I couldn’t be more excited to unveil our amazing workshop line-up for 2014!There are some exciting new additions including Snowshoe Weaving (probably the most requested workshop in our feedback forms!) and three really fun Beading Workshops taught by a talented and experienced artist (and new Canoe Museum volunteer).
Thanks for supporting the Canoe Museum and our programs!
Sew a Hudson’s Bay Blanket Coat
Handcraft a traditional Capote using an authentic Hudson’s Bay Company Point Blanket (a blanket who’s value alone makes this workshop an unbelievable bargain).
Spend the day immersed in the history of these blankets, following traditional pattern and hand-sewing the seams of your one-of-a-kind coat. Experienced instructors show you traditional techniques, modern twists and ways to personalize your coat with unique embellishments.
All materials, including a Point Blanket, 100% wool for sewing and patterns to fit all sizes are supplied and no experience is necessary.
February 8th, 20149am – 5pmMember Price: $306Non-Member Price: $340
Click here to learn more or to register!
Make a Beaded Rosette
Learn the basics of beading while you complete your own beautiful beaded rosette in this fun workshop. Learn tricks and tips from a knowledgeable, expert instructor while working with colourful beads in a fun and friendly atmosphere. This workshop is a great way to get into beading as a new hobby.
No experience is necessary, but manual dexterity is required for this workshop.
February 22nd, 20149am – 5pmMember Price: $90Non-Member Price: $100
Click here to learn more or to register!
Carve a Black Cherry Canoe Paddle 
Book your spot early – this workshop fills quickly! Begin the workshop by determining what size of paddle work best for you. Learn to use traditional hand tools in the Museum’s Preserving Skills Gallery with the help of our supportive, expert instructors. Create a custom carved and sanded paddle and go home with all varnishing supplies to see it complete. This workshop makes a terrific gift and there is no experience necessary.
March 1st and 2nd orSeptember 6th and 7th orDecember 6th and 7th9am – 5pm both daysMember Price: $244..80Non-Member Price: $272
Click here to learn more or to register
Using a Bead Loom
![Loom photo 1[3]](https://canoemuseum.ca/wp-content/uploads/attachments/loom-photo-13.jpg)
New for 2014! Learn the skill of beading on a loom in this fun new workshop. Spend the day in the Museum’s Preserving Skills Gallery working with colourful seed beads and learning from an experienced bead artist. Begin the day by designing a unique pattern, then start beading a band that can be turned into a bracelet, headband, or sewn onto clothing. Each participant goes home with their own wooden bead loom!
March 22nd, 20149am – 5pmMember Price: $103.50Non-Member Price: $115
Click here to learn more or to register
Make a Wampum Bracelet
New for 2014! In this half-day workshop you’ll make a gorgeous three row bracelet with high-quality leather and beads. Learn this unique skill from an experienced instructor and leave with a beautiful bracelet, sure to be a conversation piece.
April 26th, 20141pm – 5pmMember Price: $81Non-Member Price: $90
Click here to learn more or to register
Carve a Greenland-Style Kayak Paddle
This workshop is the perfect gift if you know someone who kayaks! Carve your own Greenland-style kayak paddle out of beautiful White Ash. Begin the workshop by determining what length of kayak paddle suits you best. Learn to use traditional hand tools in the museum’s Preserving Skills Gallery with the help of our supportive, expert instructors. Create a custom carved and sanded paddle and go home with all varnishing supplies to see it complete. You don’t need any prior experience to take this workshop and carve yourself an heirloom paddle.
May 3rd and 4th, 20149am – 5pmMember Price: $244..80Non-Member Price: $272
Click here to learn more or to register
Build a Wanigan & Sew a Tumpline
A wanigan is a wooden box that holds kitchen supplies on a canoe trip. Build this unique piece of camping equipment with the help of knowledgeable instructors. Learn the basics of harness making and sew your own tumpline. Customize your wanigan with a Checker or Backgammon board (patterns provided). This workshop is multi-disciplinary blend of woodworking and leatherworking and the result is a functional wanigan, ready to be packed and portaged. All materials, including wanigan, and leather tumpline are provided – no experience necessary!
