Posts by Kelly Loija
Candace LaCosse
With an eclectic professional background in journalism, education, and art, Candace LaCosse fell in love with shoemaking several years ago and has been making shoes and other leather accessories since. After apprenticing with shoemakers around the country, she opened her shop, Hemlocks Leatherworks, in the Lincoln Park Craft District in Duluth, Minnesota. She currently teaches…
Read More...Fred Livesay
Fred Livesay is a crafts instructor and restoration carpenter residing in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a founding instructor of North House Folk School. He teaches various crafts at folk schools, art centers, museums, and gatherings in the five-state area, and is a frequent guest instructor at Spoonfest, Edale, England. Primarily a woodworker, he is…
Read More...Carl Wegener
Carl Wegener is a photographer based in the St. Croix River Valley. He has taught photography to children through 4-H and the Wilder Foundation, sharing his love of the craft with young learners. Carl runs a program that is in its 11th year called “Recycle Your Camera for Kids,” where he takes donated, older technology…
Read More...Brian Keogh
Brian Keogh was first exposed to woodcarving from his dad, Bob Keogh. Funny thing was, Brian had no interest in carving when his dad was alive, but for the past 10 years he has been carving spoons from green birch. Brian enjoys cycling in the summer and nordic skiing and saunas in the winter. He and…
Read More...Lizabeth Towers
Lizabeth Towers is an experienced knitting teacher who has earned the two teaching certificates available from the Craft Yarn Council of America. A friend to every knitter, she enjoys making tough techniques accessible to average knitters, teaching rank beginners the joy of knitting, and best of all, learning from her students. She is found on ravelry.com as…
Read More...Randy Gildersleeve
Randy Gildersleeve has decades of experience playing, teaching, and recording music in many genres. He currently performs with North Shore Trail (bluegrass/acoustic), Saints of Swing (big band jazz), St. Croix Crossings (classic rock), and the Hosanna Lutheran Forest Lake worship band. As a teacher, Randy gives private lessons in guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, mandolin, and…
Read More...Beth Mercer
Beth Mercer is largely self taught band weaver (using books and online videos), through she has benefited by taking classes from visiting instructors and participating in special interest groups at the Weavers Guild of Minnesota. She is a retired database administrator who has a passion for fiber arts, including wool processing and spinning, weaving, knitting,…
Read More...Heather Mashuga
Heather Mashuga recognized her passion for plants and herbalism in her first herbalism class, proceeding to earn her master’s degree in Holistic Health Studies, with a concentration in herbalism, from St. Catherine’s University. She practices traditional Western herbalism and has been a practitioner and teacher for 4 years. Heather incorporates knowledge and traditions of herbal…
Read More...Christen Pentek
Christen Pentek (they/them) is a fiber artist creating practical pieces from the earth for over 25 years. Their art includes found and natural elements, nature, and sustainable methods. They work predominantly with wools and fibers made in Minnesota’s fibershed, including wolf; as part of the wolf pack, they’ve had the privilege of working with fiber…
Read More...Alycen Brothen
Alycen Brothen is an embroidery and rug hooking artist from Minnesota. She is a passionate learner of handcrafts who has been needleworking since childhood. She believes in embracing the process, turning mistakes into happy accidents, and having fun.
Read More...Britta Harris
Britta Harris is a natural dye and fiber artist from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Her natural dye practice focuses on seasonal foraging and finding color in her own backyard. She has worked in public education for 18 years and loves teaching outdoors and providing students with hands-on experiences to help build their interest and curiosity.
Read More...Susan Rockwood
Susan Rockwood became a flower farmer 12 years ago, after retiring from a career in healthcare administration. She started Arcola Trail Flower Farm, a small commercial cut flower farm in Stillwater Township, and now grows over 75 varieties of cut flowers using organic and sustainable methods. In addition to selling flowers to wholesale and retail…
Read More...Elle Sullivan
Elle Sullivan began Mellifera Flowers in 2020, a 1/4-acre flower farm nestled in between dairy goats, hay fields, and wild wetlands. What started as a side-project bringing weekly flowers to a few customers has evolved into a 50-plus member flower CSA serving communities across the Twin Cities metro area. Elle teaches a variety of workshops…
Read More...Mandora Young
Mandora Young was born in Vientiane, Laos. She came to the United States in 1979 as a refugee to California. She learned Hmong embroidery from both her mother and grandmother, who are skilled in cross-stitching, reverse applique, and story cloth stitching. Mandora enjoys teaching Hmong embroidery to students, adults, and anyone who wants to learn…
Read More...Robin Garwood
Robin Garwood is a book and installation artist based in Saint Paul, MN. He was the September 2022 Pine Needles Artist in Residence in Marine on Saint Croix. His work has been shown at Art Shanty Projects, Northern Spark, Mary Jo Van Dell Gallery, the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and the Sogn Valley Art…
Read More...Jake Fee
Jake Fee is a craftsman, artist, and teacher currently living in Grand Marais, Minnesota. His mission is to connect people to the landscape through craft and play.
Read More...Kristi Fackel
Kristi Fackel is the owner of Maude Medicinal Clothing and a medicinal and natural dyer, practicing herbalist/Ayurvedic health counselor, clothing designer and maker, embroideress, avid knitter, and sometimes weaver. She was a handwork teacher at Minnesota Waldorf School for 10 years and taught knitting, crochet, embroidery/cross stitch, hand and machine sewing and felting (among other…
Read More...Kevin Ewing
Kevin Ewing is an artist based in Rochester, Minnesota whose work blends craftsmanship with nature inspired design. He began his artistic journey in the 1980’s with a small furniture shop in the historic Winona Depot Freight House. While making furniture, he was drawn to the art of carving, incorporating intricate details into his bespoke furniture.
Read More...Jeff Rabkin
Jeff Rabkin took up coffee roasting on a whim several years ago and enjoys teaching this fun, economical and practical skill. In addition to coffee roasting, Jeff teaches AI classes, facilitates LEGO Serious Play, and consults on using AI for corporate innovation. He’s also building an application for organic farmers. In addition to his seemingly…
Read More...Jules Bunch
Jules Bunch (they/them) is a maker and educator who believes that working with our hands reconnects us to ourselves and to one another. Trained in sculpture and experienced in teaching woodworking, metalwork, mold-making, and material processes, they guide students through approachable, confidence-building projects that honor both tradition and experimentation. Based in South Minneapolis, Jules teaches…
Read More...Charles Buchwald
Charles Buchwald has voyaged in homebuilt boats across the Boundary Waters and throughout the Salish Sea, and has sailed around the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. He holds a degree in Studio Art, studied at the Westlawn School of Yacht Design, and has worked with the Minnesota Historical Society. He designs museum exhibits with his…
Read More...Larry Underkoffler
Now retired, Larry Underkoffler taught Junior High Art for 25 years. He is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Viet Nam, Air Traffic Controller, Camping Director for 8 years, illustrator of children’s books and Sculpture and has served as the Superintendent of Art for the Washington County Fair for the past 18 years. He…
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