Shows
The Oak Spring PodcastCalled to CraftsDuring this episode host Chris Stafford chats with two artists working in very specialized mediums. Goldie Poblador is an interdisicplinary artist who has been working in glass most recently. Chris and Goldie chat about Goldie's interest in glass, and the ecofeminist themes of her work. Later in the episode Chris interviews book binder, book maker, and book tool maker Brien Biedler. We hope you enjoy listening along and learning about these two artists and their work in niche mediums.Goldie Poblador is best known for her multi-sensory installations that merge glass sculpture, scent, video and performance. She specializes in...
2024-08-2648 min
2023-10-3111 min
Cut the CraftEpisode 62: Bill DeresiewiczRecorded 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...
2023-09-261h 22
Cut the CraftEpisode 061: Kyle TallioRecorded 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 c...
2023-08-291h 20
Cut the CraftEpisode 060: Addison de LisleRecorded 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 h...
2023-06-271h 04
Cut the CraftEpisode 59: Kathryn SullivanRecorded 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 t...
2023-05-301h 20
Cut the CraftEpisode 58: Robell AwakeRecorded 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...
2023-04-251h 08
Cut the CraftEpisode 57: Gabriela MarvánRecorded 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 loc...
2023-03-281h 37
Cut the CraftEpisode 056: Louise BescondRecorded 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 he...
2023-02-281h 38
Cut the CraftEpisode 055: Ben BlountRecorded 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...
2023-01-241h 06
Cut the CraftEpisode 054: Jögge SundqvistRecorded 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 Moe...
2022-12-271h 10
Cut the CraftEpisode 053: Esra AlhamalRecorded 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 repeti...
2022-11-151h 04
Cut the CraftEpisode 052: David "Swen" SwensonRecorded 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...
2022-10-251h 20
Cut the CraftEpisode 051: Aliyah SalmonRecorded 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...
2022-09-201h 07
Cut the CraftEpisode 050: Andrew MeersRecorded 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 a...
2022-08-231h 13
Cut the CraftEpisode 049: Andrea DavisRecorded 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 fi...
2022-07-191h 22
Cut the CraftEpisode 048: Caitlin MorrisRecorded 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 importan...
2022-06-141h 25
Cut the CraftEpisode 047: Makeda SmithRecorded 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 own...
2022-05-241h 16
Cut the CraftEpisode 046: Jesse MerrillEpisode 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. Jo...
2022-04-261h 35
Cut the CraftEpisode 045: Eleanor RoseEpisode 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 tr...
2022-04-051h 11
Cut the CraftEpisode 044: Mikko SnellmanEpisode 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 re...
2022-03-151h 20
Cut the CraftEpisode 043: Gabriel FreyEpisode 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.gabriel...
2022-03-011h 26
Cut the CraftEpisode 042: Sreeraghavi ManiEpisode 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 Th...
2022-02-151h 07
Cut the CraftEpisode 041: Reid SchwartzEpisode 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 nati...
2022-01-251h 47
Cut the CraftEpisode 040: Amara Hark WeberEpisode 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 ques...
2021-12-141h 08
Cut the CraftEpisode 039: Kiko DenzerEpisode 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...
2021-11-301h 44
Cut the CraftEpisode 038: Freddy RomanEpisode 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 commonpla...
2021-11-161h 25
Cut the CraftEpisode 037: Julia KalthoffEpisode 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, s...
2021-10-261h 03
Cut the CraftEpisode 036: Kirk LangEpisode 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...
2021-10-091h 13
Cut the CraftEpisode 035: Danielle ChutinthranondRecorded 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 e...
2021-09-211h 30
Cut the CraftEpisode 034: Christine NovotnyEpisode 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 tha...
2021-09-071h 19
Cut the CraftEpisode 033: Aspen GolannEpisode 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...
2021-08-241h 04
Cut the CraftEpisode 032: David ClemonsEpisode 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...
2021-08-101h 02
Cut the CraftEpisode 031: Elizabeth BrimEpisode 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’...
