Cut the Craft

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Recorded June 6, 2023. William Deresiewicz is a non-fiction writer whose work includes The End of Solitude, Excellent Sheep, and A Jane Austin Education. In this episode he speaks with us about his book The Death of the Artist: How Creators are Struggling to Survive in the age of Billionaires and Big Tech. Over the course of our conversation Bill gives us a synopsis of the book and highlights different factors that have resulted in the current marketplace for creatives. He includes the new formation of “parasocial relationships” with fans and customers that are a part of selling creative work and acknowledges the death of institutional gatekeepers, which is a double edged sword. This interview is one you will not want to miss. To find more of Bills's work visit: https://billderesiewicz.com/Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Recorded May 8, 2023. Kyle Tallio, from Nuxalk and Hailzaqu Nations, makes Northwest Coast Art primarily out of Prince Rupert in Canada. Kyle focuses primarily on wood carvings that are used traditionally: masks, spoons, bowls, and boxes. He comes from a family of artists and started out his creative pursuits in two dimensional work. As his carving has progressed he has gleaned inspiration from the traditional principles of Northwest Coast Art but is settling into his own style. Kyle highlights the importance of actively creating community relationships as well as a generous mindset. He also touches on the tough conversations around museum collections and Indigenous art, the truth behind those acquisitions and the nuanced perspectives involved. To find more of Kyle's work visit: Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery, Inuit Gallery of Vancouver, Lattimer Gallery, Instagram: @kyletallio.Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Recorded April 18, 2023. Addison de Lisle is a metalsmith who primarily focuses on non-ferrous metals but with a very eclectic range of forms. Within his breadth of interests, Addison makes an effort to set himself a few parameters; his work is metal, should at least hint at utility, and shouldn't shy away from conceptual ideas. In other words, he's free to explore! During the course of our conversation he shares the view that craftspeople are alchemists who are a bridge between nature and culture, that new processes such as 3D printing have a place in craft and how his experiences at craft schools have influenced his career.  To find more of Addison's work visit his website: www.addisondelisle.com , Instagram: @de_lisle_iron .Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Recorded March 20, 2023. Kathryn Sullivan is a woodworker who focuses on restoration and conservation. Over the course of our conversation Kathryn highlights the importance of communication with their clients. Learning more about what a piece will be used for and the client's motivation for Kathryn's services informs how they will approach the restoration process. We also dig into the series of choices Kathryn made that brought them to restoration and how their academic background helps inform their work. They have a unique perspective around our material culture and its role in cultural heritage that you will not want to miss. To find more of Kathryn's work visit their website: www.kathrynsullivanrestoration.com , Instagram: @ksullivanrestoration , TikTok @queercusstellata , LA Conservators: www.laconservators.comHelp keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Recorded March 13, 2023. Robell Awake is a furniture maker based in Atlanta Georgia. He has a background in the trades, but has dedicated his current efforts in ladderback chair making and green woodworking. Along with making the furniture itself, Robell has researched the true origins of the Poynor chair; a mule-eared, curve-backed ladderback chair designed by one of the most prolific Black furniture makers in the 19th Century; Richard Poyner. Robell's research has led him toward combating the erasures of black craftspeople in the United States with his own work and also educating others in the field to set the historic record straight.  To find more of Robell's work visit his website: www.robellawake.com, Instagram: @robellawakeHelp keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!Our 3rd Annual April Giveaway is quickly approaching! This year, we are excited to have TWO beautiful carving knives made by none other than Reid Schwartz, our guest from Episode 41. Support the show

Recorded February 6, 2023. Gabriela Marván is a cartonera living and working in Wisconsin. Cartonería is a paper sculpture technique that has roots in the beginning of colonialism in Mexico. The Catholic Church used sculptures to communicate its doctrine with indigenous people but now the technique is used during celebrations and folk art of all kinds. Gabriela specializes in Day of the Dead decorations and loves the artistic flexibility that comes along with designing Catrina's (the iconic elegantly dressed skeleton figure). It's become a way to remember the busy mercados in Mexico and build up her local community celebrations at the same time. She finds a lot of fulfillment in the festival, food, and music but most importantly through educating people through her vibrant sculpture.  To find more of Gabriela's work visit her website: www.folkartcollective.com, Instagram: @poshemx, @folkartcollective Photo credit for the banner: Hanna Agar PhotographyHelp keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Our 3rd Annual April Giveaway is quickly approaching! This year, we are excited to have TWO beautiful carving knives made by none other than Reid Schwartz, our guest from Episode 41. Support the show

