Step into a winter wonderland at the Starworks Holiday Market, featuring thousands of hand-blown glass ornaments, trees, snowmen, Moravian stars, and more!

Discover original holiday creations from our Glass, Metal, and Ceramic artists, including the exclusive Signature Series.

Shop in person at the School House Gallery or online starting November 22, 2025– each purchase supports Starworks’ mission to inspire creativity and community.

Donors shop as early as November 15

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Join artist and Instructor James Johnson for a presentation about Tlingit history and the cultural significance of spoons.

Tlingit spoons are constructed from Dall sheep horn, mountain goat horn, and wood. James will talk about feeding our ancestors, cultural practice, and the meaning behind the designs.

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Build your rosemaling skills as you explore the graceful scrolls and floral forms of the Gudbrandsdal style, which mimics acanthus carving.

Using a provided pattern, you’ll practice the classic C- and S-strokes, create shaded petals and leaves, and work with the traditional earthy color palette. Step-by-step instruction will guide you in balancing asymmetrical designs while developing brush control and smooth, confident linework.

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Bill Sherburne (1903-1991) claimed that he could hear a tune once, pick up his fiddle and play it. It’s no surprise then that he had an enormous repertoire.

Beth Rotto learned from him through an Iowa Arts Council apprenticeship program and has continued to research his music in the Mills Music Library in Madison, Wisconsin. Beth Rotto has continued to research his music in the Mills Music Library in Madison, Wisconsin.

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Using a simple needle and wool yarn, nålbinding is a method of making fabric from loops of yarn. Nålbinding, also known as needle looping or knotless netting, is found worldwide and dates back to early Bronze or Iron Age cultures. Fabrics made from wool nålbinding were often felted to create warm, airtight mittens, socks, and hats.

In this class, students will be introduced to the nålbinding technique as they learn to make a neckwarmer, a small bag, and mittens.

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Join woodcarving instructor and Vesterheim Gold Medalist Rebecca Hanna in exploring the art of kroting, cutting lines into wood after it has been painted or stained. Inspired by work in the Vesterheim Folk Art School as well as the instructor’s personal work, students will be taught how to start kroting and given a simple design to try themselves.

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Explore the traditional and beautiful Norwegian decorative painting known as rosemaling. In this beginner-friendly class, you will be introduced to and gain confidence in the essential strokes used in rosemaling. By the end, you’ll have a completed piece that highlights your growing skill and understanding of rosemaling fundamentals.

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Join artist and designer Melanie Abrantes for a presentation about Japanese spoon carving, touching on the art and cultural significance on the spoons of Japan, Melanie will explain how she uses Japanese spoon carving techniques to make her own spoon designs. She will recount her own travels to Japan to work with a company who makes the tools for spoon carving. This presentation will be a great introduction to the art of Japanese spoon carving.

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Join artist and instructor Liesl Chatman for the first in a series of three cross-cultural webinars exploring spoon carving techniques from around the world. This webinar will explore the art and cultural significance of Norwegian spoon carving, using examples from the Vesterheim collection.

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Himmeli-making is a Nordic tradition brought to the U.S. by immigrants from Nordic and European countries. Students will gain experience working with natural material (straw) as they construct a medium sized himmeli mobile. Focus will also be on the cultural and historic significance of this craft found in Finland, Norway, Sweden, the Baltic countries, and beyond.

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Join us for a special knitting class inspired by the work of Norwegian immigrant Albertina Dickson, a skilled tailor and beloved community member known as “Granny.” In this class, you’ll knit a pair of mittens inspired by Albertina’s original design, learning traditional techniques passed down through generations. Celebrate her life, heritage, and craftsmanship while creating your own timeless piece of Norwegian-American history.

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If you know how to knit and are ready for a relatively quick, stylish, and straightforward project, this class is for you! The Danish-based designer of Petiteknit designed the Sophie Scarf, and it has been wildly popular in Scandinavia and beyond! The instructor will show examples of Sophie Scarves that she has knit in a variety of yarns and lengths, and share how this popular scarf gained popularity in Scandinavia and beyond.

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Join artist historian Stephenie Anderson in a look at the traditional folk dress component referred to as “pockets”. During this presentation, Steph will show different pockets from Norway, around the world, and the Vesterheim collection. From bunad pockets to pockets for everyday use, she will lead us in a study of how pockets developed and how individuals showed their creativity through their stitches and fabrics.

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Join artist Derek Brabender in an exploration of birchbark weaving using recycled Vesterheim Folk Art School catalogues. Inspired by Nordic folk art, as well as the re-use of materials, this program will show families how we can still continue the folk art tradition using recycled materials.

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Maree Hampton is a knitting instructor for Vesterheim Folk Art School and one of the first recipients of a research grant from Vesterheim to study Norwegian knitting in Norway.

She will share what she learned in her month-long study in Norway, show images from her travels, highlight current trends in Norwegian knitting, and show how the experience has inspired her knitting, teaching, and more.

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