Instructors
Surelle Strike
Surelle Strike is a painter, printmaker, and art teacher. She loves nature, fairy tales, and making art with new people! She lives in Forest lake with her family, and is constantly looking for ways to get creative with new mediums.
Read MoreRenee Vaughan
Renee Vaughan plays traditional Scandinavian music on the nyckelharpa, an instrument with a history spanning over 700 years. A versatile collaborator, Renee lends her talent to an array of musical projects throughout the northern heartland area, including solo performances, participation in intercultural and intergenerational bands, as well as informative presentations and storytelling performances. Additionally, she is…
Read MoreCathryn Peters
Cathryn Peters, based in Hudson, WI, has been teaching chair caning and basketry for over 40 years across the country at basketry conventions, folk schools, woodworking schools and online. Peters enjoys passing on these heritage crafts and loves watching the creative juices flow with students in her classes. Cathryn is a founding member and two-term…
Read MoreLisa B. Martin
Lisa B. Martin is a published writer and award-winning international literacy advocate with over 40 years of teaching experience. She has lived and taught in Massachusetts, Maine, the Pacific Northwest, and Mexico. The Fearless Writing workshop series is inspired by the wisdom of Seattle author William Kenower’s books and podcasts: Fearless Writing and Everyone Has…
Read MoreKay Anderson
“After spending years in the software consulting world using my creativity to build software solutions for my clients, I decided to retire. Then there was Covid. I decided I needed to make changes in my life. I bought a dog – a Siberian Husky full of life– and I learned to paint. I fell in love with alcohol…
Read MoreTina Green Krause
“I started my woodcraft journey in 2017, fueled by a desire to learn and create handmade, functional, beautiful objects that I could make for my home. There are so many ways craft and creating has made my life richer. I am grateful to have the opportunity to share what I know, be connected and inspired…
Read MoreJane Grant-Abban
“Through both my paintings and therapeutic art workshops and retreats, my goal is to help others experience the joy and wonder of creating with child-like freedom,” Jane says. “For many adults that inner child may have gone unnoticed and unexpressed for many years. I want to re-awaken that child within because it is an essential part of…
Read MoreCarol Stec
Carol is a lifelong crafter. She learned to sew, knit, and crochet as a child and has shared her knowledgewith fortunate co-workers and friends for decades. In addition, Carol has developed and constructed herown patterns in all three categories. She has found her background in health care to be beneficial inteaching, as it cultivated patience,…
Read MoreWesley Hathaway
Wesley grew up in Indiana where being creative was always encouraged, whether it was playing an instrument, drawing, or just cutting up popsicle sticks. Wesley spent 6 years in the United States Air Force which is how he stumbled upon a folk school in Fairbanks, Alaska and got exposed to craft back in 2017. Wesley…
Read MoreTasha Hock
Tasha Hock is passionate about textiles: their history, how they function in our contemporarylives, and how they connect us to one another. She teaches our Talismanic Embroidery class.
Read MoreJaime Souza
Jaime Souza has 20 years of teaching experience in the great outdoors. She has worked for incredible organizations, such as the Wild Rivers Conservancy of the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers, Osprey Wilds, and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, leading a variety of nature-based adventures, classes, programs, and workshops for people of all ages. In…
Read MoreSteve Van Houten
Steve is a semiretired engineer with a longtime involvement in folk and bluegrass music. He wasa longtime member and volunteer with the Minnesota Bluegrass Association as well asan enthusiastic jammer and sometime performer. He is not a published or recorded songwriterbut says his music has been well-received.
Read MorePam Heaton
Pam has been teaching as a certified clogging instructor, locally, for 25 years! “It is my passion and I love sharing this traditional American dance with anyone willing to give it a try. I love that it is an activity that all ages can participate in together. It is great fun and great exercise, mentally…
Read MoreMelanie Harding
Melanie Harding is an Environmental Education leader and a self-proclaimed nature nerd, basedin St. Paul, MN. She has 30 years of experience engaging people in the science and beauty ofnature. She is also an avid gardener and loves teaching people about indoor and outdoor composting.
Read MoreKevin Klein
Kevin teaches oil painting classes and tells this story of how he got started: “When my son was a baby, we started watching Steve Ross’s dad’s show to help fall asleep. One day I saw an ad in community edwith Kristi Nelson, a CRI (Certified Ross Instructor). I thought I’d give it the old college…
Read MoreRick Yonker
Rick is currently a science and technology specialist for Farmington Schools, in Farmington, MN. He has been tinkering with wood for most of his life and has been building bows since 1996. He is an instructor at North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN and has taught traditional bow making there since 2003. Rick…
Read MoreCathy & Mike Mackiewicz
Cathy and Mike Mackiewicz started Bone Lake Meadows Apiary, have been keeping bees forover 23 years and have hives in various locations along the St. Croix River Valley. “Our apiaryaims towards sustainable beekeeping. As beekeepers it’s our job to set up our bees to succeed.We do this by placing our bees on organically farmed land,…
Read MoreLizzie Christian
Lizzie Christian is a self-taught printmaker based in Minneapolis. She runs a one-woman art business under the name Rare Press, and focuses on blockprints, painting, and textiles. She loves sharing the joy of blockprinting with others through local workshops as well as through her Patreon community. Plants, portraits, and patterns are themes that weave through…
Read MoreMandora Young
“I was born in Vientiane, Laos. I came to the United States in 1979 as a refugee to California. Ilearned Hmong embroidery from both my mother and grandmother who are skilled in cross-stitching, reverse applique, and story cloth stitching. I enjoy teaching Hmong embroidery tostudents, adults, and anyone who wants to learn about Hmong paj…
Read MoreAlex Yerks
Alex Yerks is a self-taught traditional wood carver focused on what he calls items of “kitchenalia” or “kitchen sloyd.” His wide range of expertise in making traditional craft objects includes hewn bowls, spoons & utensils, cups, shrink pots, wooden sculptures, forging his own carving tools, and helping other tool makers design long-lost tools – some…
Read MoreJoAnne Sabin
JoAnne has been a beekeeper since 2005 and a beekeeping instructor and speaker for over a dozen years. She is a member and librarian for the Minnesota Hobby Beekeepers Association (MHBA) and a member and on the Board of Directors for the Honey Bee Club of Stillwater. She is also an avid gardener and photographer and…
Read MoreLia Falls
Lia Falls is a singer and songwriter who has been leading a community song circle in St Croix Falls, Wisconsin for the past 8 years. She teaches Full Voice, Vocal Playground, and Yoga of the Voice in classes and as a private vocal coach. Lia is dedicated to sharing the aural tradition of spreading songs, and to the conviction that singing is everyone’s birthright…
Read More