Recorded January 2, 2023. French bookbinder Louise Bescond is couched within the multifaceted world of bookbinding. She describes her niche as bookbinding “haute couture,” but despite her exacting eye, she acknowledges the moving bar of perfection in her professional life. Admittedly not a bookbinding historian, Louise gives us a sense of the historical context for these bindings, as well as an overview of the variety of specialized craftspeople within the field that emphasizes the collaborative nature of her own work and all the people who help make her books special. To find more of Louise's work visit her website: http://www.louisebescond.eu/ and Instagram: @louise.bescond. Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Our 3rd Annual April Giveaway is quickly approaching! This year, we are excited to have TWO beautiful carving knives made by none other than Reid Schwartz, our guest from Episode 41. Support the show

Recorded December 12, 2022. Letterpress printer and designer Ben Blount believes in the power of the printed word. He uses design as a way to communicate, motivate, tell stories, and record histories. He uses the printed word as a vehicle for conversations ranging from race and identity to stories we tell ourselves. Ben loves to highlight nuance and use the intricacies of larger cultural contexts to create catalysts for questions and new conversations.   To find more of Ben's work visit his website: http://benblount.com/ and Instagram: @blountbenHelp keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Recorded November 7, 2022. Jögge Sundqvist is a slöjdaire from Umeå Sweden. As a multi-talented woodworker he's made everything ranging from butter knives to theater entrances. During this episode, Jögge helps us clear up the definition of slöjd and its cultural roots. Technically speaking the word means being “clever in your hands”, but Jögge also gives the term a wider context and shares how it applies to his own understanding of craft. He elaborates on the connection between the rhythm in woodworking and music, and in the past created a touring musical show with Beth Moen (a fellow woodworker) and others exploring that abstract link. Jögge also makes a point to share how joy guides his work and inspires him to work directly with the material; it's a collaboration between his personal expression, tools, folk art tradition, and the wood itself. To find more of Jögge's work visit his website:Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Recorded September 19, 2022. Dr. Esra Alhamal creates illuminated paintings and works out of England.  In this episode, she clears up the language surrounding biomorphic patterns and the western idea of Islamic Art. Instead, Esra promotes the Arabic word Nabati; meaning “from plant” to describe the organic curvy patterns she uses to create illuminated paintings. She guides us through regional differences in the stylized visual patterns and talks about her own process as she creates different pieces. She teaches illumination, has her own paint company, and publishes a podcast about art, but still finds time to relax with the repetition of her own practice. As she says, it's nice to have a goal but being true to your creative self leads to satisfaction.Clarification: Esra was referring to two different books. Richard Sennet's “The Craftsman” and Peter Korn's “Why we make things and why it matters”To find more of Esra's work visit her website: https://www.islamicillumination.com/, or bristleandbrush.co.uk, and listen to her Podcast: https://www.islamicillumination.com/podcastInstagram: @artilluminatedpodcast, and @islamicilluminationHelp keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Recorded July 25, 2022. Ceramic artist David “Swen” Swenson creates his utilitarian wares in Clearwater, Minnesota. His work is a cacophony of design elements and motifs that fit together like quilt pieces. Swen draws inspiration from a variety of places, from ancient pottery in museums to art history, but always manages to work his own narrative into his pieces. He gives credit to his dyslexia for his spatial acumen, and also for understanding how students learn in different ways when he's teaching. As an artist, he remains flexible while he brings many elements together into something that remains playful and is a joy to use.To find more of Swen's work visit his website: https://swenwares.wixsite.com/swenwares, or his Instagram @swenwares.Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!Support the show

Recorded April 25, 2022.  Episode contains some language.Textile Artist and surface designer Aliyah Salmon has had a recent breakthrough with her large hand-tufted wall hangings. The opportunity came quickly to start working with tufting during the pandemic and she's taken the opportunity in stride as she builds her work and creates larger contemporary yarn paintings. Aliyah offers a fresh perspective on building a vocabulary of motifs and the complex meaning behind the images she hand-tufts. She is truly synthesizing her observations and making sense of them through her artistic process as she uses yarn, an approachable material to spark conversation about uncomfortable topics. To find more of Aliyah's work visit her website: https://www.aliyahsalmon.com/, Instagram @tyrabanks_official, and TikTok @aliyahsalmon.Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Recorded May 2, 2022. Bladesmith Andrew Meers focuses his creative practice on making a variety of knives. Most of his knives are heavily embellished art and are not strictly utilitarian. Conversely, he also sometimes makes batches of kitchen knives. Andrew often incorporates story and narrative themes to his work, especially in his decorative inlay which includes anything from a leaping fox to a bee pollinating a flower. His relationship to his work has changed overtime, and he notes that it seems paradoxical: sometimes freeing, sometimes constraining. He also points out his need for balance when incorporating automated machine systems and wonders where the line is formed around his creative work within those processes; a question many craftspeople grapple with in their own work.To find more of Andew's work visit his website: https://www.andrewmeersstudio.com/, Instagram @mr.meers, Facebook: Andrew Meers.Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Recorded April 18, 2022. Soapmaker Andrea Davis is the owner of Motherland Essentials in South Carolina. She focuses on cold process soapmaking and loves the interplay between art and science that soapmaking allows. During our interview she guides us along her path into soapmaking: from a traumatizing situation in the corporate world to how she relied on creativity to help the healing process as she dealt with personal loss. She is making more than nourishing skin and body products; Andrea is resting healing spaces and community with her craft in direct contrast to her previous career. To find more of Andrea's work visit her website: https://www.motherlandessentials.com/, Instagram + Facebook + TikTok  + Pinterest @motherlandessentials, Twitter @motheressential, Support the show

Recorded March 28, 2022. Blacksmith Caitlin Morris is the founder of Ms. Caitlin's School of Blacksmithing in Frederick, Maryland, and  “is dedicated to sharing the craft with as many unsuspecting people as possible!” Caitlin is a dedicated teacher who learned the perils and triumphs associated with learning when she first started her craft. As a smaller-built person, she noticed the difference between technical nuance and brute strength. She learned how to get the results she wanted by breaking down body mechanics to make blacksmithing accessible to anyone and everyone who was interested. During our conversation, she underlines the importance of allowing for failure and the ways in which risk and certainty inform the processes involved in being a successful craftsperson. Caitlin's ability to observe her students and teach to their skill level is a fantastic example of the craft of teaching itself. To find more of Caitlin's work visit her website: Ms. Caitlins School of Blacksmithing, Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/mscaitlinsschool Instagram @mscaitlinsschool, and Youtube: Ms Caitlin  https://youtu.be/hIw8J9h55_ISociety for Inclusive Blacksmiths Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Welcome to Cut the Craft, a podcast that brings stories of handcraft and its makers to you, through conversations between craftspeople of different backgrounds, media, and levels of experience. Hosted by Amy Umbel and Brien Beidler.Support the show

Recorded April 4, 2022. Ceramicist Makeda Smith took a leap of faith during 2020 to start her own business. She had dabbled in ceramics in college, but when a friend saw her talent and encouraged her to take her creative side more seriously, she decided to accept the challenge. The acknowledgement and support she received from her community culminated in her own home art show called Funktion. From then on, Makeda was hooked. Since then she's opened a storefront, and was able (with the blessing of her students) to leave her teaching career and become a full-time small business owner. Makeda has so many wonderfully encouraging things to say in this episode. Do not miss the chance to hear them; she'll brighten your day and change your perspective.To find more of Makeda's work visit her website: www.sioceramics.com andInstagram @sioceramics and her storefront at 716 Monroe Street NE Studio 11, Washington DC.Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Episode Recorded February 28,  2022. Jesse Merrill is a craft baker and greenwood worker/turner from Ontario Canada. He has his feet in two areas of craft. Running Polestar Hearth Bakery supports his family through the planned obsolescence of bread baking which gives him room to delve heart first into green woodworking and turning. During this conversation we talk about craft vs. industry and where those lines are drawn. We elaborate on how we all manage our perfectionism and how loosening up our grip is something very personal, and how it affects various aspects of creativity. Join us Tuesday for more of this introspective conversation!To find more of Jesse's work visit his website: www.polestarhearth.comInstagram @sapwood.and.stars, @polestarhearth Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded February 21,  2022. Eleanor Rose is a craft-based sculpture artist, and toolmaker currently based in Pennsylvania. During our conversation, she shares how she started making tools; she didn't have access to what she needed during her undergraduate studies, so she made them herself! Our candid conversation floats in and out of the undefinable nature of some of Eleanor's work- going back and forth between a more craft based approach to tool-making and the heady conceptual nature of her woodworking collaborations with her partner-in-craft, Stacy Mott. Eleanor also shines a light on personal breakthroughs, her experience as a trans woman and how she wants to help other folks who share the struggles and gate-keeping she faced in undergrad and grad school. Join us Tuesday for this important conversation!To find more of Eleanor's work visit her website: http://www.ladieswhoblank.com/ Instagram @ladieswho______ , @off_artisan, @stacy.mott.art, @trans_craft_soc.Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! GreenWood Wright's Fest Festival Tickets!Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded February 7,  2022. Mikko Snellman specializes in knot tying and ropemaking and comes from a long line of sailors in Finland. During our conversation, he shares the important place cordage has in human history and how it helps us today. Personally, he grew up tying knots and was familiar with ropework from sailing with his father, but as he grew older he stepped into craftwork at a cabinetry shop where he learned that handcraft is not a series of tricks but a mindset. Later, as life crumbled around him, he remembered that he could help himself by the repetitive motions of tying knots and has not stopped since. He shares his work with people all around the globe and the lessons learned by entering into the meditative world of fancy knotwork.To find more of Mikko's work visit his website: www.snellman.ax,  his Instagram page @mikkosnellman, his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/mikkosnellman, his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MSnellmanRopeworks2 and his Ropeworks community on FB:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ropeworksgroup .Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! GreenWood Wright's Fest Festival Tickets!Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded February 2,  2022. Gabriel Frey is a 13th generation Wabanaki basketmaker from the Dawnland. During our conversation Gabriel shares the importance of indigenous land stewardship and the role basket weaving has as a vehicle for cultural transmission. He shares the historical importance basket weaving has in preserving indigenous agency, especially in the time where Wabanaki territory was stolen, sold and repackaged as compliance rations. In spite of that trauma, basket weaving has helped preserve Wabanaki culture and its importance shines through Gabriel's work. To find more of Gabriel's work visit his website: www.gabrielfreybaskets.com, and on Instagram @gabrielfreybasketmaker. Visit him at the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, Santa Fe Indian Market, and buy his book, “The First Blade of Sweetgrass,” at your local bookstore, bookshop.org, or the online corporation which shall not be named but rhymes with shamazon. Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded February 1,  2022. Sreeraghavi Mani is a textile origamist working out of New Jersey who has a background in design and textiles. She talks about how she has shifted her perspective from an industrial model to a personal relationship with craft. During the lockdowns, she recognized the meditative process of handcraft flowing through her and focused it on folding textiles. While she was in the process she felt calm and it helped her respond to the trauma. The result has been an amazing manifestation of her spiritual philosophy through handcraft itself, as she folded a garment for Three Asfour for their 2021 collection, Kundalini, for the New York Fashion Week! Rāghavi's Mentors: Debojyoti Ganguly, her professors at Parsons: Gabriel Asfour and Preeti Gopinath.To find more of Rāghavi's work visit her website: Pensive Penning and her Instagram accounts pensive_penning and mo.ksha_06.Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded November 22,  2021. Reid Schwartz is a knife maker from rural New Hampshire and throughout his career as a hand-tool maker, he has settled into a solid understanding of why he is making tools and the feedback loops he is involved in as a ‘one-person' scaled business. He's become more and more involved in sourcing local materials for his work and is integrating rural living, interactions with community and the land into his life as a maker. He's also become involved in understanding more about the human element in land conservation and is inspired by first nations community members and makers worldwide. Join us for this thoughtful conversation with Reid!To find more of Reid's work visit his website: https://www.reidschwartz.net/ or his Instagram feed @reidschwartz.Reid's Mentor: Jean-José TritzHelp keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded November 20,  2021. Shoemaking chose Amara and not the other way around. Following an accident while working on her MFA thesis, Amara recalibrated her body and mind with a shoemaking class. After winnowing her courses down to that class, she subsequently built her thesis around shoes “that forced the body of the wearer into positions that she was dealing with." Although this is an important part of her story, Amara is more interested in her work speaking for itself than anything else. Do the shoes fit and stay comfortable? Are they functioning as designed? Answering those important questions to the best of her ability is her goal. To find more of Amara's work visit her website: https://www.harkweberstudio.com/ and on Instagram @harkweberstudio. Or in St. Paul, Minnesota!Amara's Mentors: D.W. Frommer, Janne Melkersson, Marcell MrsanHelp keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded October 18,  2021. Kiko Denzer deftly mixes clay, food, and carving together with a dash of philosophy to bake in the fires of this next conversation. It's a departure from our typical format, but Kiko has a welcomed perspective of craft and lifeways that doesn't often show up in the craft world. He has spent most of his life teaching others how to build earth ovens, creating sustainable buildings and publishing books. Throughout the show we visit the role of craft in everyday life, the value of investing in one's local community, and most importantly, how we're all just walking bellies. To find more of Kiko's work visit his website: https://www.handprintpress.com/ and on Instagram @kikodenzer and @earth.ovenCræftspeople Kiko