Craftsmanship Quarterly

As consumer technology improves, basic household appliances, like the washing machine, keep sprouting new, high-tech functions. Not surprisingly, they're also increasingly difficult to repair. So our journalistic gumshoe ventured to find out: Who put us in this jam? And why?“The Great Washing Machine Scam,” originally appeared in Craftsmanship, a digital magazine about master artisans and innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — free of charge and free of ads.You can find more written stories like this one on our website,Craftsmanship.net.   That's also where you can make a donation to support Craftsmanship's journalism. We're funded by grants and individual donations, and every bit of financial support goes a long way.Written by AARON BRITT Introduction by PAULINE BARTOLONENarrated by MITCH GREENBERGProduced by PAULINE BARTOLONEMusic by BLUE DOT SESSIONSRead the original story: https://craftsmanship.net/the-great-washing-machine-scam/

Though he calls himself simply a “songster and storyteller,” Andy Hedges is compiling a rich, unique audio archive of cowboy music and poetry—and bringing the legends of the genre together on CD and stage."The Cowboy Folklorist" originally appeared in Craftsmanship, a digital magazine about master artisans and innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — free of charge and free of ads.You can see more fantastic photos of cowboy poets by Meredith Lawrence on the Craftsmanship website.   That's also where you can make a donation to support our independent  journalism. We're funded by grants and individual donations, and every bit of financial support goes a long way.Written and photographed by MEREDITH LAWRENCEIntroduction by PAULINE BARTOLONENarrated by GÖRAN NORQUISTProduced by PAULINE BARTOLONEMusic by ANDY HEDGES, DOM FLEMONS, RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOT, JACK THORP, BRENN HILL, MAGGIE ROSE HEDGES, BLUE DOT SESSIONS. 

Ever open a brand new package of clothing and get a strong whiff of chemicals? Journalist Alden Wicker took a deep dive into the chemicals in our clothes in her new book, “To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion is Making Us Sick and How We Can Fight Back.” Craftsmanship Magazine interviewed Wicker about the prevalence of chemicals in clothing, and about the regulatory efforts and personal choices that can keep fashion safe. Written by CRAFTSMANSHIP EDITORSIntroduction by PAULINE BARTOLONENarrated by PAULINE BARTOLONE & ALDEN WICKERProduced by PAULINE BARTOLONEMusic by BLUE DOT SESSIONSYou can find out more about Alden Wicker's work on ecocult.com, including how to get her new book, “ To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion is Making Us Sick—and How We Can Fight Back.” If you liked this episode, subscribe to Craftsmanship on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.Craftsmanship Magazine is funded by grants and donations from readers and listeners like you. If you like our journalism, please consider making a donation at craftsmanship.net. Every bit of financial support goes a long way.You can also support us by sharing our work with others. Thanks for listening. Until next time!

Our hands are deep in a new audio project - a series of interviews with master artisans and craftspeople. We'll be talking to makers of culturally distinct crafts from around the world - about their passion, and secrets to their mastery.We'll hear from a horsehair hitcher in Montana, a compost king in Oregon, and about Greece's secret to honey making.  And there will be many more stories.Look out for the series starting in January 2024, on our website - craftsmanship.net. In the meantime, consider making a donation to craftsmanship, so we can continue to bring you these stories.  None of our journalism would be possible without your financial support. 

A good conductor can lead an orchestra with almost anything — even a chopstick. Leonard Bernstein was known to conduct a full symphony with just his eyebrows. Why, then, in this age of cheap manufacturing, are handmade, customized batons still in demand?Written by JEFF GREENWALDIntroduction by PAULINE BARTOLONENarrated by JEFF GREENWALDProduced by PAULINE BARTOLONEMusic by Town Market by Blue Dot SessionsPalms Down by Blue Dot SessionsBeethoven's Sixth (Pastorale) SymphonyJean-Baptiste Lully: "Armide"  Rimsky-Korsakov's “Scheherazade" by Sinfonia de GaliciaMusic of the Ancient World: Sumerian Music I 

When a promising rock musician tired of the road and the pressure, he gave up music and got a job at a hardware store. Then one day, he had a revelation."The Cigar Box Guitar Maker" originally appeared in Craftsmanship, a digital magazine about master artisans and innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — free of charge and free of ads.Written by NANCY LEBRUNIntroduction by PAULINE BARTOLONENarrated by AVANTHIKA SRINIVASANProduced by PAULINE BARTOLONEMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN, CODA TUITION, JEROME GRAILLE