2021-07-201h 32
Cut the CraftEpisode 030: Porfirio GutiérrezEpisode 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 Zapo...
2021-07-061h 00
Cut the CraftEpisode 029: Roy UnderhillEpisode 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 o...
2021-06-221h 09
Cut the CraftEpisode 028: Jeffrey HartEpisode Recorded April 5th 2021. This episode is one half of a dual interview with Jeffrey Hart, aka Jeffrey the Natural Builder, of the Building Sustainability Podcast (link below). Be sure to check out his podcast to hear his interview of us, as well as a multitude of other great conversations with designers, builders, makers, dreamers and doers relating to sustainability within the built environment. 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 to...
2021-06-081h 02
Building Sustainability PodcastCut the Craft - Amy Umbel & Brien Beidler - BS050Something a bit special for episode 50 of the Building Sustainability Podcast. This is a reciprocal episode with Amy Umbel and Brien Beidler from Cut The Craft Podcast - They came on Building Sustainability to talk about craft and give their delightful insights into some of the nuances within the area. In return I was a guest on their Cut the Craft podcast to talk about Natural Building. It was a really fun day of getting to know Amy and Brien, we laughed a whole lot! LinksCut the Craft Podcast - https://www...
2021-06-081h 14
Cut the CraftEpisode 027: Nancy HillerRecorded 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...
2021-05-251h 24
Cut the CraftEpisode 026: Corey AlstonRecorded 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 w...
2021-05-111h 27
Cut the CraftEpisode 025: Bill OysterRecorded 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...
2021-04-271h 24
Cut the CraftEpisode 024: Danielle Rose ByrdRecorded 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 fin...
2021-04-131h 19
The Late Night SnackEp. 6 - The Thick, Meaty, Juicy Burger ft. Emily BeidlerWelcome back to the Late Night Snack! In this episode, we have our first guest, our best friend, Emily Beidler! We have Emily weigh in on her favorite late night snack, high school drama, burritos and bitcoin.We want to hear from YOU! Send us your favorite news story, voicemail, or anything else email us at latenightsnack.thepodcast@gmail.comFollow Us:https://www.instagram.com/latenightsnackpod/https://www.tiktok.com/@latenightsnackpod?https://www.instagram.com/yoitsdawson/https://www.instagram.com/maddie.sebestyen/
2021-04-0130 min
Cut the CraftEpisode 023: Radha PandeyRecorded 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 Instagr...
2021-03-301h 06
Cut the CraftEpisode 022: Akira SatakeRecorded 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 w...
2021-03-161h 19
Cut the CraftEpisode 021: Hedi KyleRecorded 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 Cr...
2021-03-021h 09
Cut the CraftEpisode 020: Erica MoodyRecorded 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...
2021-02-161h 39
Cut the CraftEpisode 019: Cody NowellRecorded 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 he...
2021-02-021h 25
Cut the CraftEpisode 018: Brad VetterRecorded 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 h...
2021-01-191h 30
Cut the CraftEpisode 017: Thiago EndrigoRecorded 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!Suppo...
2020-12-151h 36
Cut the CraftSide Projects: Coffee and RuskinsRecorded 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
2020-12-0940 min
Cut the CraftEpisode 016: Miriam JohnsonRecorded 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...
2020-12-011h 04
Cut the CraftEpisode 015: Cassie DicksonRecorded 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 w...
2020-11-171h 16
Cut the CraftSide Projects: The Workmanship of Risk and the Workmanship of CertaintyRecorded November 2, 2020. This Side Project starts with monthly announcements from John C. Campbell Folk School and North House Folk School. Amy then reads Chapter 2: The Workmanship of Risk and workmanship of Certainty, from The Nature and Art of Workmanship by David Pye. Amy and Brien share their viewpoints and experiences within craft and life with risk and certainty. Support the show
2020-11-0839 min
Cut the CraftEpisode 014: Aimee LeeRecorded September 12, 2020. Aimee Lee weaves many aspects into being a craftsperson: she’s an artist, writer, and papermaker. In this episode, she highlights important terms like hanji (Korean paper) and jiseung (Korean paper basketry), and shares some of their history and practice. She highlights how important her relationships are to plants, land, and tradition, as well as how she synthesizes all of those things into her diverse practices. To find more of Aimee's work check out her website: https://aimeelee.net/Aimee’s craft crushes are Winifred Lutz and Sarah Swett.Suppor...
