Kolrosing is an art form practiced by the peoples of Scandinavia. It was used to add embellishments to handcrafted wares and traditionally, a pattern was incised into wood, antler, bone, and then a darkening agent like coal, ash, or bark was used to highlight the design. In this class, students will learn the history of kolrosing, and try their hand at the very techniques used more than 1,000 years ago. Students will experiment with different types of darkening agents like coffee, bark, ashes, and spices, and try their hand at traditional basket weave patterns and their own freehand patterns.

Kolrosing knives are provided for rent during class, but it is optional to buy your knife to keep after class - they are brand new!  Students are also encouraged to bring wooden items that they are comfortable experimenting with. Spoons, bowls, knives, wood frames make great kolrosing canvases!

Students will need to provide their own oil (cooking oil, olive, or walnut works fine), a pencil and scratch paper, rags, and colorant (cinnamon is best, fine coffee grounds, or other spices work for experimentation).

This course will be held over Zoom. It is limited to 10  people in order to offer more more interaction with peers and instructor. The zoom link will be emailed to students after signing up for the course.

This course has 2 free seats for the BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) community to take this course at cost for the materials fee of $14. Fireweed  believes in wealth re-distribution while our nation has still not offered proper reparations to marginalized communities.  The course registration  will be waived for individuals who identify as BIPOC.

Course materials include: practice wood and wood plaque, kolrosing knife rental, sandpaper. Materials can be picked up/dropped off for local students at Jack's Hardware and Farm Supply in in Minneapolis. Out of state students will be given the option of requesting shipping and a return shipment envelope for an additional $19.00. (covers to & from priority shipping). 

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Taught by Chelsea Bowen (@DJingenting) 

Chelsea Bowen is handcrafter and educator based in Stockholm, Sweden. She has logged many hours in folk school class rooms through her work and at the American Swedish Institute and time abroad. Over the years, she has experimented in fiber, glass, clay, and wood arts, but her favorite act of handcraft is kolrosing onto one of her hand-carved spoons or butter spreaders. Beyond art, her passions are cooking, foraging, and playing music for others.

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Pricing Transparency:

Cost breakdown for $44 class:

Instructor receives $16

Admin receives $8

Tool purchases $10

Website/zoom subscription $10

Materials cost breakdown $17:

Tools upkeep  $10

Sandpaper $1

Wood plaque $4

Practice wood $3

What's this new thing? We are exercising better transparency and want folks to know what goes into a class and why they cost what they do.

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Now offering sliding scale pricing! We know the pandemic has effected people in different ways and want to keep woodworking accessible. Suggested admission is $60,  but we now have a $50 admission option and a pay it forward option.