Rural Route Bookstore

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Scandinavian Arts, Hobbies & Crafts

Rapala   by John E. Mitchell

So, your family draws names and just your luck! For the second year in a row you got Uncle Leroy, a mostly silent bachelor who — other than the Want Ads in the weekly Shopper — doesn't like to read much, and prefers fish over people!  Well, here you go. This book will reel him in, and keep him busy all winter. Uncle Leroy will be hooked, and you will be his favorite nephew or niece for life!

The book includes the official history of the company and its status today (now the Rapala-Normark Group, the worlds largest fishing lure and tackle producer); a detailed guide to the lures Rapala now makes; personal stories and anecdotes; and 130 color and 60 B&W photos. Appendices include detailed graphs and charts showing world record fish caught on Rapala lures; casting and trolling depth charts for lure selection; charts cross-referencing matching snaps, lines and hooks; plus more. 

AC - 07   Hardcover   $29.95    NOW $19.95       Passing the deal on to you!

Celebrating BirchCelebrating Birch:  The Lore, Art and Craft of an Ancient Tree

               Compiled by volunteers at the North House Folk School

This book was created to celebrate ten years of instruction at the North House Folk School, a non-profit formed by "spontaneous combustion," in Grand Marais, MN, on the north shore of Lake Superior. 

Celebrating Birch is a tribute to the Folk School as well as a salute to the popular birch tree. It covers everything from a recipe for "Birch Splittin Bitter, Icicle Lickin Sweet Root Beer" to birch tar, spoons, throwing logs, and carved toys. Excellent photography and clear photos of how-to procedures accompany 20 practical projects you can create — woven bark  baskets, carved or turned wooden bowls, a carved box, and more.

You will discover the rich history and fascinating cultural myths of this legendary tree. "Lore and Legends", an entertaining chapter telling worldwide traditions and explaining the tree's symbols, brings together history, geography and myth to relay the significance of this widely dispersed species in many cultures. There are also instructions on harvesting the tree and on using leaves and fungi for medicinal teas and the sap for sweetener.

School founder Mark Hansen says, "This is about doing, making things happen, and finishing something. There's a healing that happens when you work with your hands. It's not about efficiency; it's not about proficiency. It's about learning to be a human being with all your senses."

AC - 02   Paperback   $24.95

Scandinavian WoodcarvingArt & Technique of Scandinavian Style Woodcarving:  
Step-by-Step Instructions & Patterns for 40 Flat-Plane Carving Projects     by  Harley Refsal

Harley Refsal, recently retired Scandinavian Studies professor at Luther College in Decorah, IA, is an internationally recognized carver who has been decorated by the King of Norway for his contributions to Norwegian culture. But better yet, he is also my first-born's godfather! Refsal is a very talented artist who now teaches the old Scandinavian style of flat-plane carving to Norwegians, and Refsal — a Norwegian-American — is responsible for reviving this art form in Norway.

This book offers detailed, clear instructions for 40 flat-plane projects. Directions for carving and painting — with front and side-view patterns — and step-by-step photographs reveal how to make a few simple cuts and leave large flat planes intact. Out of a piece of wood (and a knife, a few gouges, and some patience), readers will bring to life typical figures such as a school teacher or ice fisherman or traditional Scandinavian creatures such as trolls, nisser, and the Christmas tomter. 

Scandinavian-Americans will enjoy carving images of their rural neighbors like Aunt Trine or Selma all dolled up to head out and do "shores," or Willie who isn't much of an athlete, but knows his ancestors from Sweden would be proud of his carving talent. I really think some of these folks grew up near Harley in Hoffman, MN, and I think I met a few of them at the annual lutefisk supper at my church, but I'm not sure. That was a long time ago, and everyone feasting in the church basement looked alike.

AC - 03   Paperback    $17.95

Whittling Little FolkWhittling Little Folk      by Harley Refsal

The whittled little folk are delightful.  From Kristian to Thea to the Woodsman, acclaimed artist Harley Refsal provides patterns and instructions for carving over 20 delightful characters in wood.  Readers will find step-by-step carving and painting instructions for a Scandinavian-inspired man and woman.  Once they have learned to carve these, they will find 20 more patterns to create.  Each project includes four separate patterns (one from each view), carving instructions, and painting notes.  An overview of Scandinavian flat-plane carving and details on customizing patterns are also included.

This winter you can learn to carve, and next Christmas give Onkel Oskar, Tante Berte, and Prest Kringerud their own little statue. As the book cover says, "Little in size, but big in personality", just like your relatives! Oh, and don't forget to carve some abstract wooden fish decoys to lure lazy Cousin Herb out of the house and onto a frozen lake.

AC - 06    Paperback    $16.95

Folk Art Trivet

This trivet is a tribute to Harley Refsal: author (including two books above), teacher, carver extraordinaire, and recipient of the St. Olav Medal of Honor.  Depicting Refsal at work, artist Suzanne Toftey has accurately captured the likeness of Refsal and his characters.  Reviving the art of flat-plane carving, Refsal is best known for his carvings of rural people who emigrated from Norway a century ago.