2020-11-031h 06
Books in the WildEpisode 14: James Cook Bookbinder Murderer of John PaasThis episode covers the true story of James Cook, a bookbinder who murdered tool engraver John Paas the town of Leicester, bookbinder James Cmurdered tool engraver John Paas over a dispute about brass finishing tools. The tale is particularly gruesome and well-documented because James Cook was the last person to be gibbeted in Britain. Then I interview contemporary bookbinder and tool maker Brien Beidler for some added perspective.
2020-10-2600 min
Cut the CraftEpisode 013: Seth GouldRecorded on September 3, 2020. In this episode, metalsmith Seth Gould hammers out the nuances of metalworking. Seth forges and hand-files his work rather than sanding it, and is intrigued by the idea of “perceived precision.” Seth is inspired by his travels in Europe and Japan and has learned various techniques from both traditions. Be prepared to file this episode in your library of Cut the Craft.To find more of Seth's work check out his website: http://www.sethgould.com/ and find him on Instagram @sethgould Seth’s craft crushes are his wife, and Peter Ro...
2020-10-201h 16
Cut the CraftSide Projects: A Sense of PlaceRecorded October 10, 2020. For Side Projects 3, Brien finally convinces Amy to share her article "A Sense of Place," which was published in Issue 8 of Mortise and Tenon Magazine. In it, Amy discusses some of the nuances of inspiration versus appropriation, as well as the joys of exploring the resources that await right outside your door. Amy and Brien also share some fall happenings at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Support the show
2020-10-1538 min
Cut the CraftEpisode 012: Anong BeamRecorded August 27, 2020. In this episode, founder of Beam Paints Anong Beam illustrates her journey into paint making. Anong shares her childhood observation of her artistic parents, her formal art education, and how owning an art supply store guided her into becoming a paint maker. She teaches us how to start making paint, safety issues not often considered by beginners, and elaborates on her plastic-free ethos. To purchase Anong’s paint, visit Beam Paints and her Instagram @beampaints. Anong’s craft crushes include: Jason Logan, Lutea, and Ace of Cakes.Support the show
2020-10-061h 34
Cut the CraftEpisode 011: Corey PembertonRecorded August 13, 2020. Glassblower/Painter/Crafting the Future Co-Founder Corey Pemberton walks us through the steps involved in blowing glass as he shares how he entered into the world of glassblowing and how it differs from other mediums. Corey also speaks about his interest in a diversity of crafts and how that knowledge is something he applies to his practice. His involvement in spearheading Crafting the Future, a foundation set up to foster diversity in the world of craft, rounds out this episode of Cut the Craft.To see more of Corey’s work check out his...
2020-09-2256 min
Cut the CraftEpisode 010: Ouida VincentRecorded July 25, 2020. Woodworker Ouida Vincent shares her inexplicable draw toward 16th and 17th century joinery on this episode of Cut the Craft. She explains how her medical training has influenced her approach to working with her hands, and also her personal experiences with the woodworking community. To see more of Ouida’s work check her out on instagram @ouidavincent. Ouida’s craft crushes include Peter Follansbee, Tim Manney, Curtis Buchanan, Megan Fitzpatrick, Nancy Hiller, and Janet SwitzerSupport the show
2020-09-081h 18
Cut the CraftEpisode 009: Curtis BuchananRecorded May 7, 2020. Legendary Windsor Chair maker Curtis Buchanan from Jonesborough, Tennessee spends some time with Amy and Brien explaining a wide range of fascinating topics. He gives a helpful definition of different types of chairs and he discusses the idea of flow in workmanship, as well as some of the history of green-woodworking in the United States. Curtis also shares his view of a balanced approach to work and the supportive role his wife has played in his development as a craftsperson.To see more of Curtis’s work, visit his website, or check him out...
