Craftsmanship

India’s artisans are often knowledge-keepers of centuries-old craft traditions. But they face an uncertain future. In this episode of the Craftsmanship podcast, writer Laura Fraser looks at some of the ongoing efforts to support these master artisans before their skills fade into history. Laura Fraser's article, “The Fragility of India’s Artisan Communities,” was originally written for Craftsmanship magazine. This audio version was narrated and produced by Pauline Bartolone. Craftsmanship is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. More episodes—along with original feature stories, short videos, and more—can be found on www.craftsmanship.net. Music in this series is from Blue Dot Sessions. Todd Oppenheimer is the founding editor and executive director of the magazine and its parent organization, The Craftsmanship Initiative. Laurie Weed is the magazine's managing editor. LINKS: Read "The Fragility of India’s Artisan Communities” here: https://craftsmanship.net/field-notes/the-fragility-of-indias-artisan-communities/Laura Fraser's website: https://laurafraser.com/Craftsmanship's podcast page: https://craftsmanship.net/podcasts/Subscribe to Craftsmanship on Substack: https://craftsmanship.substack.com/

On this edition of “The Secrets of Mastery,” a production of Craftsmanship Magazine, we talk with musical inventor Andy Graham, whose long-term fascination with a centuries-old Australian aboriginal wind instrument, the didgeridoo, has yielded several off-the-wall new musical creations. The Electric Stringed Didgeridoo, the Didge-ly Bow, the Fiddleridoo and the “Didge Bass” all are just a few iterations of the ancient instrument that Graham has fashioned over the past 25 years. From his Santa Rosa-based studio, his experimentation has also created the Nixa Wobbler, a percussion instrument composed of a magnet on a rod. And he sells the SlapStick, which he patented. It looks like a metal walking stick with frets, and Graham plays it as if holding a guitar. Graham can be seen performing as a one-man band with his wild-looking instruments, everywhere from Maker Faire in the San Francisco Bay Area to the annual National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) musical trade show in Anaheim. I sat down with Graham to learn more about how he sees himself fit into the historical tradition of the didgeridoo, and what motivates him to devote his life to creating new musical sounds.LINKS: Andy Graham’s website: http://www.andygraham.netCraftsmanship Magazine: https://craftsmanship.net/Other episodes of Craftsmanship Magazine's “The Secrets of Mastery” series: https://craftsmanship.net/interviews/Sign up for Craftsmanship Magazine on Substack: https://craftsmanship.substack.com/

On this edition of “The Secrets of Mastery,” a production of Craftsmanship Magazine, we’re talking about taking bamboo to new heights. Jonas Hauptman, an industrial design professor at Virginia Tech, has been experimenting with ways to use bamboo, a giant grass, to build multi-story housing. Hauptman says bamboo could be key to housing the world’s growing population in a more ecological way.  Bamboo culms, or stalks, can be harvested in just 3-5 years, and they grow back in place from the same rhizome bulb. Contrary to wood, steel or concrete, bamboo is lightweight, making it easier to transport, and cheaper to use on the construction site. For the past seven years, Hauptman has collaborated with organizations in Ecuador and other countries in the Global South to experiment with bamboo construction, which includes planing bamboo stalks and turning them into panels. Hauptman has had his hands on many different materials throughout his varied career as an entrepreneurial craftsperson. He’s a trained blacksmith, he’s made modernist furniture out of tree flakes, and while living in Los Angeles, he researched how to divert palm tree fronds away from the landfill. I sat down with Hauptman to learn more about his ambitions with bamboo, and to find out how his hands-on experimentation with materials informs his design work. LINKS: Jonas Hauptman at Virginia Tech: https://design.vt.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/industrial-design/hauptman-jonas.htmlCraftsmanship Magazine: https://craftsmanship.net/Other episodes of Craftsmanship Magazine's “The Secrets of Mastery” series: https://craftsmanship.net/interviews/Sign up for Craftsmanship Magazine on Substack: https://craftsmanship.substack.com/