AC - 10   Ceramic tile with cork back     $15.00


Traditional Scandinavian Knitting     by Sheila McGregor

This book — a classic guide to the knitting styles of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands — has been written by an international expert on traditional Scandinavian knitting, and the volume is well known and prized among longtime practitioners of the craft worldwide.

Illustrated with 191 black-and-white and 20 color pictures, patterns are included for include jerseys, gloves and mittens, stockings, and caps. McGregor's in-depth treatment covers a range of styles from all parts of Scandinavia. Topics in the 11 chapters range from the origins of Scandinavian knitting to techniques unique to each country. There is also a glossary of Eng./Scand. knitting terms, and information on knitting needle sizes and further readings.

AC - 08     Paperback     $14.95

Book CoverNorwegian Handknits          by  Janine Kosel
          Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum         

This beautiful book is a collection of thirty patterns for handknits from Vesterheim—folk mittens, socks, scarves, hats, wristers, handbags, knapsacks, and sweaters—all inspired by traditional knits housed in the museum. With an introduction reflecting on the history of Norwegian-style knitting and the stories behind the handknits that inspired the patterns, the book is at once a practical guide, a repository of cultural history, and a lovely look at one of the rich traditions knit into the American fabric.

The book contains lovely colored photography, black and white patterns graphed out, and a whole lot of great information about our great ancestors!

AC – 04   Hardcover   $30.00

Norwegian Patterns for Knitting              by Mette N. Handberg
 
Subtitled "Classic Sweaters, Hats, Vests, and Mittens," more than 20 knitting projects fill this volume written by Handberg. Mette N. Handberg designed the 2006-2007 official sweater for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. She has been a prominent textile artist in Norway for more than 40 years, and has designed patterns for Norway's famous sweater company, Dale.

Included with each project are step-by-step instructions, design templates, and pattern charts. (All stranded motifs and repeats are charted.) The opening pages contain some good common sense reminders. Also included are notes about steeks, techniques for binding off, seaming, etc. There are even sections on correcting problems and mistakes and a resource list showing where clasps, buttons and Norwegian yarn can be purchased in both the U.S. and Norway.
 
Knitting skills needed for these patterns are advanced beginner to advanced intermediate, depending upon the pattern. The patterns for most items are contemporary with a few traditional ones included. Full color photography displays the finished projects amid beautiful Norwegian scenery. If you don't knit, you might enjoy simply looking at the beautiful garments, architectural settings, and landscapes.

AC – 05    Hardcover   $24.95

Viking Designs: Stained Glass Coloring Book by A.G. Smith

This collection of fanciful, but genuine, designs includes spiraling and interwoven images, real and mythological creatures, and an ancient rune stone portraying warriors in battle.

Although it is billed as a coloring book, the intricate designs — adapted from authentic Viking art — seem most appropriate for children aged 8 and up. Older children will enjoy coloring these intricate designs and when pages are finished, they can hold their creations up to various lights to discover the effects of a stained glass window.

Older artists interested in using Viking Age motifs in their own creations will also find these designs inspirational. This book provides line drawings (32 pages with 16 full-page black & white illustrations on translucent paper ) which can be modified or used as they are as patterns for projects such as embroidery, woodwork, stained glass, scrimshaw, carving etc.
 
V2 - 09      Paperback     $5.95

How to Make a Swedish Christmas    by Helen Ingeborg               
              
This 32-page revised edition contains directions for common Swedish Christmas crafts, recipes for holiday foods, common phrases, and Christmas songs and traditions. Everything in the books seems easy to follow, and the crafts and recipes utilize common tools and ingredients. Ingeborg explains Swedish traditions such as the juletomte, the straw julbock, julgranskorg (the heart-shaped paper baskets) and stænegosse, the Star Boy.


Order this book in time to celebrate St. Lucia's Day, December 13, one of the highlights of the Swedish and Swedish-American Christmas season.

CR - 17     Paperback         $6.95

Swedish Christmas Crafts    by Helene S. Lundberg

Lundberg, a talented woman in Sweden, has published numerous books about Swedish crafts, decorating and entertaining. In this recently released book, translated by Annika S. Hipple, Lundberg lists necessary materials, step-by-step directions, 90 full-page colored pictures, and patterns for projects that incorporate traditional crafts from her homeland with design aspects of contemporary Scandinavia: minimalism, functionalism, and inexpensive materials.
Along with Christmas cards and tree ornaments, Lundberg includes patterns for Advent and beaded-tree candle holders, decorations for tabletops and windows, and shares ways to make just about any room in the house more festive using paper, easy-to-find supplies, and the favorite items of Scandinavians: offerings from nature that transform the common into the beautiful.  At this price, this book might be the bargain of the season.

CR - 6       Hardcover       $14.95

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