Vesterheim's Folk Art School Offers New Jewelry Making Classes

Bucheit's "Viking 'Knit' Chain Bracelet" class

Goldsmiths and jewelry designers Liz Bucheit and Michael Seiler of Lanesboro will be teaching some new jewelry-making classes at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum's Folk Art School.  These classes are for beginners, or those with little jewelry making experience.  They last either one day or two days. At the end of the class, students will go home with handmade artwork ready to wear or give as a gift.

The jewelry making classes start the last week of April.  "Viking 'Knit' Chain Bracelet," led by Bucheit on Saturday, April 28th, will teach students to use "Viking Knitting," a centuries-old looping technique, to create a beautiful silver bracelet with a variety of unusual clasps. This technique uses very limited tools. It's similar to nalbinding which is a fabric creation technique predating both knitting and crochet.

"Pierced Celtic Knot," led by Seiler on Sunday, April 29th, will teach students to wield the jeweler's saw to create jewelry with a fusion of art from Scandinavian and Irish influences. "Students will be soldering, forming, polishing, they will get a taste of all these techniques. It's a taste of the pallet, it's like an appetizer," shared Bucheit.

A goldsmith for over 30 years, Bucheit holds a Master's degree in metalworking and jewelry from the University of Iowa and attended school in Norway. Seiler has been working in the metal arts since 1995, mastering the techniques of fabrication, stone setting, wax carving, stone cutting, and stone inlay work. Bucheit and Seiler co-own and operate Crown Trout Jewelers in Lanesboro and have been teaching classes for 16 years.

"We have been lobbying Vesterheim to do this for several years and we are honored to be the first two instructors to teach classes in their brand new silversmith studio," said Bucheit. The studio was made possible through a grant Vesterheim received.

The class is limited to 12 people per class and a 50 percent discount for class tuition is available to any year-round resident of Winneshiek County or full-time Luther College student on a space-available, stand-by basis.  Those on stand-by will be notified about availability of class openings one week before the starting date of the class.

There is still space available if interested. Find more information, a complete list of classes, and registration options at vesterheim.org.

Bucheit's "Freya's Fantasy Filigree" class

Seiler's "Pierced Celtic Knot"

Seiler's "Silversmithing: The Jeweler's Palette"