On this edition of “The Secrets of Mastery,” a production of Craftsmanship Magazine: why is entomologist Doug Tallamy on a national crusade to get private landowners to tear their lawns?As a wildlife ecology professor at the University of Delaware, Dr. Tallamy sees the world from a bug’s point of view. He’s also a co-founder of an organization called Homegrown National Park. The organization is trying to convince Americans to grow native plants — not ornamental, non-natives — in order to increase biodiversity. Tallamy says rewilding approximately 44 million acres of lawn is critical to restoring the natural order of insects of animals that keep our food webs strong and help alleviate the climate crisis. We interviewed Doug Tallamy about how he’s rewilded his own land in Pennsylvania and the steps landowners can take to be craftspeople of biodiversity in their own yards. The “Secrets of Mastery” podcast series is a production of Craftsmanship Magazine. It's a series of conversations with artisans and innovators about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them.Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. Music in this series is from Blue Dot Sessions. Pauline Bartolone is Senior Audio Editor for Craftsmanship.net. Managing Editor for the magazine is Laurie Weed, and Todd Oppenheimer is the founding editor and executive director. LINKS: Homegrown National Park: HomegrownNationalPark.orgCraftsmanship Magazine's podcast page: https://craftsmanship.net/podcasts/Sign up for Craftsmanship Magazine on Substack: https://craftsmanship.substack.com/

It’s one thing to make, it’s another thing to sell. On this edition of “The Secrets of Mastery,” a production of Craftsmanship Magazine, we talk with Rebecca van Bergen, founder and executive director of NEST, about what craftspeople need to have thriving businesses.NEST helps craft businesses around the world grow by providing training, resources and sales opportunities.The international organization has worked with 2000 artisans and businesses in more than 100 countries, from quilters in Alabama to candle makers in Taiwan. Because of Nest’s work, potters, jewelers and textile workers sell their wares through major brands such as MadeWell and Anthropologie.“One of the questions I’m often asked is whether or not with robotics and AI whether the death of craftsmanship is upon us,” van Buren tells Craftsmanship Magazine. “We’ve seen the opposite. And the more we swing in that direction, the more the human psyche craves something else.” Van Bergen brings her training as a social worker to help craft businesses grow. Her own grandmothers were textile workers. I asked her about what craftspeople need — and offer — in an increasingly manufactured world, and about the role both humility and hustle play in business. The “Secrets of Mastery” podcast series is a production of Craftsmanship Magazine. It's a series of conversations with artisans and innovators about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them.Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. Music in this series is from Blue Dot Sessions. Pauline Bartolone is Senior Audio Editor for Craftsmanship.net. Managing Editor for the magazine is Laurie Weed, and Todd Oppenheimer is the founding editor and executive director. LINKS: NEST: https://www.buildanest.org/Craftsmanship Magazine's podcast page: https://craftsmanship.net/podcasts/Sign up for Craftsmanship Magazine on Substack: https://craftsmanship.substack.com/

This week on "The Secrets of Mastery" produced by Craftsmanship Magazine, we’re talking about letterpress printing. For centuries, newspaper and book publishers used this analog method of printing, involving heavy machinery, ink, paper, and thousands of tiny metal typecasts, to reproduce their words for the masses.  Though it’s largely been replaced in commercial printing by cheaper, faster methods, there’s a tactile, handmade quality to letterpress that makes the digital word feel merely two dimensional.   Craftsmanship Magazine visited San Francisco’s iconic Arion Press, one of the last fully integrated letterpress printing shops that casts, types, and binds its own limited edition books. We sat down with Creative Director and Lead Printer Blake Riley, who surprised us with details about the craft’s history and recent revival— though he was skeptical about applying the term “master artisan.” The “Secrets of Mastery” podcast series is a production of Craftsmanship Magazine. It's a series of conversations with artisans and innovators about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them.Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. Music in this series is from Blue Dot Sessions. Pauline Bartolone produced The Secrets of Mastery series for Craftsmanship Magazine. She is also Senior Audio Editor for Craftsmanship.net.Managing Editor for the magazine is Laurie Weed.Todd Oppenheimer is the founding editor and executive director of Craftsmanship.LINKS: Arion Press: https://arionpress.com/More podcasts from Craftsmanship Magazine: https://craftsmanship.net/podcasts/Sign up for Craftsmanship Magazine on Substack: https://craftsmanship.substack.com/This podcast episode is inspired by the Craftsmanship Magazine photo essay “Printing with Love” by Douglas Cruickshank, with Todd Oppenheimer and Claire Bloomberg. https://craftsmanship.net/printing-with-love/