2020-08-251h 48
Cut the CraftSide Projects: When You're Not Feeling ItWe’re back at it! Side Projects 2 circles back around to listener responses to our question, “What do you do when you’re not feeling it?” We read each response and comment with our own extremely qualified opinions surrounding how folks answered. The episode finishes up with craft school announcements and opportunities. Support the show
2020-08-2235 min
Cut the CraftEpisode 008: April StoneRecorded April 30 2020. During this episode of Cut the Craft, we speak with to April Stone, a Black Ash basket weaver from the Bad River band of Ojibwa in Northern Wisconsin. April guides us through the entire process of harvesting, preparing the splints and then weaving baskets. She shares what she’s learned through the process: not just how to weave, but the healing that can result through handwork. To see more of April’s work check her out on instagram @april.l.stone. April’s craft crushes include Jonathan Klein, JoAnn Kelly Catsos, and Gabriel Frey. Support the sho
2020-08-111h 07
Cut the CraftEpisode 007: David GrimesRecorded April 24, 2020. David Grimes, calligrapher and penman from Portland Oregon, explains his love of the care and intention that goes into expressing the written word through his craft. He guides us through the twists and turns of terms like; script, font, uppercase, lowercase, cursive, engrosser's script, and roundhand. He also clues us in to a secret society which only certain calligraphers are inducted into: The Order of the Black Chrysanthemum.To see more of David’s work, visit his website www.masgrimes.com, or check him out on instagram @masgrimes. He is also on twitter and reddit....
2020-07-281h 36
Cut the CraftEpisode 006: Dawson MooreRecorded April 8, 2020. Dawson Moore is a green woodworker based in Michigan who spends his days carving kitchen utensils and a variety of other wooden items such as cups, chopsticks, and chairs. For Dawson, enjoying the process is a prerequisite to dedicating time to crafting an item. If he doesn’t like making it, he does not sell it. He shares some insights to the Swedish roots of Sloyd and sheds light on his relationship to his workspace and connection to materials. To see more of Dawson’s work, visit his website www.michigansloyd.com or check...
2020-07-141h 07
Cut the CraftEpisode 005: Erin FletcherErin Fletcher is a bookbinder from Boston Massachusetts. She focuses on unique bindings that incorporate fiber arts in books that have text. She splits her time between working for clients and creating unique works of art for exhibitions. She expands on traditional and experimental materials, and their efficacy. A graduate of North Bennet Street school, she is grateful to the community she gained while learning her trade. She loves that she can express herself with design bindings and hopes to see them more represented in the worlds of both art and craft.To see more of Erin’s...
2020-06-301h 07
Cut the CraftEpisode 004: Tim ManneyTim Manney is a chair and tool maker based in Portland, Maine. He primarily builds ladderback chairs using green woodworking principles, but also uses kiln-dried lumber in his process. Although he started his woodworking journey making chairs with influential Windsor chairmaker Curtis Buchannan in Tennessee, he’s found that he’s making more tools for Windsor chairmaking than chairs these days. Tim pays special attention to how he can work with his body the same way he works with the fibers of wood. See more of Tim’s work by visiting his website www.timmanney.com, or on Inst...
2020-06-161h 13
Cut the CraftSide Projects: "The Hand: At the Heart of Craft"Welcome to Side Projects, a space dedicated to interesting essays and thoughts, and also a place where we share current happenings at craft schools for those looking for classes or scholarship opportunities. Our first project is dedicated to reading an excerpt from Bruce Metcalf's essay, “The Hand: at the Heart of Craft.” We reflect on the essay, but mostly just wanted to give y’all some food for thought. We hope you enjoy it!.Our source for the episode is Bruce Metcalf’s article “The Hand: At the Heart of Craft”, American Craft, August/September 2000, Volume 60, Number 4Support...
