Classes in Decorah

Knifemaking

Register early with your $50 deposit. A minimum number of registered students is required for a class to be held.

The classes held in April are in conjunction with Coming Out of the Woodwork: a Vesterheim Symposium on Norwegian Folk Art

Birch / Reindeer Antler Filet Knife

Mike Schelmeske, assisted by Harley Refsal
This is a new knifemaking course for Vesterheim. Students will make their own custom filet knife, featuring an elegant stacked Scandinavian-style birch, birchbark, and antler handle. The project will be topped off with a handmade birchbark protective blade cover. Class times will be Friday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. This class will require an additional fee for materials.
Level of instruction: all levels.
January 11-13, 2008 | $135 member/$170 for non-members

Michael Schelmeske, a highly versatile craftsman from Grand Marais, Minnesota, designs and creates canoe and kayak paddles, as well as a wide variety of Scandinavian-inspired utensils, tools, and woodenware for the home. Mike’s assistant during this course will be Harley Refsal, woodcarver and Scandinavian handcrafter from Decorah.

Knifemaking for All Levels

Olav Mortensen - Norwegian Instructor
In this class, students will make a traditional Telemark working knife. That is a knife with a half-tang, three-layer, hand-forged blade and a one-piece wooden handle. The handle may be straight, or with a bend on the top. Students may also make a sheath in two ways, either on a wooden last, or directly on the knife. Olav will also teach the “pauting” technique. This class will require an additional fee for materials.
Level of instruction: all levels.
April 14-17 | $315 members / $395 non-members

Advanced Knifemaking

Olav Mortensen - Norwegian Insructor
The theme of the class will be to make a Telemark knife, one that has great traditions in Norway. Each student will decide what style of knife that they want to make. The Telemark knife has many varieties of size, decoration, and the amount of silver used. Most commonly, the sheath is decorated with acanthus carving and the silver has engraved acanthus patterns. Discussion of design, composition, and lines will also be included. This class will require an additional fee for materials.
Level of instruction: advanced.
April 21-25 | $395 members / $495 non-members

Olav Mortensen was born in Drangedal, Telemark, Norway, and now lives in Skein, Norway. He has taught knifemaking in Norway and Denmark and at Vesterheim. He has judged knife competitions, demonstrated knifemaking in many countries, and written articles for Knivebladet, the Norwegian knifemaking magazine. Olav is a master knifemaker, specializing in the Telemark style. Olav is a specialist in clinical psychology by occupation and has taught psychology for 18 years at various colleges and communities in Norway.

Norwegian Knifemaking

Gene Tokheim
Norwegian knifemaking is a rich tradition that has been kept alive by many Norwegian smiths and knifemakers. The tollekniv (whittling knife) acquired its present form in the early Iron Age (400-800 AD). In this course students will work wood, metal, and leather to create a finished Norwegian knife and sheath under the tutelage of master knifemaker Gene Tokheim. The instructor will provide all necessary tools. There will be a minimum materials fee of $110 paid to the instructor. Silver and Damascus blades available at extra cost. A similar class will also be offered on July 12-16, if this class fills.
Level of instruction: all levels.
July 19-23 | $300 members / $350 non-members

Gene Tokheim has been teaching since the 1980s in the United States and Norway. His work has been exhibited in shows at the University of Minnesota, the American Folk Art Museum in New York City, and the Hedmark Museum in Hammar, Norway. Gene graduated with a studio arts degree from Southwest Minnesota State University. He is a Vesterheim Gold Medalist.

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