Cut the Craft

Amy Umbel and Brien Beidler

About

Have you ever looked at potters smiling from their booth at the farmers’ market and wondered: “what’s their deal?” Have you ever considered whose hands are behind the wooden chair you're sitting on? How about those fancy kitchen knives you admire?

Cut the Craft is a podcast that brings stories of handcraft and its makers to you. Perhaps you are a craftsperson looking for a fresh perspective, or a newcomer to handmade things; no matter your starting point, your hosts Amy Umbel and Brien Beidler are here to cut the craft.

Available on

Community

70 episodes

Farewell for Now

Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

11m
Oct 31, 2023
Episode 62: Bill Deresiewicz

Recorded June 6, 2023.  William Deresiewicz is a non-fiction writer whose work includes , , and In this episode he speaks with us about his book Over the course of our conversation Bill gives us a synopsis of the book and highlights different factors that have resulted in the current marketplacefor 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 https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 22m
Sep 26, 2023
Episode 061: Kyle Tallio

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 https://coastalpeoples.com/, Inuit Gallery of Vancouver https://inuit.com, Lattimer Gallery https://www.lattimergallery.com/, Instagram: @kyletallio https://www.instagram.com/kyletallio/. Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 20m
Aug 29, 2023
Episode 060: Addison de Lisle

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 https://www.addisondelisle.com/ , Instagram: @de_lisle_iron https://www.instagram.com/de_lisle_iron/ . Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 4m
Jun 27, 2023
Episode 59: Kathryn Sullivan

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 clients motivation for Kathryns 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 http://www.kathrynsullivanrestoration.com , Instagram: @ksullivanrestoration https://www.instagram.com/ksullivanrestoration/ , TikTok @queercusstellata , LA Conservators: www.laconservators.com http://www.laconservators.com Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 20m
May 30, 2023
Episode 58: Robell Awake

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 https://www.robellawake.com/, Instagram: @robellawake https://www.instagram.com/robellawake/ Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! 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 http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 10m
Apr 25, 2023
Episode 57: Gabriela Marván

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 http://www.folkartcollective.com, Instagram: @poshemx https://www.instagram.com/poshemx/, @folkartcollective https://www.instagram.com/folkartcollective/  Photo credit for the banner: Hanna Agar Photography Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! 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 http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 40m
Mar 28, 2023
Episode 056: Louise Bescond

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 https://www.instagram.com/louise.bescond/.  Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! 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 http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 40m
Feb 28, 2023
Episode 055: Ben Blount

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: @blountben https://www.instagram.com/blountben/ Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 6m
Jan 24, 2023
Episode 54: Jögge Sundqvist

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 https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 10m
Dec 27, 2022
Episode 053: Esra Alhamal

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 https://bristleandbrush.co.uk/, and listen to her Podcast: https://www.islamicillumination.com/podcast Instagram: @artilluminatedpodcast https://www.instagram.com/artilluminatedpod/, and @islamicillumination https://www.instagram.com/islamicillumination/ Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 4m
Nov 15, 2022
Episode 052: David "Swen" Swenson

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 https://www.instagram.com/swenwares/. Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 20m
Oct 25, 2022
Episode 051: Aliyah Salmon

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 https://www.instagram.com/tyrabanks_official/, and TikTok @aliyahsalmon https://www.tiktok.com/@aliyahsalmon?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc. Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 7m
Sep 20, 2022
Episode 050: Andrew Meers

Recorded May 2, 2022.  Bladesmith Andrew Meers focuses his creative practice on making a variety of knives. Most of his knives are heavily embellished 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 https://www.instagram.com/mr.meers/, Facebook: Andrew Meers. Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 13m
Aug 23, 2022
Episode 049: Andrea Davis

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 https://www.instagram.com/motherlandessentials/?hl=en, Twitter @motheressential https://twitter.com/motheressential,  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 21m
Jul 19, 2022
Episode 048: Caitlin Morris

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 https://mscaitlinsschool.com/index.html, Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/mscaitlinsschool Instagram @mscaitlinsschool https://www.instagram.com/mscaitlinsschool/, and Youtube: Ms Caitlin  https://youtu.be/hIw8J9h55_I Society for Inclusive Blacksmiths https://www.inclusiveblacksmiths.com/  Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 25m
Jun 14, 2022
Trailer

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 http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1m
Jun 05, 2022
Episode 047: Makeda Smith

