Enjoy the freedom and fun of trying new things in an environment that values a beginner's mindset, problem-solving over perfection, and play.

Handcraft Classes

Makers Circle classes delve into traditional Scandinavian handcraft techniques in a playful and supportive environment. Explore wood carving, sewing, felting, rope-making, wirework and more.

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Custom Workshops

Makers Circle offers custom workshops for teams and groups. Highly adjustable in time span and focus, topics range from traditional handcrafts and teambuilding to teaching methodology and facilitation.

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Fall Retreat

Come together for a rejuvenating weekend retreat on Mallard Point outside Grand Rapids, MN. This 48-hour experience is an immersion in handcraft, good food, and sensory-rich experiences in nature.

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In cultures around the world and across generations, people have gathered in circles to make things by hand.

Learning from one another, through trial and error, our ancestors passed tacit knowledge down through the generations to solve the problems of daily life: spoons for eating or baskets for gathering. Today, everything we need can be bought, but our human urge to MAKE, in community, persists.

It’s hard to put your finger on the feeling that comes from creating something useful and beautiful from natural materials, with your own two hands. Calm. Focus. Satisfaction. Ahhhh.

Your Instructors

An educator of 25 years and the founder of Free Forest School, Anna Lindall has facilitated learning in forests, classrooms, board rooms and craft rooms with students of all ages. Whether exploring the natural world, traditional handcraft, teaching methodology, or food and culture, Anna nurtures critical thinking, reciprocal learning, inclusion and sustainability. Anna was an American Scandinavian Foundation Folk Art Fellow in 2022, studying youth slöjd (handcraft) instruction in Sweden. Anna is currently a Teaching Artist in Residence at Great River School in St. Paul, and teaches at North House Folk School, the American Swedish Institute, the Loppet Foundation, and the Yarnery, Anna lives in South Minneapolis with her partner and three kiddos.

A lifelong tinkerer and maker, Miles Sharratt loves to share his handcraft skills with others. Fascinated by understanding how things work, Miles has all sorts of tricks and tips up his sleeve. A patient teacher and calm presence, Miles is a great addition to any crafting circle. When not crafting, playing ancient games, skiing, mountain biking, sailing, or paddling, Miles attends 8th grade.

What people are saying

“We had been looking for a basic woodworking class for kids without any luck, at least not locally, and were so excited to find out about this. Totally met our expectations and then some.”
“I appreciate your teaching style, the pace of it–how you taught us new skills and then let us practice and then reviewed them. It was so cool to get to take a class that both (my child) and I learned from, and it was very fun doing it in a group of people.”
“I wanted to spend time with my oldest son and meet new people. Wood carving was way outside of my/our comfort zones. It was exciting trying something new together. ”
“l liked that there was room for folks to do what they wanted, sharing of other projects to do, and I especially liked the peer education.”
"One of my favorite parts was just getting to experiment with a lot of different strokes and being able to explore but also in a way that felt safe and like we knew what we were doing. I really like carving and I'm glad that my mom got us knives so that we can do it at home!"
"I made a knife with a knife... and it was FUN!"
"Intro to Green Wood Carving was great- we both looked forward to it each time! Loved doing it with my kid, and appreciated the access to all the tools!"

Find your own pace.

Slow the pace. Follow your own hands. Develop ways of knowing that don’t need to be articulated with words.
Practice sustainability.

Experience the calm and contentment that comes from making useful and beautiful things out of intentionally sourced, natural materials.
Play & experiment.

Root into the experience of making — iterate, play, fail, innovate. Release your attachment to the outcome.
Express yourself.

Embrace the idea that there are many right ways. Develop confidence in your own expression, approach and style.

Enjoy the freedom and fun of trying new things in an environment that values a beginner's mindset, problem-solving over perfection, and play.

Handcraft Classes

Custom Workshops

Fall Retreat

In cultures around the world and across generations, people have gathered in circles to make things by hand.

Your Instructors

“We had been looking for a basic woodworking class for kids without any luck, at least not locally, and were so excited to find out about this. Totally met our expectations and then some.”

“I appreciate your teaching style, the pace of it–how you taught us new skills and then let us practice and then reviewed them. It was so cool to get to take a class that both (my child) and I learned from, and it was very fun doing it in a group of people.”

“I wanted to spend time with my oldest son and meet new people. Wood carving was way outside of my/our comfort zones. It was exciting trying something new together. ”

“l liked that there was room for folks to do what they wanted, sharing of other projects to do, and I especially liked the peer education.”

"One of my favorite parts was just getting to experiment with a lot of different strokes and being able to explore but also in a way that felt safe and like we knew what we were doing. I really like carving and I'm glad that my mom got us knives so that we can do it at home!"

"I made a knife with a knife... and it was FUN!"

"Intro to Green Wood Carving was great- we both looked forward to it each time! Loved doing it with my kid, and appreciated the access to all the tools!"

Find your own pace.

Practice sustainability.

Play & experiment.

Express yourself.

Twin Cities Makers Circle