On this edition of "The Secrets of Mastery," we’ll hear one woman’s journey from starving artist to owner of a successful, large-scale glassware company.Annie Morhauser, founder of Annieglass, started her business 40 years ago with little more than debt and determination. Today, her glassware can be found on fine dining tables across the country—as well as in the Smithsonian.“The secret to mastery is adaptability,” Morhauser says. “I don’t care how talented you are, how much money, opportunity, [or] if you’re at the right place at the right time. The most important thing is adaptability.”Annie Morhauser first fell in love with glassblowing in the 1970, when she saw the craft at a beach party on the California coast. She went to art school, and began selling her own handcrafted glassware at galleries and craft fairs. But she soon learned that wouldn’t pay the bills. So she scaled up and started her company,  AnnieGlass, which now has a factory in Watsonville, California. Morhauser has found a way to mass-produce plateware that is durable enough to survive a storm, but still has the unique beauty of glass made by the human hand. The 20+ workers at AnnieGlass use minimal technology, like waterjets, to produce Annie’s designs for a broad client base that includes high-end department stores like Neiman Marcus, and hotels in Las Vegas Hotels. Annie shares her wisdom about “letting go” of mistakes, the importance of “hiring up,” and how she feels about babies being baptized in her glassware. LINKS: AnnieGlass: https://annieglass.com/Craftsmanship Magazine's podcast page: https://craftsmanship.net/podcasts/Sign up for Craftsmanship Magazine on Substack: https://craftsmanship.substack.com/

On this episode of "The Secrets of Mastery," from Craftsmanship Magazine, we walk into the world of drought-resistant gardening at the Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery in Walnut Creek, California.Cricket Riley, former design services director for the garden, gives us a tour of the 3-acre oasis of succulents, cacti, and herbaceous plants that need very little water. Then we sit down for a chat about the unique horticultural design principles of the late Ruth Bancroft, and how her love of succulents turned into an international model of climate-resilient gardening.When she died in 2017, Ruth Bancroft was 109 years old. She worked in the garden 8 to 10 hours a day into her late 80s, according to a New York Times profile. Ruth Bancroft’s garden design sensibility was unusual for her time. She started planting succulents back in the early 1970s, when succulents weren't in style. Ruth created visual interest, Riley says, by blending plant texture, such as the angular, coarse texture of agaves with the finer texture of herbaceous plants. The Bancroft garden is also noted for a sense of seamlessness. There are no retaining walls or landscaping edging. Three-to-four-foot mounds provide plants with adequate drainage and create smaller “rooms” for visitors to wind through. When Ruth started the succulent garden, her family was limiting water use on the part of the farm designated for her pleasure garden. Instead of seeing that as a limitation, Ruth used the parameter to create a stunning landscape for any Mediterranean climate. “She didn't do it for like an altruistic idea,” said Riley. “It was this idea that ‘I'm going to create this garden that will be able to withstand the conditions of this place.’ And isn't that what climate resilience is?”Over the years, Ruth Bancroft took meticulous notes about the horticulture project and the trial and error she practiced. In the 1990s, the garden opened to the public. And since then it has become an example of what everyone can do to reduce their carbon footprint and use fewer resources in the garden. —The “Secrets of Mastery” podcast is a production of Craftsmanship Magazine. It's a series of conversations with artisans and innovators about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them.Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. Music in this series is from Blue Dot Sessions. Pauline Bartolone is the senior audio editor for Craftsmanship.net. Managing editor for the magazine is Laurie Weed, and Todd Oppenheimer is the founding editor and executive director. LINKS: Ruth Bancroft Garden and NurseryCricket Riley’s forthcoming book, “Designing The Lush Dry Garden,” co-authored with Alice Kitajima & Kier Holmes.  