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 http://www.sioceramics.com and Instagram @sioceramics https://www.instagram.com/sioceramics/ and her storefront at 716 Monroe Street NE Studio 11, Washington DC. Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast

1h 17m
May 23, 2022
Episode 046: Jesse Merrill

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.COM http://www.polestarhearth.com INSTAGRAM @SAPWOOD.AND.STARS https://www.instagram.com/sapwood.and.stars/, @POLESTARHEARTH  https://www.instagram.com/polestarhearth/ HELP KEEP THE PODCAST ALIVE! VISIT OUR PATREON https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, PICK UP SOME MERCH https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, OR MAKE A ONE TIME DONATION https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! LISTENERS MAKE IT ALL POSSIBLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 39m
Apr 26, 2022
Episode 045: Eleanor Rose

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 Eleanors 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______ https://www.instagram.com/ladieswho______/ , @off_artisan https://www.instagram.com/off_artisan/?hl=en, @stacy.mott.art https://www.instagram.com/stacy.motte.art/, @trans_craft_soc. https://www.instagram.com/trans_craft_soc/ Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  GreenWood Wright’s Fest Festival Tickets! https://greenwoodwrightsfest.com/event/first-annual-greenwood-wrights-festival/ Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 14m
Apr 05, 2022
Episode 044: Mikko Snellman

* 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 http://www.snellman.ax,  his Instagram page @mikkosnellman https://www.instagram.com/mikko.snellman/, 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 https://www.facebook.com/groups/ropeworksgroup . * Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  * GreenWood Wright’s Fest Festival Tickets! Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 23m
Mar 15, 2022
Episode 43: Gabriel Frey

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 http://www.gabrielfreybaskets.com, and on Instagram @gabrielfreybasketmaker https://www.instagram.com/gabrielfreybasketmaker/. Visit him at the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance https://www.nativeartsandcultures.org/maine-indian-basketmakers-alliance-miba, Santa Fe Indian Market https://swaia.org/, and buy his book, “The First Blade of Sweetgrass,” at your local bookstore, bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/books/the-first-blade-of-sweetgrass/9780884487609, or the online corporation which shall not be named but rhymes with shamazon.  Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 29m
Mar 01, 2022
Episode 042: Sreeraghavi Mani

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 https://www.pensivepenning.com/ and her Instagram accounts pensive_penning https://www.instagram.com/pensive_penning/ and mo.ksha_06 https://www.instagram.com/mo.ksha_06/. Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 9m
Feb 15, 2022
Episode 041: Reid Schwartz

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 https://www.instagram.com/reidschwartz/. Reid’s Mentor: Jean-José Tritz https://www.tritz-messer.com/ Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 51m
Jan 25, 2022
Episode 040: Amara Hark Weber

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/ https://www.harkweberstudio.com/ and on Instagram @harkweberstudio https://www.instagram.com/harkweberstudio/. Or in St. Paul, Minnesota! Amara’s Mentors: D.W. Frommer http://www.bootmaker.com/bespoke.htm, Janne Melkersson http://www.melkershoes.com/, Marcell Mrsan https://zegzug.com/ Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 13m
Dec 14, 2021
Episode 39: Kiko Denzer

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 ones 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 https://www.instagram.com/kikodenzer/ and @earth.oven https://www.instagram.com/earth.oven/ Cræftspeople Kiko admires: Martin Prechtel (floweringmountain.com http://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 https://www.thesunmagazine.org/issues/304/saving-the-indigenous-soul) Betty Seaman https://www.instagram.com/cobetty/ ( unintentional community, gardens, natural building, wonderful craft & art work of many kinds, including martial arts (she built a dojo for her spouse @muhudojo https://www.instagram.com/muhudojo/) Nate Johnson http://ivegottwohands.com/ (crafts) Robin Wood https://www.robin-wood.co.uk/, Wood Tools https://wood-tools.co.uk/ (craft business/community in Sheffield, UK, ala Bernard Leach) Russell Sparks https://www.instagram.com/russellgrins/ and Redbird https://www.instagram.com/ewillie44/ (skills, hunting, community, events -- co-coordinators of The Buckeye Gathering https://buckeyegathering.net/) Tamara Wilder https://www.paleotechnics.com/aboutuspage (paleotechnics) Stephen Edholm http://skillcult.com/about (skill cult) Tending the Wild https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520280434/tending-the-wild by Kat Anderson Deanne Bednar https://strawbalestudio.org/deanne-bednar/ (natural building) Emily Reynolds https://plasterwithwa.wordpress.com/ (studying/practicing plastering in Japan) Kyle Holzhueter https://holzhueter.blogspot.com/ (plasters/permaculture) Angela Francis https://www.instagram.com/muditations/ (natural building) Esther Gokhale https://gokhalemethod.com/, posture and craft, "primitive posture," addressing physical demands of craft Ananda Coomaraswamy http://www.worldwisdom.com/public/authors/Ananda-K-Coomaraswamy.aspx, esp. Christian and Oriental Philosophy of Art https://archive.org/details/christianorienta00coom/page/n3/mode/2up The Hand-Sculpted House https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/the-hand-sculpted-house/, by Ianto Evans, Michael Smith, and Linda Smiley Morihei Ueshiba http://www.aikidofaq.com/history/osensei.html, founder of Aikido Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 44m
Nov 30, 2021
Episode 38: Freddy Roman