May 23rd, 20149am – 5pmMember Price: $180Non-Member Price: $200
Click here to learn more or to register
Canoe Restoration Clinic
This workshop sold out quickly in 2013, so sign up fast! Participants in the canoe restoration clinic will learn how to re-canvas a wood and canvas canoe and perform basic structural repairs (for example; replacing a rib, or repairing damaged planking). Participants will leave with the confidence, know-how and hands-on experience needed to restore their own canoe.
Interested participants may bring their own canoe for a thorough analysis and diagnosis and will leave with all the experience necessary to repair, re-canvas, fill and finish their own canoe.
July 5th and 6th, 20149am – 5pmMember Price: $315Non-Member Price: $350
Click here to learn more or to register
Weave a Woodland Pack Basket
Now you can add the perfect blend of tradition and function to your camping gear with this reed-rendition of a traditional pack basket. Spend the day learning basketry techniques from experienced instructors in the museum’s Preserving Skills Gallery. Weave a large pack basket – great for canoeing, hiking, fishing or going to the market. All materials, including the hand-sewn cotton harness, stamped leather handle and wooden accessories are included, no experience necessary!
July 30th, 20149am – 5pmMember Price: $187.20Non-Member Price: $208
Click here to learn more or to register
Hand-Cane New Canoe Seats
Whether you want to re-create a set of authentic, hand-caned seats for your cedar-canvas canoe, or add some character and charm to your Kevlar canoe this workshop is for you. Spend the day in the museum’s Preserving Skills Gallery hand-caning new seats for you canoe. Two white ash seat frames and all the materials needed to cane both seats are included with the workshop and you’ll leave with clear installation instructions. No prior experience is necessary.
August 16th, 20149am – 5pmMember Price: $157.50Non-Member Price: $175
Click here to learn more or to register
Learn the Basics of Finger Weaving
Finger weaving is a traditional way of making belts and sashes without the need for a loom or any other equipment. Every participant starts by learning basic patterns and completing several small projects. Participants slowly work their way towards the ‘colour change’ technique, which is used in the most complicated sash designs. You will leave with the fundamentals needed to make a celebrated Ceinture Flechee worn by Voyageurs, Metis people, and others. All of the necessary materials are included, and no experience is necessary. For this workshop the instructor teaches from 10am until 4pm, but students are welcome to practice weaving with help and guidance from the instructor until the Museum closes at 5pm
October 4th, 201410am – 4pmMember Price: $104Non-Member Price: $93.60
Click here to learn more or to register
Weave a Pair of Snowshoes
Our snowshoe weaving course starts with a large selection of the best frames on the market (high quality White Ash frames in a large variety of styles and sizes) and incredibly durable and functional 400lb-test fishing line from Vancouver Island. After years of experience and hundreds of kilometres of testing we’ve settled upon a marriage of traditional snowshoes frames and modern weaving materials. The 400-lb monoline we offer is lighter, stronger and more abrasion resistant than traditional rawhide. It also needs no varnish, and is much less likely to stick to wet snow. Quite simply it performs better and lasts longer than rawhide* across a much wider range of conditions (and doesn’t require annual maintenance). We will help you select a snowshoe style based on your size and terrain preferences and then guide you through the weaving process over two days of instruction.
*As an historical note: as far as we have read, cowhide was never considered by native Canadians as an adequate snowshoe weaving material. Special winter-scraped caribou hide was considered the best material, with even moose hide considered a poor substitute. This may explain why we have found modern cow-hide weaves to perform so poorly, whereas in the past rawhide snowshoes have performed well for thousands of years.
October 25th and 26th, 20148:30am – 5:30pmMember Price: $268.20Non-Member Price: $298
Click here to learn more or to register
Make a Pair of Snowshoe Moccasins
Make your own pair of traditional, knee-high, deerskin and canvas, or full leather, winter moccasins in only two days. These are the warmest, lightest and coziest style of winter footwear you’ll probably ever own ñ we have personally tested them on a variety of winter trips, including a 39-day trek in northern Ontario and know you will be satisfied. Our moccasin-making workshop includes all the materials you will need to complete and personalize your own pair of winter moccasins, plus lots of time to explore and discuss other traditional winter clothing options. A fun and informative weekend, ending with a beautiful pair of highly functional, hand-made moccasins!
November 1st and 2nd, 20149am – 5pmMember Price: $193.50Non-Member Price: $215
Click here to learn more or to register