New Class Alert! We are very excited to be hosting Will Nissen and Bradley Teeter for two weekends of greenwood carving. Students will make a stool, a cup or "kuksa", as well as spoons and utensils while learning tool use and care, planning and designing, and finishing techniques. Jan 16-17 and Feb 13-14 2027. Sign up on our site!
@thebluecartcraft ...

A Handmade Life is open for registration
This class strings together on class a month from January to June. We`ve added hanging a carving axe or hatchet and a visit from a talented seamstress to teach hand sewing to an already awesome array of classes. Check it out on our site! ...

Weaving willow and the gnome I pray to for straight uprights.
Nah. Years in and still having to learn so much though. Thanks @sandra.kehoe.5 for taking me on. She taught two days here, and I got one picture of a student with her rib basket that is so damn pretty. I also am really into focusing on the basics and love the straight up slightly flared round base basket I wove.
I then helped Sandra (she didn`t really need me) over at @newburyschoolofweaving, a place infused with historic charm and new england beauty, with a student base who typically weaves one material to weave another -they did great.

#willow #willowbasket #willowbasketry #traditionalskills ...

Hide Tanning Class!
We had a lovely class of four students. It was a blessing for these folks to roll in as students who worked hard and were into the hard work. Stellar attitudes. We had a dismal forecast with wet and wintery mixed precipitation, but it was beautiful with it snowing on us while the sun shined down and then we blissfully cheated it and went inside to stretch.
The hides were huge, the students had no grain left on (aggresive thorough bucking and their tenacity a winning combo) rumps got soft, and smoking was even.
This skill is the most enjoyable in good company.
Great class! ...

Ash, you are 6! ...

Roots Rendezvous Youth programs are looking stellar.
Led by the talented @owleyeswilderness and @woodland.wampus Kids will be working on skills: shelter building, wood carving, fire building and challenges, exploring the river and games to keep the energy high.
To see the schedule, link in bio. ...

Class schedule is posted!
Roots Rendezvous
September 5-7, 2026

Come learn and engage in three days of classes with excellent teachers and wonderful group of students.

At night there will be a homebrew circle, nightime star navigation and stories for families and youth, the trade blanket, music from @nora.and.eliza
There is an afternoon trade bazaar and after all the classes, an open craft time to work and talk in good company.
Youth programs led by @owleyeswilderness !

A shout out to some of the many people who make this happen.
Check them out!
@bear.notch.productions
@nunivakk
@nick.neddo.eartharts
@red.squirrel.primitives
@plantmedicinemaker
@klambertsonviolinmaker
@dug.north
@ancestralknowledge
@ericamartenson_
@ellierachelfuller
@micah.bernat
@crookedy_knife
@close.to.the.skin
@lazymilltreecraft
@rewildingschool
@jackrabbitarchery
@vermontmyco
@mainelocalliving
@blacksmith.kmg
@emilymvinson
@jamie_owls
@amywhiteeyes
@ashnbirchoutdooreducation

📸 @solariumphotography ...

Had a fantastic time teaching flintknapping to some brave souls this weekend. Such a hard yet wildly addicting skill... if you get bit by the bug its pretty much endless fun and challenge. Plus the rocks are pretty and cut stuff good.

I think were gonna host a knap in next year...

#flintknapping #stonetools #lithics #broadhead ...

2026 list of Rendezvous classes offered are posted on the website!

A glimpse into the gathering.

You can see many of the classes running, with more to be added, with the schedule going up shortly.

Photos by @solariumphotography ...

Hide work at the Roots Rendezvous is represented by so many talented people.
Ellie @ellierachelfuller teaching bark tanned fish skins.
Nick Neddo @nick.neddo.eartharts teaching raw hide containers.
Coleen @close.to.the.skin will be teaching leather knife sheaths.
@emilymvinson will be teaching bark tanned rabbit hides.
Spencer @spencerkirkham will be teaching bone flutes.

stellar crew! ...

Roots Rendezvous! Sept. 5, 6, 7 2026

This is Penny Hewitt teaching basket weaving at the Rendezvous last year. She is a top tier teacher in experience, skill and generousity that we are lucky to have at the gathering. A co-organizer and host of Sloyd Skills, the only other gathering we make it to (its a fantastic time!) She teaches throughout the year via @lazymilltreecraft If you can make a class, you should!

photos by @solariumphotography ...

Roots Rendezvous!
September 5, 6, 7 2026

Here is a highlight of Ellie @ellierachelfuller sharing her knowledge of processing acorns into acorn flour. She shows such a capability of holding together a multi-step process with a large group of people of all ages to come together and enjoy the work. All told they made 30 pounds of flour! not pictured is the delicious acorn flour cake they made. ...

Sloyd skills!
An annual gathering in June in Vermont.
It was peak summer, skilled instructors matched by keen and kind participants. We love to go and you might too. These are the only two photos I took. Brad taught felted hats. I taught folded bark baskets from elm, with basswood cordage and black ash rims. A journey of tree species and handwork. Students did great!

A big thanks to @lazymilltreecraft
@crookedy_knife @prinvangulden and everyone else who made it happen. ...