On this edition of “The Secrets of Mastery,” a production of Craftsmanship Magazine, we hear from Italian gelato-maker, Andrea Soban, based in the northern city of Valenza, Italy. Soban is a third-generation gelato maker, who continues to win prizes at international competitions for the quality of his coveted dessert.In 2019, Soban published a book titled simply “Making Italian Gelato.”In this short interview, Soban talks about the differences between gelato and ice cream, and about what his family has taught him about mastering this creative culinary endeavor. This story draws on original reporting from journalist Erla Zwingle, who wrote “Secrets of an Italian Gelato Maker” for Craftsmanship Magazine. The “Secrets of Mastery” podcast series is a production of Craftsmanship Magazine. It's a series of conversations with artisans and innovators about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them.Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. Music in this series is from Blue Dot Sessions. Pauline Bartolone is Senior Audio Editor for Craftsmanship.net. Managing Editor for the magazine is Laurie Weed, and Todd Oppenheimer is the founding editor and executive director. LINKS: Gelateria Soban: https://www.gelateriasoban.com/en"Making Italian Gelato" book by Andrea Soban: https://www.gelateriasoban.com/en/the-book.html"The Secrets of an Italian Gelato Maker by Erla Zwingle:" https://craftsmanship.net/the-secrets-of-an-italian-gelato-master/Craftsmanship Magazine: https://craftsmanship.net/ 

On this episode of "The Secrets of Mastery," we learn about an unusual folk art of the American West called horsehair hitching. Horsehair hitching involves the knotting of horsehair into complex patterns to make belts, necklaces, decorative walking sticks, and—of course—accessories for horses. Shoni Maulding, who has been practicing the craft for more than 30 years, talks with Craftmanship's Pauline Bartolone about its mysterious origins, how she’s found the patience to master this unique art form, and why a machine could never learn to hitch."The Secrets of Mastery” is a series of conversations with artisans about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them. Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. 

On this episode of "The Secrets of Mastery," we discuss the value of handmade work with master woodworker and furniture maker Gary Rogowski. The founder of the Northwest Woodworking Studio, Rogowski is also the author of many books about woodworking and creativity in the digital age.In this interview, we discuss whether technology helps or hinders us in the creation of beautiful things. And about how he sees patience as key to mastering anything. Gary has his own podcast, Splinters, which you can find wherever you get your podcasts. The “Secrets of Mastery” is a production of Craftsmanship Magazine. It's a series of conversations with artisans and innovators about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them. Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. 

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

Guest editor RoseMary Diaz talks with Craftsmanship'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 the magazine's first full issue focused on Native American craft. You'll find many more stories on "Native American Craft: The Southwest" at Craftsmanship.net, a multimedia, online magazine about artisans, innovators, and the architecture of excellence. 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

Eager to begin his life's work as a craftsman, Jack Mauch left high school at age 16, preferring to carve out his own path. By the time he hit his early 30s, he was already creating breathtaking examples of craftsmanship, in everything from furniture-making to ceramics to 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, where much of our nation's food is produced, 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. Our food system has to change, and a few forward-thinking farmers are adopting some ancient, low-water agricultural techniques for the modern age.  In an era of chronic drought, could desert crops become the new sustainable dinner?"Food Shift" 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 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 EDITORSIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by TODD OPPENHEIMER WITH PAUL AND ELIZABETH KAISERProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONSCover 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 TOWNSENDIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by AVANTHIKA SRINIVASANProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic 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. SCHWARTZIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by CHRIS EGUSAProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic 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 FINLEYIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by JOSHUA SIROTIAKProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic 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 SANDERSIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by AVANTHIKA SRINIVASANProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic 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 FRASERIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by GÖRAN NORQUISTProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic 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 EDITORSIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by TODD OPPENHEIMER WITH JAMES & DEBORAH FALLOWSProduced 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 RAMSEYIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by MIKE EGUSAProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic 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 OPPENHEIMERIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by CHRIS EGUSAProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic 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 GREENWALDIntroduction by CHRIS EGUSANarrated by MITCH GREENBERGProduced by CHRIS EGUSAMusic by MIKE SNOWDEN / BLUE DOT SESSIONS