Karl’s Wheelhouse

21/08/2026

To United Church of Two Harbors for the space and the food, to the Jumpin’ Jehosefats for the music, to those who attended last night’s fundraiser for Karl’s Wheelhouse, and to those who donated to our cause, we at the Wheelhouse give you our thanks!

Last night, Anna said:

“It isn’t just people with disabilities who need the Wheelhouse: we all do.

We all need to be reminded that we deserve to be seen for what we can do rather than what we can’t.

We all need to be reminded that we deserve more than a mere money-making job, but rather a vocation, something which highlights our gifts and our joys.

We all need to be reminded that we deserve to thrive in our own Wheelhouse, rather than be a mere cog in someone else’s wheel.

We all need to be reminded that when we center the marginalized, the circle gets bigger.

We all need to be reminded that the only group to which we can all belong at some time is that of those with disabilities.

And we all need to be reminded that, despite how it feels on so many days as of late, love, gladness, affirmation, and welcome are more real than their opposites.”

Thanks for being reminders-in-motion of so much goodness and gladness!

20/08/2026

Rain schmain.

Call it Winter Weather Event Prep!

We’ll just pivot to United if the downpours arrive…and who up in these parts will complain about rain anyway!

The Jumpin’ Jehosefats will delight us all, Karl and Sophia will be showing off their work, and Karl’s Wheelhouse Board Members will be there to tell our story and invite you into it.

Also Walking Tacos, so…

5:30 this evening at United Church of Two Harbors!

Sponsored by United Church- all proceeds are going to Karl’s Wheelhouse- we will do a simple supper of walking tacos at the park- so none of the music will be missed.

18/08/2026

A reminder of this Thursday’s benefit concert for Karl’s Wheelhouse featuring the Jumpin’ Jehosefats!��Please join us at the Bandshell in Two Harbors—and in case of inclement weather, the festivities will simply be held at United Church of Two Harbors instead.

As an extra bonus, both Karl and Sophia will be working on some projects to show off their work and how they work, like with leather pressing, sanding, oiling, and whatever else we might come up with for the night.

We’d very much love to have you join us!��We would also very much love to have your support.

Any donations that you offer to the Wheelhouse, either at this concert or online, will go toward getting the Wheelhouse ready for its vision and mission in action.

We are so eager to provide a place for people with disabilities to find not only meaningful work, but meaningful community, and where the Two Harbors community can find meaningful purchases, and meaningful purpose to which everyone can be a part.

Come hear great music, and come be part of what makes Two Harbors great.

* Accessibility * Belonging * Creativity * Dignity *

https://karlswheelhouse.org/pages/donate

(And thank you United Church!)

Sponsored by United Church- all proceeds are going to Karl’s Wheelhouse- we will do a simple supper of walking tacos at the park- so none of the music will be missed.

17/08/2026

Joel Abenth and David Willis contemplating the Wheelhouse today.

Sigurd and Pancho (thus far) avoiding the doghouse today.

17/08/2026

To put a finer point on it, today Karl and David were drilling down on getting 402 done, so that we can pencil in more Wheelhouse product projects with sharper focus!

😏

16/08/2026

I think we can all agree that that Grand Slam was thanks to Sophia here at Target Field for her first MLB game.

08/08/2026

When Karl isn’t sanding, heat-pressing, leather-cutting, laser-engraving, candle-pouring, or being the Wheelhouse DJ during shop hours, he is either chilling on his iPad or making like Byron Buxton on the Wii.

You may say, “Cool, cool….but spot me the reason why Karl is essentially bubble-wrapped while playing the Wii.” (Video in the first comment).

Turns out that Karl puts his All into Everything, including swinging that remote.

When Karl began to play baseball on the Wii, we started to notice odd bruisings popping up in odd spots: on his left thigh, right forearm, and right bicep. We were utterly stumped.

It finally dawned on us that Karl was swinging the remote so hard that on the downswing, he was hitting his right leg (explaining the thigh) and sometimes his joystick (explaining the forearm), and the back of his seat (explaining his bicep) on the upswing!

We now simply wrap up Karl the Baseball Burrito to protect him from his own enthusiasm.

Karl asked that I record this video, because he had just broken a new record, and was very much pleased with himself, and very much wanted me to take a video so his sister could see the impressive action too.

The photo array of Karl in constant Twins baseball caps shows that Karl is nothing if not a Minnesota Twins fan, which is because his mother raised him and his sister right.

So a week from tomorrow, we are all taking a break from Wheelhouse and 402 Remodel action, so that the whole family -and- -Sophia- (😊😊😊) will be on our way to see the Minnesota Twins in afternoon action instead!

It will be Sophia’s first MLB game, and we are so excited to have her catch the baseball bug, and maybe even a ball.

We feel like it’s the perfect way to end the summer fun, and also welcome her back into the Wheelhouse to continue her Two Harbors High School Work Experience at Karl’s Wheelhouse!

And a shoutout to the Minnesota Twins: we have never, and I mean never, been to any venue that is as wheelchair accessible and disability-and-family fan friendly as Target Field.

Well done.

Come find us in Section 107 if you are there.

08/08/2026

We want to again spread news of this amazing gift of support and community from United Church of Two Harbors, led by one of our Board Members, Pr. Jojo Coffin-Langdon!

Please come, please share!

All are welcome, because of course!

Sponsored by United Church- all proceeds are going to Karl’s Wheelhouse- we will do a simple supper of walking tacos at the park- so none of the music will be missed.

01/08/2026

Friends of the Wheelhouse at United Church of Two Harbors are planning a fundraiser! We are so grateful for their support.

We would be so pleased to welcome you all to the event, and would deeply appreciate any time, energy, or donations that you can offer. Your support helps us in our evolution of the Wheelhouse into a creator's space for people with disabilities and a much-needed source of good-vibes for North Shore communities!

Thank you again United Church in Two Harbors! 🙏

Sponsored by United Church- all proceeds are going to Karl’s Wheelhouse- we will do a simple supper of walking tacos at the park- so none of the music will be missed.

31/07/2026

Sophia’s Sheep.

We did not see it coming, we are ashamed to say, that Sophia’s Sheep would be the runaway hit at the St. Olaf Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts.

We almost didn’t bring them, because the sheep we have are prototypes.

However, the congregational leaders who were at the saw what even we hadn’t yet.

They saw Busy Bags.

We now have orders upon orders for Sophia’s Sheep, with additional requests for other random animals like cows, horses, and pigs. I’m championing adding a platypus to the mix, while David is fighting the temptation to stick a Wolf in one of the bags (we’re imagining the pastor placing mental bets on which pew would begin shaking from which hushed laughing parents.)

As you can see below, Karl came baaaaack, shear genius that he is, to fleece the day.

Sophia’s Sheep.

If you’d like to adopt a sheep of your own, send an email to [email protected]