Sharon Knutson
“I have crafted most of my life. I started embroidering fish on burlap at my grandma’s house when I was little. I’ve dabbled in many things along the way, embroidery, crewel, needlepoint, cross stitch, and quilting among others. Knitting and spinning have been my primary focus for many years now. There is something about spinning fiber into yarn and…
Read MoreAlycen 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 MoreLynn Berens
Lynn Berens is an avid crafter and gardener. She enjoy sewing, needle felting, counted cross stitch, and embroidery. Lynn loves to grow natives, annuals, perennials, and vegetables. She harvest seeds from most of my plants every fall. Lynn is a retired elementary school Librarian and teacher. Lynn’s work can be found on Etsy: Bloomandgrowmn
Read MoreJanice Hunton
West-African Drumming Ensemble Janice Hunton taught at the Perpich Center for Arts Education for 27 years and lead the African Drumming Ensemble there for 15 years. She studied West-African music at the University of St. Thomas, Hamline University, and has traveled two times to the Dagara Music Center in Ghana.
Read MoreChristen Pentek
Christen (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 shed…
Read MoreBeth Mercer
Beth 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, sewing…pretty…
Read MoreThe Genius of the Folk School Model
Folk schools originated in the 1850s as part of a movement to provide individuals a way to gain self-knowledge and purpose in connection with their community through lifelong learning.
Read MoreSpoons, New Beginnings & Woodcarving
Spoons are symbols of new beginnings … …from a baby’s first bite to a woodcarver’s first foray. When someone is interested in learning to carve wood, they’ll often choose to start with a spoon. So much learning goes into the art form: wood selection, tool usage, curing, and even history. Form and function are explored. Risk-taking is…
Read MoreI Was Hooked! Foraged & Farmed Holiday Wreaths
Wreath-making has become an annual holiday tradition for Lindsay Ellis and her family.
Read MoreFred Livesay to Teach at Marine Mills Folk School
Internationally renowned woodcarver will lead an Advanced Spoon Carving workshop Woodcarvers are invited to attend a special two-day Advanced Spoon Carving workshop with Fred Livesay at Marine Mills Folk School. “We’re so excited to be able to feature Fred at this two-day workshop,” says Kirsten Skoglund, program director for Marine Mills Folk School. “Fred will…
Read MoreBecky Utecht
Becky raises sheep and makes fiber art, specializing in feltmaking. Using the wool from her flock of sheep, she creates two- and three-dimensional felt art pieces including wall art, garments, accessories, rugs, and vessels. Felting combines her love of animals and nature with her passion for art. She enjoys teaching and sharing the magic of…
Read MoreLiesl Chatman
Liesl Chatman is a spoon carver, kolroser, and teacher. Her kolrosed spoons have been exhibited at the American Swedish Institute and the Vesterheim Museum, and she has taught kolrosing, spoon carving, and given demonstrations at North House Folk School in Grand Marais MN, ASI and Fireweed in Minneapolis, the Spoon Gathering in Milan MN, Greenwoodfest in…
Read MoreBecome a Member of Marine Mills Folk School
Many of you know the joy and community that comes from taking a class at Marine Mills Folk School: learning from our skilled artisans; meeting other curious, supportive learners; and experiencing the pride of challenging yourself and the personal growth that follows. At the heart of our mission is providing opportunities for the joyful learning…
Read MoreCarson Gross
Carson is a wild-food enthusiast and educator. His fascination with fungi began in Western Pennsylvania, when a friend showed him a bright orange chicken-of-the-woods mushroom. He was immediately hooked and set out to learn everything he could about foraging for mushrooms, an obsession that continues to today. Carson joined the Western PA Mushroom Club in…
Read MoreCrop Artist Liz Schreiber Explains Her Craft
Liz Schreiber has won numerous ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair, and teaches Crop Art classes at Marine Mills Folk School.
Read MoreI Was Hooked! Basket Making
Becca Gross has taken her education beyond the classroom, exploring the art of basket making in her free time. We love to celebrate and share stories like hers, and hope you enjoy hearing from Becca in her own words. “This past winter, I took Kirsten Skoglund’s Market Tote class. After the class, I purchased a…
Read MoreHeidi Skoog
After nearly two decades as an award-winning florist, Heidi swapped blooms for an apron to pursue her passion for food. A self-taught jam-maker, Heidi combines traditional methods and a flair for experimenting with flavor combinations and unusual ingredients. The result is a well-balanced, vibrant preserve that has a lot of love and story in every…
Read MoreTaking Pride in Ourselves
Photo by Tony Webster. One of our not-so-secret goals as a folk school is to create world peace by bringing together people from different cultures and ways of life. With the Twin Cities Pride Festival and other Pride events taking place this weekend, we wish to honor LGBTQ+ individuals who have been fighting for decades for equal rights.…
Read MoreFolk School Aims to Strengthen and Empower
By Nealy Corcoran editor@countrymessenger.com Marine Mills Folk School offers a variety of classes where everyone is welcome. People are invited to learn traditional skills in a collaborative environment. Classes include (but are not limited to) photography, gardening, knitting, baking, wood-carving, syrup making, music and much more. Following a focaccia baking class, students at MMFS proudly pose…
Read MoreScandinavian Textile Artist Returns to Marine Mills Folk School
Kirsten Aune, artist-owner of Kirsten Aune Textiles Studio in Duluth, Minn., will be returning to Marine Mills Folk School on Monday, June 20 to teach Scandinavian Textile Stenciling. Students ages 18 and older will learn the art of stenciling on fabrics as they create a decorative textile for the home such as a pillow cover, handbag,…
Read MoreI Was Hooked! Barn/Hex Signs
Janet Walker Beckman reached out to Marine Mills Folk School recently to share her burgeoning interest in creating barn/hex signs. We love to celebrate and share stories like hers, and hope you enjoy hearing from Janet in her own words. “One of the first things that caught my eye when I moved to the Chisago…
Read MoreChiaki O’Brien
Chiaki O’Brien is a SAORI Leaders Committee Certificate recipient. She began SAORI Weaving in 1996 in Japan. She worked as an instructor for the SAORI head office/school in Japan before moving to Minnesota in 2004. She’s been teaching a variety of ages and abilities at schools (including special education classes), at facilities for people with…
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