When Hohner, the world's largest harmonica manufacturer, changed its flagship model (and in the process, its signature sound), a few musicians and harp customizers waged a quiet rebellion—and won."The Return of the Harmonica" originally appeared in Craftsmanship, a digital magazine about master artisans and innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — free of charge and free of ads.Written by BEN MARKSIntroduction by KATHERINE MONAHANNarrated by GORAN NORQUISTProduced by KATHERINE MONAHANMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Oboists can spend more time making reeds for their instrument than playing their music. One such musician, the comic monologist Josh Kornbluth, has a lot to say about reed making's painfully exacting process."The Agony and the Ecstasy of an Oboe Reed Maker" originally appeared in Craftsmanship, a digital magazine about master artisans and innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — free of charge and free of ads.Written by JEFF GREENWALDIntroduction by KATHERINE MONAHANNarrated by JEFF GREENWALDProduced by KATHERINE MONAHANMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

The late Butch Morris, a figure from the outer edges of jazz, reimagined conducting as a form of composition, coining his own word for the combination of the two."The Conductionist" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by FRANCIS DAVISIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by MITCH GREENBERGProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

In the inner city neighborhoods of Providence, Rhode Island, Janice O'Donnell set up playgrounds where kids could build anything they want, and break anything they want. She has been stunned by what everyone has learned in the process."The Play Gap" originally appeared in the Spring 2019 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by TODD OPPENHEIMERIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by AVANTHIKA SRINIVASANProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

A bicycle made of bamboo might look a little silly—brown and fat, with swollen joints. But Craig Calfee, a respected pioneer of carbon fiber bicycle frames, swears by their strength, flexibility, and ecological value."What? A Bamboo Bicycle?" originally appeared in the Summer 2016 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by JEFF GREENWALDIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by JEFF GREENWALDProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Jill Giordano makes women's clothing with fine fabrics in timeless styles, and in combinations that can be mixed and matched in multiple ways. The goal: Improve your look, save the planet, and save money."The Antidote To Fast Fashion? System Dressing" originally appeared in the Fall 2017 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by LAURA FRASERIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by LINDSAY SCHERBARTHProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

In Japan, an aging population, declining birthrate, and a concentrating of jobs in the major cities, has left rural areas across the Japanese countryside littered with abandoned houses—known as akiya, or “empty homes.” Now, a movement is on the rise to repurpose and enliven them with artistry and craft. "Can Japan's Akiya Movement Rebuild Rural Communities?" originally appeared in the Summer 2020 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by KIMBERLY HUGHESIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by CHRIS EGUSAProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Ross Shafer made his mark creating a popular brand of mountain bikes, called Salsa, and a line of small but crucial bicycle parts that no one had brought to the market before. Now he's making what might be the world's most beautiful “pedal steel guitar.” Could Shafer's relentless eclecticism offer a model for a second Renaissance?"From bicycles to “pedal steel” guitars: One maker's quirky frontiers" originally appeared in the Summer 2016 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by OWEN EDWARDSIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by MITCH GREENBERGProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

In 19th century England, miniature theatrical productions were all the rage. And they weren't just for kids — children and adults alike collected intricately printed paper cutouts of their favorite theater actors, along with the theaters in which they performed, and acted out famous plays. And beyond just entertainment, these toy theater kits served as the PR campaigns of the day."The Rise and Fall of Toy Theater" originally appeared in the Winter 2016 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by GARRETT EPPSIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by GÖRAN NORQUISTProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

"How I stumbled upon the world's most perfect eating utensil": Owen Edwards pays homage to the humble, essential spoon, particularly the version designed by the late, great Massimo Vignelli."Spoonism" originally appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by OWEN EDWARDSIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by CHRIS EGUSAProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Our Fall 2022 guest editor, RoseMary Diaz, talks with Craftsmanship Quarterly's managing editor, Laurie Weed, about growing up "half-Indian" in Northern New Mexico; the surprising controversy around "art" vs. "craft;" and the story behind the stories of our first issue focused on Native American craft. You'll find all the Fall 2022 offerings on "Native American Craft: The Southwest" at Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. All stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site are currently available free of charge and free of advertising.Written by CRAFTSMANSHIP EDITORSIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by LAURIE WEED & ROSEMARY DIAZProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

