and brings a lively energy to any workshop!