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Woodcarving

Kuksa Carving: Traditional Scandinavian Drinking Cup

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Course Overview

The kuksa is an old-style wooden cup made to travel far and wide and be at the ready, whether the beverage of choice is water from a Boundary Waters lake, coffee of any quality, or even a splash of something stronger (so we’ve been told). Over three days, students will fully immerse themselves in the world of green woodworking, using common tools like axes, adzes, gouges, hook tools, and of course, the versatile slöjd knife, to shape freshly harvested birch into a one-of-a kind vessel. By crafting a kuksa, which is more than a spoon but less than a bowl, students engage in a wide array of techniques and tool usage that bridges the gap between spoon carving and bowl carving. This course will cover sourcing wood, carving, tool technique, safety, and tool maintenance. While students with minimal skills are welcome, some experience using a knife, axe, and sharpening tools will be very helpful. Specialty tools will be available to borrow; students should plan to bring a carving axe, hook tool, and slöjd knife.

The goal of this workshop is to gain confidence in yourself and the tools being used—this is the key to understanding the function of tool and timber.

Required Tools

  • Axe (available for purchase in the NH School Store), a limited number are available to borrow as well. Please call to request.
  • Straight sloyd knife (available for purchase in the NH School store) 
  • Hook tool
  • Ruler 
  • Compass
  • Pencil
  • Strop
  • Optional Tools 
  • Gouges
  • Carving or leather gloves

Optional Tools 

  • Gouges
  • Adzes
  • Carving or leather gloves

Session Information

This course is part of Wood Week! Plan to stay a day longer for the Carvers Conference on March 14. The day is full of demonstrations,
speakers and community gatherings and is a benefit to all Wood Week students. Full schedule available early 2025.

Dates

Sat, Mar 15th, 2025  –  Mon, Mar 17th, 2025

Course Details

Hours: 9am-5pm each day
Tuition: $315.00
Materials fee: $40.00
Latest Update: View recent changes →

Meet the Instructor

North House Folk School photo of instructor, Alex Yerks
Alex Yerks
St. Paul, MN

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Kuksa Carving: Traditional Scandinavian Drinking Cup