When an American made, quartz watch costs up to $1,500, and its counterparts from other countries, including Switzerland, range from $50 to more than $50,000, what's the difference between them?"The Value of Time" originally appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by TODD OPPENHEIMERIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by CHRIS EGUSAProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Felipe Ortega was known for his controversial opinions on culture, as well as his expertise with an unusual form of pottery. He devoted his life to bucking tradition, in more ways than one.Editor's Note: This story has been updated from the original version, which was first published in our Spring 2015 issue. This update contains historical and culturally-based corrections, along with new reporting. "The Clay Conjurer" originally appeared in the Spring 2015 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by DEBORAH BUSEMEYERIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by JILL SCOTT MOMADAYProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Michael Montenegro is driven to put the products of his imagination into tangible, active forms. After he builds them—often in life-size form, with a rag-tag collage of materials—he becomes them, lives inside them, then delivers them to us with a zany vigor."The Puppeteer" originally appeared in the Summer 2015 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by LORI ROTENBERKIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by GÖRAN NORQUISTProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Pandemic, political strife, poverty, war. In times of extreme upheaval—global or personal—can the act of art-making ease suffering and strengthen resilience?"Shrine and the Art of Resilience" originally appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by MELINDA MISURACAIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by LINDSAY SCHERBARTHProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Meet Jack Mauch, the newest member of our growing family of “Craftsmanship's Young Turks.” At age 32, Mauch is already creating breathtaking examples of craftsmanship in everything from furniture-making to ceramics and metalwork."A New Renaissance Man" originally appeared in the Spring 2018 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by NATALIE JONESIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by NATALIE JONESProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Throughout history, wine had always been aged in clay vessels. That's just how it was done. But when French vintners discovered the marvels of aging wine in oak barrels, it was a total game changer. The flavors oak brought out in the wine set off a revolution throughout the winemaking world. Now—for fun, for distinctly different flavors, and to save some fine old trees—a few wineries are giving clay a second chance, Roman style."The Revival of Nero's Wine" originally appeared in the Fall 2015 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by TIMOTHY TEICHGRAEBERIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by CHRIS EGUSAProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

California is facing a historic drought. Again. It's become a familiar refrain, year after year, and the growing climate crisis is only expected to make things worse. Today, we'll look at a story that we published back in 2015, but the question at its center is even more pressing today: In an era of chronic drought, could desert crops become the new sustainable dinner?"Food Shift" originally appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by CHRISTOPHER D. COOKIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by MITCH GREENBERGProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

In a simple, residential neighborhood in San Francisco sits a former church for Christian Scientists. The building's white exterior and massive  columns give it a stately, antiquated look. But behind its doors sit stacks of servers, which contain billions upon billions of web pages, media, and other delights. This is the Internet Archive. In today's episode: what happens when an eccentric tech entrepreneur decides to devote himself to preserving every scrap of information that gets put online and make it accessible to all."Tomorrow's Library" originally appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by TIM REDMONDIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by AVANTHIKA SRINIVASANProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

In today's automated world, why bother toiling with hand tools and sawdust? In his new book, Gary Rogowski—a master furniture maker in Portland, Oregon—ruminates about lessons he's learned “at the bench,” and the quest for mastery and creative focus, no matter what your calling."A Woodworker's Tale" originally appeared in the Winter 2018 issue of Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by GARY ROGOWSKIIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by GARY ROGOWSKIProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

The blind spots in the American West's approach to managing water are on full display in Ventura County, a coastal region of Central California that holds the most lucrative farmland in the state."The California Mirage" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by CRAWFORD COATESIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by CHRIS EGUSAProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Now that the tequila craze has crested, the latest Latin liquor to capture the world's alcoholic imagination is tequila's grandfather: mezcal. But an explosion of authentic mezcal is impossible—for reasons our correspondent discovers when she goes to Oaxaca to learn how this hyper-local spirit can be sustained."Mezcal's Dance with Extinction" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos,  audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by GRACE RUBENSTEINIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by GRACE RUBENSTEINProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

