The North House Folk School
by LiLi Jackson

I was raring to go to the North House Folk School (NHFS) this May, not only to build the first and most important piece of my new shop, but also because it is located in the enjoyable town of Grand Marais, MN on the North Shore of Lake Superior. I live in Minneapolis, and with such an interesting art community so close to home, I should be in Grand Marais all the time.

Catalogs of North House classes are always accessible on the web, and they're also distributed in cities throughout the upper Midwest. The classes are offered year-round and focus not just on woodworking, but on a wide range of traditional crafts from making moosehide mukluks (which I really, really want to do), to building Thoreau's cabin (could also be used as a backyard workshop). They also specialize in wooden boatbuilding. I chose to take the "Build Your Own Workbench" class because I needed a sturdy workbench to build up my shop, and also because the elegantly classic mortise and tenon bench could also be easily taken apart to move.

After registering for the class, I browsed the "Lodging" links on the NHFS web site, and found traditional Scandinavian log cabins at Tomteboda Resort Motel. Early in the morning, I drove the striking route that hugs the great lake, to be greeted by the sun and the accommodating people of NHFS. The class was taught by master woodworker John Beltman, who is an expert in traditional woodworking. The student population included men, women, young, old, beginners and seasoned woodworkers, who were all fascinating people with unique stories. Using tools ranging from a chain mortiser to a groove hand plane, we shaped the wood into our benches. In three days all our benches were built, and our experience and knowledge had grown.

Not only did I learn about mortise and tenon construction, but I also now have a workbench that is so nice I could use it as a dining room table. When the Woodworks Show was in the Twin Cities last month, I used this bench in the "Women In Woodworking" booth. North House Folk School is a creative and supportive environment to work and play in. I am already planning next year’s trip back.