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 https://www.instagram.com/periodcraftsmen/?hl=en. His Podcast is Against the Grain Podcast https://www.theatgpodcast.com/. Freddy’s craft crushes: Chris Schwartz https://lostartpress.com/, Don Williams http://donsbarn.com/, Al Breed https://www.allanbreed.com/, Christian Becksvort https://www.chbecksvoort.com/, Will Neptune https://www.schoolofwoodworking.com/woodworking-class-instructors/81-will-neptune.html, Mike Pekovitch https://www.pekovichwoodworks.com/, Nancy Hiller https://nrhillerdesign.com/, Peter Follansbee https://pfollansbee.wordpress.com/, Peter Galbert https://www.petergalbert.com/, Greg Pennington http://www.penningtonwindsorchairs.com/, Pinemar https://pinemar.net/, @areyouafixer https://www.instagram.com/areyouafixer/, Jimmy Dieresta https://jimmydiresta.com/, Megan Fitzpatrick https://www.finewoodworking.com/author/megan-fitzpatrick, Wood Window Museum https://www.instagram.com/woodwindowmuseum/?hl=en, Copper Pig https://www.copperpigwoodworking.com/, Ben Bogie https://www.instagram.com/benbogie/?hl=en, Joshua Klein https://www.mortiseandtenonmag.com/, Roy Underhill https://www.woodwrightschool.com/, Callen Malsby https://www.instagram.com/callanmaulsby/?hl=en, Tried and True Carpentry https://www.instagram.com/truetradecarpentry/  Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast, pick up some Merch https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/store, or make a one time donation https://www.cutthecraftpodcast.com/donate! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH!  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 27m
Nov 16, 2021
Episode 037: Julia Kalthoff

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/ https://www.kalthoffaxes.se/, and on Instagram @kalthoffaxes https://www.instagram.com/kalthoffaxes/ Julia’s craft crushes: Beth Moen https://norea.nu/, Lina Odell https://www.instagram.com/lina.odell/?hl=en, and Daniel Lundberg https://www.instagram.com/storslojd/ Also, as promised, here’s the link to the Bitter Southerner Article https://bittersoutherner.com/summer-voices-guest-editor/dust-to-digital/what-is-folklore-today-sarah-bryan-emily-hilliard 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 (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 3m
Oct 26, 2021
Episode 036: Kirk Lang

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 http://www.kirklang.com, and on Instagram @kirk_lang https://www.instagram.com/kirk_lang/ Kirk’s craft crushes: John Paul Miller https://www.craftcouncil.org/post/remembering-john-paul-miller, Arthur Ganson https://www.arthurganson.com/,  Professors Matthew Hollern and Kathy Buszkiewicz https://www.cia.edu/academics/craft-design/faculty,  and Andy Cooperman https://www.andycooperman.com/.  Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 13m
Oct 09, 2021
Episode 035: Danielle Chutinthranond

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 https://monsoonpottery.com/, or her Instagram @monsoonpottery https://www.instagram.com/monsoonpottery/?hl=en. Danielle’s craft crushes: Monohanako https://www.monohanako.com/, Rifatto https://rifatto.stores.jp/, Bookhou https://www.bookhou.com/, Eileen Fisher https://www.eileenfisher.com/ and @wastenomore https://www.wastenomore.com/. Support the show http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast (http://www.patreon.com/cutthecraftpodcast)

1h 30m
Sep 21, 2021