It's 2015, and in the health and wellness world, the Kale Craze is in full swing — people are eating, roasting, blending, and juicing it. But one molecular biologist in Marin County stumbles upon evidence that this queen of greens might be hiding toxic levels of certain heavy metals. And it's even worse in organic varieties. Could kale be behind the mysterious symptoms in his patients? EDITOR'S NOTE: Several updates were published in our Fall 2015 issue, exploring how thallium functions, its prodigious history in scientific literature, and how people should now think about eating kale and other vegetables. These are collected in an article entitled “The Vegetable Detective, Take Two.“"The Vegetable Detective" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos,  audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.Written by TODD OPPENHEIMERIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by GÖRAN NORQUISTProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Craftsmanship's founding editor Todd Oppenheimer sits down with Paul and Elizabeth Kaiser, a husband-and-wife farming team who have been at the forefront of a promising approach to growing food called regenerative agriculture. Hear about the success of the movement they helped start; some mind boggling results from recent testing on their soil and produce; and how they harness Mother Nature to make their land more productive than any human technology ever could. This episode is part of the series of “Artisan Interviews” produced by Craftsmanship Quarterly, in which we bring you conversations with the artisans behind the stories, and with those who write about them. You can visit the Kaisers' website at www.singingfrogsfarm.com. And, you can read our original 2015 article on the Kaisers titled, "The Drought Fighter." Written by CRAFTSMANSHIP EDITORS Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by TODD OPPENHEIMER WITH PAUL AND ELIZABETH KAISER Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS Cover image by MICHAEL WOOLSEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Ann Morhauser started with nothing but debt in a tiny glassware studio in Watsonville, a coastal community in central California. Now her work is in stores across the country—and in the Smithsonian. What is her secret to artisanal success? "The Glass Builder" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by PEGGY TOWNSEND Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by AVANTHIKA SRINIVASAN Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Not only is wool unusually cozy and durable, but its creators (the sheep) can help regenerate the world's drying, fire-prone landscapes. The good news: a wool revival seems to be underway. "The Hidden Powers of a Sheep" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by JUDITH D. SCHWARTZ Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by CHRIS EGUSA Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Martha's Vineyard has long been seen as a summer retreat for the East Coast elite. The island's reality, however, is a far more complex environment that has welcomed and inspired generations of Black Americans, including an artist and doll maker named Janice Frame. "A Black Artist's Haven on a (mostly) White Vineyard" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by SKIP FINLEY Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by JOSHUA SIROTIAK Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

With gumption, insight, and brilliant use of social media, a few guys in Virginia built an operation that makes what could be the world's finest toolbelts. "The Toolbelt Masters" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by LORRAINE SANDERS Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by AVANTHIKA SRINIVASAN Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

The commercial signs of yesteryear, which were all painted by hand, offer a kind of beauty, personality, and longevity that today's industrial signs have been unable to duplicate. While exploring what's left of the old sign-painting traditions, we stumbled upon small but lively seeds of revival. "The New Sign Painters" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by LAURA FRASER Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by GÖRAN NORQUIST Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

James and Deborah Fallows spent four years crisscrossing the United States in a small plane, visiting dozens of small towns. The stories they found were surprising—and entirely contrary to the narrative we've all read about in the news. They saw communities engaged in a vigorous process of economic renewal—a stunning portrait, in sum, of an America reinventing itself, literally from the ground up. They published their findings in “Our Towns: a 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America,” (Penguin Random House, 2018) and produced an HBO documentary of the same name in 2021. They also founded Our Towns Civic Foundation, a nonprofit initiative that continues their work. Because their story overlaps so forcefully with the theme of our Winter 2022 issue, “Reviving Our Abandoned Small Towns”, we snagged Jim and Deb for a sit-down interview with Todd Oppenheimer, founder and executive director of The Craftsmanship Initiative. This episode is part of the series of “Artisan Interviews,” produced by Craftsmanship Quarterly, in which we bring you conversations with the artisans behind the stories, and with those who write about them. Written by CRAFTSMANSHIP EDITORS Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by TODD OPPENHEIMER WITH JAMES & DEBORAH FALLOWS Produced by CHRIS EGUSA

The Isbell family of Arkansas has spent decades experimenting with new ways to grow rice. In the process, they pioneered American-grown rice for sushi and sake, along with farming techniques that can save water and help slow climate change. "The Craft of Sustainable Rice Farming" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by DAVID RAMSEY Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by MIKE EGUSA Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

In November, 2017, the doors closed on North Carolina's White Oak plant — one of the first, and (almost) the last, big textile mill in the U.S. to make true, vintage-style denim. Our correspondent tracks down the secret to classic jeans, and their unexpected future. "The Secret to Vintage Jeans" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by BRIAN HOWE, with updated reporting by TODD OPPENHEIMER Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by CHRIS EGUSA Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN

What makes people devote hours to the frustrating task of gluing together pieces so small you have to pick them up with tweezers? And does this obsessive hobby even matter anymore? To find out, a devotee of the art dives into Revell's world of plastic models. "Parts & Recreation" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by JEFF GREENWALD Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by MITCH GREENBERG Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

