Return to North House Folk School

I last took a workshop at North House Folk School in 2019.  The school, located in Grand Marais, MN, is a special place.  I was thrilled to take another class there in November!  Grand Marais is about 430 miles north of my home.  I made some stops along the way and stayed over in Duluth for one night before the final push to Grand Marais.

Busy Bobbin Quilt Shop, Rice Lake, WI

Yarn Harbor, my favorite yarn store in the Duluth area. 

One Old Loon Quilt Shop, Two Harbors, MN.  This was my first visit to this shop.  Loved it!

Gooseberry Falls State Park.  North of Two Harbors, MN.  Fellow visitors took my photo.  I returned the favor.

Split Rock Light House.  I love this view of it from an overlook on MN Highway 61.

View of Lake Superior out my motel window.  Outpost Motel, Grand Marais, MN

  Time & Again Antiques, Chetek WI.  I visited this store while enroute to Duluth. 

North House Folk School, Grand Marais, MN.  You'll be happy to hear that the weather improved markedly while I was there.  The school is on the shore of Lake Superior.

The workshop I was enrolled in was called "Making Hide and Canvas Boots".  It was taught by Jo Wood, a very knowledgeable and likeable teacher.  I'd been wanting to take this class for YEARS!  If you ever get the chance, sign up for this class!  You will love it!

Working in pairs, we each wrapped a foot with a plastic bag, then taped Duct tape all around it.  The "foot" mold was the cut apart to make a pattern for the boots.

Students chose leather from a selection of hides.  My choice was elk hide.  The leather is used to make the bottom/foot section of the boots.  Cotton canvas is used for the boot upper.  Felt boot liners were added at the very end, once the boots were sewn together.  The liners were purchased by students in advance of the workshop.  Most of us ordered those through Steger Moccasins, in Ely, MN.

Our classroom at North House Folk School.

There were breaks during the workshop.  Taking in the scenery was relaxing.

I collect embroidered trims.  I brought a selection of them with me to Grand Marais.

While cotton canvas was included in the class supply fee, I chose to purchase my own ahead to time.  I picked Hunter green as I love the color.  The boots are sewn almost entirely by hand.  Sewing machines were used to construct the canvas upper sections.  I sewed my trim on by hand.

Ta da!  The finished project!  Photo taken after I returned home.

 

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Road Trip to Northeastern Minnesota

This is a long overdue post!  I took a trip from my home in Madison, WI, to 

Grand Marais, MN in late November, 2019.

  

I made some stops along the way and they are pictured in this post. I was heading to 

the North House Folk School to take a "Blanket Coat" workshop Nov. 21 -24th.

The workshop was taught by Carol Colburn of Duluth.

First stop:  Busy Bobbin Quilt Shop, Rice Lake, WI, Nov. 19, 2019.
I ALWAYS stop here if I'm anywhere near Rice Lake!  I did not leave empty-handed!

I stayed overnight in Superior, WI.

Photo below:  killing time before stores opened in Duluth, MN.  Parked in Canal

Park, an area I love.  Wed. Nov. 20, 2019,

First shopping stop on my Duluth Docket!  Hannah Johnson Fabrics, located in

the Lester Park neighborhood of NE Duluth.  The owner has Madison connections

. . .  her daughter attended U.W. Madison.

Located a few blocks north, and on the same street as Hannah Johnson Fabrics,

is Yarn Harbor. A wonderful and cozy shop.  I found some hand-dyed yarn here.  

Oh, and a few knitting needles too.

A trip up the North Shore always involves a photo op at Split Rock Lighthouse.

The lighthouse was not open to the public at this time . . .my husband and I 

have been in it on previous Minnesota trips.

Quilt Corner, in Beaver Bay MN, is always on my list when I'm in the area!

Lots of north woods looking fabrics and a friendly owner.  With a winter storm

warning issued for NE Minnesota, I worked fast!  I made it to Grand Marais ahead

of the storm.   I stayed at the Best Western in Grand Marais.

Lots of snow and ice overnight!  Glad I got there a day ahead of my class start

date.

Beautiful Grand Marais, MN harbor, as seen from the North House Folk School.
Photo taken Thurs. eve Nov. 21, 2019.

The Blanket Coat class was being held in the "Boat House" at the North House

Folk School.  This photo was taken before the class began on Thurs. night.

We sure had a great view!



We used wool blankets for our coats.  I purchased a vintage wool blanket on etsy 

several months before the workshop.  This is my worktable (while it was still

neat).




These are muslin samples, made by our instructor.  They are used to determine 

what size pattern we wanted.  Students tried on different sizes to see which best 

suited their personal wearing style.  The coat pattern we used was designed by

the instructor, Carol Colburn.

My pattern pieces have been cut out.


Icy weather in Grand Marais!  North House Folk School grounds.


Teacher’s demo table.


Sunday, Nov. 24th was the last day of class and a beautiful day it was.  One student 

needed to leave the day before for a travel commitment, so he isn’t pictured.

Our teacher, Carol Colburn, is the lady holding the white Hudson's Bay coat.

We did not finish our coats in class, but we had good instructions for completing

them at home.  Needless to say, my coat still isn't done.  Finishing it will be a

wintertime project!   I loved the workshop!  I drove back to Superior, WI on

the 24th.  Stayed overnight there, then returned to Madison on the 25th.  I put

900 miles on my car during this Minnesota trip!