admires:Martin Prechtel (floweringmountain.com, many titles, first one is Secrets of the Talking Jaguar -- all his stories bridge the many gaps between indigenous origins and modern dilemmas. A good starting place is this interview: Saving The Indigenous Soul)Betty Seaman ( unintentional community, gardens, natural building, wonderful craft & art work of many kinds, including martial arts (she built a dojo for her spouse @muhudojo)Nate Johnson (crafts)Robin Wood, Wood Tools (craft business/community in Sheffield, UK, ala Bernard Leach)Russell Sparks and Redbird (skills, hunting, community, events -- co-coordinators of The Buckeye Gathering)Tamara Wilder (paleotechnics)Stephen Edholm (skill cult)Tending the Wild by Kat AndersonDeanne Bednar (natural building)Emily Reynolds (studying/practicing plastering in Japan)Kyle Holzhueter (plasters/permaculture)Angela Francis (natural building)Esther Gokhale, posture and craft, "primitive posture," addressing physical demands of craftAnanda Coomaraswamy, esp. Christian and Oriental Philosophy of ArtThe Hand-Sculpted House, by Ianto Evans, Michael Smith, and Linda SmileyMorihei Ueshiba, founder of AikidoSupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded October 11,  2021. Freddy Roman has grown up within the furniture field and mastered a variety of trades revolving around restoration woodworking and everything that goes along with it, from veneer work in neoclassical furniture to glazing antique windows. This is a thoughtful episode coming from someone who occupies the space where “trades” and “craft” are the same. Freddy shares his thoughts about the differences between handwork and machine work and what he's learned in the process of being a woodworker. He also explains the importance of teaching handwork to folks lost skills that would've been commonplace a few decades ago. To find more of Freddy's work visit his website: http://www.periodcraftsmen.com/  and on Instagram @periodcraftsman. His Podcast is Against the Grain Podcast.Freddy's craft crushes: Chris Schwartz, Don Williams, Al Breed, Christian Becksvort, Will Neptune, Mike Pekovitch, Nancy Hiller, Peter Follansbee, Peter Galbert, Greg Pennington, Pinemar, @areyouafixer, Jimmy Dieresta, Megan Fitzpatrick, Wood Window Museum, Copper Pig, Ben Bogie, Joshua Klein, Roy Underhill, Callen Malsby, Tried and True Carpentry Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded October 1,  2021. Julia Kalthoff specializes in making carving axes in Stockholm, Sweden under the moniker Kalthoff Axes. As a young girl she grew up amidst textile crafts but was always curious about metal… “How did it work? How could you transform it from one state to another?” By a series of coincidences she worked at an axe making workshop and then managed Wetterlings Axe Manufacturing business. All this experience taught her a lot about the small but very important details that make up an excellent axe. After taking a break from the heavy responsibilities of her youth, she decided to create her own business. Her love of axes and green woodworking has opened her eyes to how she can help others to create a relationship with woodcrafts and the forest, with a Kalthoff axe in hand.To find more of Julia's work visit her website: https://www.kalthoffaxes.se/ , and on Instagram @kalthoffaxesJulia's craft crushes: Beth Moen, Lina Odell, and Daniel LundbergAlso, as promised, here's the link to the Bitter Southerner Article shared with us by Ryan S, one of our listeners, and it talks about folklore's presence and role in everyday life. Thanks Ryan!Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded August 9,  2021. Kirk Lang specializes in kinetic sculpture and jewelry with a particular focus on astronomy; the first time he saw Saturn in “real time” he was hooked! The sense of awe he felt as he looked through a telescope at the stars heavily influences his work as a craftsperson. He explores unconventional materials like titanium, niobium and meteorite which he pairs with gold and softer metals to render wearable jewelry. Kirk also teases out the interplay of meaning in his work. It's a point where cosmic and personal mythologies can meet in something as small as a ring and yet contain a material that was formed in the expanse of the universe.To find more of Kirk's work visit his website: www.kirklang.com, and on Instagram @kirk_langKirk's craft crushes: John Paul Miller, Arthur Ganson,  Professors Matthew Hollern and Kathy Buszkiewicz,  and Andy Cooperman. Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded July 21, 2021. In this interview Danielle Chutinthranond shares her non-linear path leading to pottery and how important following her instincts has been in the process of becoming a craftsperson. She identifies her reciprocal/creative relationship between her pottery and the food intended to be served on her pieces, and even creates work based on particular entrees. Along the way she also has created a new relationship between traditional symbolism and the decorative aspects of her work. She feels the personal depth of symbolic meaning in the “Three Friends of Winter” and these motifs have helped her process her experience of the last two years through her work and identify her philosophy in new and important ways. To find more of Danielle's work visit her website: Monsoon Pottery, or her Instagram @monsoonpottery.Danielle's craft crushes: Monohanako, Rifatto, Bookhou, Eileen Fisher and @wastenomore.Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded July 13,  2021. Weaver Christine Novotny identifies herself within a traditional lineage of weavers, but also sees  herself as placed within a contemporary context and wants to keep weaving relevant for today. She draws heavily on her training as a painter to design the colorways of her weavings and finds the interactions of colors and design to be part of what keeps her process moving. She also has discovered the difference in commitment between painting and weaving. Painting has the capacity to change quickly with the whim of the artist, whereas weaving is a long term operation that requires a different planning scheme. Christine does a wonderful job balancing her painterly use of color with the long term progression of weaving.  To find more of Christine's work visit her website:  CAN Goods, or her Instagram feed @christinenovotny Christine's craft crushes: Ariana Funk, Miriam Parkman, Amber Jensen, Carolina Jaimenez, Mark Rothco, Helen Frankenthaler, Jessica PoundstoneSupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded June 28, 2021. Aspen Golann is a dynamo furniture maker based in North Carolina who started out her craft career dabbling in weaving before being drawn to woodworking at North Bennet Street School in Boston, Massachusetts. Recently she's been collaborating and working on a new craft equity project looking for tool makers in the field that are under-recognized for their amazing work. In the episode she also reflects upon the lifestyle she wants to create as a craftsperson; learning to “water the plant” as opposed to “keeping a snowman from melting." Tune into this jam-packed episode for more metaphorical gems as Aspen takes us on her journey through woodworking.To find more of Aspen's work visit her website www.aspengolann.com , and Instagram @aspen_golann.Aspen's craft crushes: Windsor Chair makers like Greg Pennington and Peter Galbert, people playing the long game, teachers, people in the service industry, and Chris Kerr-Ayer.Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded June 21,  2021. David Harper Clemons points to how his relationship with materials can be the springboard for work and how he's drawn to the broad spectrum of physicality in metalwork. He shares his thoughts on mass production and how that relates to the economics of studio craft. David also elaborates on themes like social/cultural commentary, how last summer's events tie into his personal experience, and that he now feels as if he has a visual vocabulary to create work based on the uprisings of the past year. To find more of David's work visit his website www.davidharperclemons.com, and Instagram @harperclemons. His work is also in Day in the life Gallery, Penland Gallery, Esse Purse Museum, Yale Craft Collection, Ornamental Metal Museum and UT Austin.David's craft crushes: Andy Cooperman, Helen Shirk, Fred Wilson, Martin Purer, Hank WIllis Thomas.Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded June 2,  2021. Elizabeth Brim has an illustrious Artist Blacksmithing career that matches her colorful personality. She's well known for turning the blacksmithing world on it's head with her steel womenswear. She popularized a technique of using compressed air to make pillows out of steel and she also played an instrumental role in rebuilding Penland Craft School's Iron program. Elizabeth has been an important part of challenging the established notion of who a blacksmith can be and what they do...and it's much more than shoeing horses.To find more of Elizabeth's work visit her website www.elizabethbrim.com, and Instagram @halfroundbastard Elizabeth's craft crushes: Disciplined Blacksmiths, Warren HolzmanSupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded May 4, 2021. Porfirio Gutiérrez is a Zapotec textile artist specializing in natural dyes. He uses insects, plants and fruits to create dye for the textiles he creates in his studios in California and Oaxaca. He grew up in a family where the knowledge of medicinal plants and textile/dyeing crafts were part of his life, and Porfirio's journey of re-discovering his passion of honoring the tradition, knowledge and ancestral heritage of his craft is an important part of his work. He is interested in sharing his own personal expression that is informed by his Zapotec cultural heritage to create something built upon a solid foundation.To find more of Porfirio's work visit his website www.porfiriogutierrez.com, and Instagram @porfirio_gutierrez_studio or find him in Ventura, California in the Bell Arts Factory.Porfirio's craft crushes: His parents, and Aboubakar Fofana.Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded April 17,  2021. Woodworking enthusiast Roy Underhill sits down with us to share his experience teaching students and his belief that both hand skills and materials shape us in a profound way. Roy teaches students both in person, online, and for 37 years on the popular PBS television show “The Woodwright's Shop.” Through those outlets Roy has shared his passion for hand tool woodworking and loves contributing to questions and knowledge surrounding woodworking and its history.  To find Roy, walk through the City Tap bar in Pittsboro, NC and into The Woodwrights School. He also teaches online for students who can't come to North Carolina. Roys television show,  The Woodwrights Shop has 37 seasons of episodes where you can access the history of American woodworking and Roy's career as a teacher.Roy's craft crushes: Are folks who both sell their work and teach, and anyone who can restore our faith in humanity. Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Episode Recorded April 5th 2021. Jeffrey Hart is a natural builder and fellow podcaster in the UK. He specializes in using natural materials to build healthy homes for people and the earth. In this interview we touch on some of the general history of materials and buildings and how they've changed overtime. Jeffrey also talks about the building ethos he's settled on, and how to look at local materials and use them in our own building vernacular.To find more of Jeffrey's work check out his podcast: Building Sustainability, website: www.jeffreythenaturalbuilder.com, and find him on Instagram @jeffreythenaturalbuilder Jeffrey's craft crushes: Emma Appleton and John MullaneySupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded March 29, 2021. A staple to cabinetry work, Nancy Hiller sits down with us to illuminate the intricacies of different tuna fish sandwich recipes. Jokes aside, during the course of her woodworking career, Nancy has come to recognize the importance of efficiency in her business, and also how writing is part of what keeps her happy. In spite of her intimidatingly incredible work, Nancy’s dry sense of humor makes it easy to connect on a personal level and her mission of educating the public to rethink what we value shines through in this episode. To find more of Nancy’s work check out her website www.nrhillerdesign.com and find her on Instagram @nrhillerNancy’s craft crushes are: Freddy Roman, Christopher Schwartz, and Megan Fitzpatrick Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded March 23rd 2021. In this information-packed interview, Sweetgrass basket maker Corey Alston takes us through the history of basket making in Gullah culture. Corey relates how the tragic history of African enslavement is inextricably rooted to his story as a maker and how his work is directly influenced by Gullah culture. Harvesting his materials by hand is important to him as he navigates the diminishing availability of wild sweetgrass in his area that was once a much more procurable material. But even within that dynamic, he tenaciously gives back to other weavers within the sweetgrass weaving community when able.To find more of Corey’s work check him out on Facebook: Corey Alston Gullah Sweetgrass Baskets, find him on Instagram @corey_alston_sweetgrass, email him corey.alston@comcast.net, or call him 843-442-1855.Corey’s craft crushes are: Sweetgrass elders and the ancestors who passed down the skills and knowledge of weaving, and Barack Obama. Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded March 8th 2021. Incredibly talented Bill Oyster guides us through the twists and turns of his path toward making bamboo fly-fishing rods. After realizing his love of crafting fly rods he quickly had a huge waitlist and took a deep dive into engraving them. Bill also elaborates on the history of fly-rod making, and his own love of participating in nature through fishing. He’s inspired by students who are passionate and motivated to make fly roads and the staff of Oyster Bamboo who make it all possible! To find more of Bill's work check out his website https://oysterflyrods.com/ or find him on Instagram @oysterbambooBill’s craft crushes are motivated, passionate students!Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded February 22, 2021. Woodcarver Danielle Rose Byrd started out making things with anything she could get her hands on. Her ingenuity has continued to influence her work as she starts to include different materials into her practice. Danielle is particularly interested in conceptual woodworking and its interplay with function. She makes bowls that are unique, beg to be interacted with, and enjoys the challenge of wood as a material. In the hope of demystifying and consolidating the techniques she’s learned as a bowl carver, Danielle has written a book called, “The Handcarved Bowl," available now!  To find more of Danielle's work check out her website https://www.daniellerosebyrd.com/ and find her on Instagram @danielle_rose_byrd. Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded February 15, 2021. Papermaker and book artist Radha Pandey gives us an in-depth view into the history of papermaking, starting in China, Korea and Japan, and it’s subsequent migration to India and Europe. She tells us why she’s so interested in our collective relationship with nature, and how her childhood fostered observation of the environment. Radha shares her upcoming work, which focuses on how the perception of many plants “worth” shifted during the British occupation of India. To find more of Radha's work check out her website https://www.radhapandey.com/ and find her on Instagram @pandey.radha.Radha’s craft crushes are: Asao Shimura, and Andy GoldsworthyBanner Photo Credit: Aimee Lee (from Episode 14!!)Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded February 8, 2021. Studio potter Akira Satake shapes his story for us as he circled around creativity through a variety of life paths. He started his journey through photography and music but came to a breaking point that led him to pottery. Through ceramics, Akira is inspired by the collaboration between himself, clay and fire. Even when he thinks he might be disappointed with a piece when opening the kiln he is pleased to find the beauty of one small area of his work that wasn’t first apparent. Akira’s good nature and ongoing collaboration with life and work are underlying themes for this amazing episode!To find more of Akira's work check out his website www.akirasatake.com and find him on Instagram @akirasatake.Akira’s craft crushes are: Momoyama or Kamakura Period Japanese pottery, Django Reinheart, and Buster Keaton.Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded February 1, 2021. Book arts legend, Hedi Kyle, guides us through her career as a book conservator and her ground-breaking influence on the book art community. As well as her depth of experience, Hedi stresses the importance of learning the foundational techniques before breaking out into something new. And as time goes on she’s more free than ever to work within the book arts, and even pottery! To find more of Hedi's work check out her website Art of the Fold – Hedi Kyle & Ulla Warchol and find her on Instagram @hedikyle.Hedi’s Craft Crush is: Paul Jackon Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded January 18, 2021. Metalsmith Erica Moody introduces us to her first experiences with setting goals, financial stress, large projects and the behind the scenes effort that goes into building a business. In a moment of life’s intensity she pivoted toward her current style of work by coming around to her place as a maker in Maine. She specializes in creating fine metal wares such as utensils and even custom architectural hardware, furniture, and marine hardware. And, rumor has it, she’s making bespoke mixers and plans to take over the KitchenAid empire one beater at a time. There are plenty of satisfying ingredients in this episode: a sprinkle of philosophy, a dash of laughter and a solid base note of good intention.To find more of Erica's work check out her website www.ericamoody.com and find her on Instagram @ericaemoody.Erica’s craft crushes are: Will Manning.Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded December 14, 2020. Designer/maker, Cody Nowell, guides us on her journey towards homecraft. Having a background in textiles, Cody landed her first job sewing sails for sailboats. The technical experience from that job has helped her explore a variety of goods, including leather bags, accessories, and even clothing. Cody also spends time maintaining a garden and pursuing other crafts such as knitting her own sweaters, natural dyeing with plants, and creating things she needs for living a balanced life. To find more of Cody's work check out her website https://www.codynowell.com/ and find her on Instagram @codynowell .Cody’s craft crushes are: Christi Johnson, Maya Beth, Charles Dowding.Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded December 7, 2020. Letterpress wizard and graphic designer Brad Vetter has a lot to say about his start in crafting designs with letter press, often towing the line between laser engraving and traditional letterpress technologies. From his humble beginnings as a copy boy, Brad has grown into a letterpress superstar with an impressive list of clients, including popular musicians such as Chris Stapleton, Shovels & Rope and Jason Isbell, among others. Brad also did all of our design work for Cut the Craft!! What a swell guy...To find more of Brad's work check out his website http://bradvetterdesign.com/ and find him on Instagram @bradvetter .Brad’s craft crushes are: Starshaped Press, Gingerly Press, Globe posters at Mica, Firecracker Press, Just a Jar, Hound Dog Press, Matter, Ben Blount, Camp Nevernice, Isle of Printing, Tom Bartel, Silver Run Ceramics, Paper and Clay, David Crane, and most importantly his wife Adrienne Miller.Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded November 10, 2020. We decided to mix up this episode a bit for the holidays! This is a two-way interview, where we have a few questions for woodworker and teacher Thiago Endrigo, and he has a few for us! We covered a lot of ground including the variety of reasons one may get into handcraft, how “placing” oneself can happen through handwork, and other universal mysteries. To find more of Thiago's work check out his Instagram account: @sabercomasmaos Thaigos’s craft crushes are: Curtis Buchanan, Roy Underhill, Chris Schwartz, his wife, and his parents!Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded December 3, 2020. This Side Projects starts with announcements from John C. Campbell Folk School and North House Folk School, and progresses into a collaboration with Ray Deftereos of Hand Tool Book Review podcast! Ray chose to share and provide context for a reading from John Ruskin of the Arts and Crafts movement. Many listeners are most likely familiar with Ruskin in name but perhaps are not as versed in his writing itself. Ray’s selection sparks some thoughts for Brien and Amy and hopefully for our listeners as well! Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded October 1, 2020. Miriam Johnson is a London-based stone carver, mason, and sculptor. She chiseled herself a place in stone carving at age 17 and hasn’t looked back since. She has a diverse background in both architectural masonry and the artistry of stone carving, and brings both aspects into her work through private commissions and working with other masons on Elizabeth Tower (which houses Big Ben). She also may or may not start a lucrative side business in carving stone s’mores for American podcasts hosts…To find more of Miriam's work check out her Instagram account: @miriam.johnson.stone and her website: www.miriamjohnson.co.uk Miraim’s craft crush is: Nina BilbeySupport the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

Recorded September 17, 2020. Weaver, spinner, and natural dyer Cassie Dickson guides us through her vast experience with fibers and textiles. Cassie mostly works with flax linen; growing, processing and using the flax plant, but also has maintained silkworms for many years. She was employed full time in the public school system for many years, which allowed her to continue her interest in weaving along with the balance created by having a steady income. She loves the connection to the past she feels through weaving traditional coverlets, and also how much she enjoys sharing her love of the craft with students.To find more of Cassie's work check out her Instagram account: @cassiedicksontextiles and find her teaching at John C. Campbell Folk School and Penland.Cassie’s craft crushes are Justin Squizzero, April Stone, and Cut the Craft Podcast ;)Support the show (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)