A collection of sewing enthusiasts, dedicated to the anachronistic art of making old-fashioned clothes, stumbles onto a path that revives quality, comfort, ecological consciousness—and respect for the female form in all its varieties. "Historical Clothing's Comeback" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by BETH WINEGARNER Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by AVANTHIKA SRINIVASAN Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN

In the Basque country of Northern Spain, the Mondragon Corporation—the world's largest co-operative business enterprise—has found ways to weather economic crises, avoid severe income inequality, and build long-term worker loyalty. Why don't more businesses follow “the Mondragon model”? "Could Co-Ops Solve Income Inequality?" originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by ROBERTO LOVATO Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by GÖRAN NORQUIST Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN

Rebecca Burgess is the executive director of Fibershed, an internationally recognized nonprofit focused on transforming the clothing and textile system, the author of two books, and a vocationally trained weaver and natural dyer. She sat down with Craftsmanship Quarterly to talk about price and privilege when it comes to "slow fashion," why the world can no longer afford fast fashion, and what she learned from a year of only wearing clothing produced within 150 miles of her home. This episode is part of our series “Artisan Interviews,” in which we bring you conversations with the artisans behind the stories, and with those who write about them. Craftsmanship Quarterly is a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Everyone in the fashion world wants to find a more sustainable, environmentally friendly way to make cotton clothes — or a benign (and comfy) alternative. Some are on the brink of succeeding. But almost no one understands these innovations' social costs. "The Human Cost of Recycled Cotton," written and narrated by Alden Wicker, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Editor's note: This story was updated from the original by the author for re-release in our Fall 2021 issue. Written by ALDEN WICKER Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by ALDEN WICKER Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN

This episode is part of our series “Artisan Interviews,” in which we bring you conversations with the artisans behind the stories, and with those who write about them. Alden Wicker, award-winning journalist, sustainable fashion expert, and founder of EcoCult, talks about her disillusionment with the idea of “voting with your dollars;" why the cotton industry is in disarray; and some concerning new research around toxicity and chemicals in fashion. Craftsmanship Quarterly is a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

If you want an unusually cozy scarf or sweater made of natural fiber, merino wool or alpaca are the usual choices. But what about the guanaco, the alpaca's little-known cousin, which grows even finer fleece? For Adriana Marina, the guanaco's time has come to be South America's finest source for sustainable textiles. "Argentina's Textile Crusader" written and narrated by Alden Wicker, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by ALDEN WICKER Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by ALDEN WICKER Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS Alden Wicker is an award-winning journalist and sustainable fashion expert.

Fountain pens have always served as the quintessential combination of beauty, tradition, and dexterity. But did you know they're also tools of environmental consciousness? Join our tour of the fountain pen's history, infinite varieties, and remarkable powers. With tips for shopping and maintenance. "The Perfect Pen" written by Tim Redmond, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by TIM REDMOND Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by CHRIS EGUSA Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

As interest in hunting with a bow and arrow has risen, much of the gear has gone high-tech. Meanwhile, a small band of purists like Gabriel Miossi have turned to a traditional Native American weapon: the stick bow. "The Lost Art of Traditional Bow Hunting" written by David Munro, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.

As the economy's reliance on innovation grows, the offering of toys for girls remains–well, somewhat less than innovative. Fortunately, a few smart women are starting to solve this problem by reviving the time-honored principles of tinkering, this time for girls. "Let Tinkerbell Tinker" written by David Munro, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.

In a growing number of artisanal shops dotted around the globe, small-scale perfume artists are bottling a world of scents left untapped by commercial fragrance houses. "Led by the Nose" written by Barbara Tanenbaum, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by BARBARA TANNENBAUM Introduction by CHRIS EGUSA Narrated by AVANTHIKA SRINIVASAN Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS

An American woodworker's love affair with “the best” (and perhaps least well-known) sculpture museum in Paris – and what the affair taught him. "The Soul of French Invention" written by Gary Rogowski, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising.

A writer searches Istanbul's cafes and alleys for the king of the ney, an enigmatic — and at times, endangered — flute that has long been a mainstay of Muslim musical traditions. "The Reed Artist," written by Rollo Romig, originally appeared in Craftsmanship Quarterly, a multimedia online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — all free of charge and free of advertising. Written by ROLLO ROMIG Narrated by GORAN NORQUIST Produced by CHRIS EGUSA Music by MIKE SNOWDEN / NEYZEN EMIN