2020-06-0930 min
The Ground Shots PodcastJim Croft with Brien Beidler in Santa, Idaho on making books and paper from the ground upEpisode #38 of the Ground Shots Podcast features a conversation with Jim Croft, medieval era bookbinder, hand papermaker and wonderful storyteller. This podcast episode was recorded summer 2019 in Santa, Idaho on his homestead during he and his partner Melody's 'Old Ways of Making Books' class they host most summers. This interview was co-facilitated by Brien Beidler, who was featured along Mary Sullivan on Episode #32 of the podcast. Jim Croft is a Medieval bookbinder and papermaker. He is internationally known for his skills, and he travels annually to various locations in the USA to teach students how to make books...
2020-05-291h 28
Cut the CraftEpisode 003: Courtney MartinCourtney Martin is a Spruce Pine, NC-based studio potter specializing in wood fired goods. She talks about her influences of geometry and the pottery of Mata Ortiz, which based a pottery style on the archeology of Casas Grandes in Chihuahua, Mexico. She also touches on pirates and parenting while working as a full-time craftsperson. With Courtney, we get a glimpse of the sea change in wood fired ceramics being pioneered by women.See more of her work at www.courtneymartinpottery.com and on Instagram @courtneymartinpotter.Courtney’s craft crushes include Holly Walker, Anni Albers, Daniel Ga...
2020-05-261h 00
Cut the CraftEpisode 002: Beth Homa-KrausBeth Homa-Kraus is a Minneapolis-based birch bark weaver. Beth introduces filthy basket talk, weaver fever and some very important bark removal techniques. She touches on the usefulness of trying new crafts and how important harvesting and processing material is to the final product. Adventures with skunks, floating down the Mississippi as a basket missionary, staining baskets with wine, and her guinea pig, Kip are woven into her story.See more of her work atwww.homa-style.com and on Instagram @birchbarkbeth. She LIVEstreams basket weaving on Instagram at 7PM Central Time.Beth’s cr...
2020-05-1259 min
Cut the CraftEpisode 001: Will ManningDuring this episode we plunge into the well-tempered world of Will Manning of Heartwood Forge. Listeners learn about Will’s complex relationship with turn-buckle shoes and reclaimed steel. His kitchen knives are a mixture of various steels and even though reclaimed steel might not be totally cost effective, he likes the idea of the hunt and the folks he meets along the way. Will points us to his interest in gardening, and connection to his community of Jonesborough, TN.To see more of Will’s work, be sure to check out his website www.heartwoodforge.com. or his...
2020-04-281h 03
Cut the CraftEpisode 000: Amy Umbel and Brien BeidlerWelcome to the first episode of Cut the Craft! The hosts, Amy Umbel and Brien Beidler, give the listeners a view into the motivation behind the podcast and an understanding of why it matters to hear the stories of craftspeople. Amy speaks about her journey into woodcarving, the importance of visibility, and how her work is changing. Brien gives listeners a glimpse into the world of bookbinding, his love of historic bindings, how his environment shaped his interest in craft, and most importantly why The Lord of the Rings is the best book ever written. To see e...
2020-04-1651 min
The Ground Shots PodcastBrien Beidler and Mary Sullivan on the importance of the crafts of bookbinding and papermakingThis episode of the Ground Shots Podcast features a conversation with craftsfolk Brien Beidler and Mary Sullivan at the off-grid rural Idaho homestead of Jim Croft and Melody Eckroft during their summer 2019 'Old Ways of Making Books' class. Brien, Mary and I sat down at the end of a three week workshop period where we all had different roles as both teachers and students during Jim and Melody's yearly or bi-yearly 'Old Ways of Making Books' class. Brien and Mary are highly skilled bookbinders who came to assist Jim Croft and also continue to learn and be mentored by him...
2020-02-021h 30
Cut the CraftTrailerWelcome 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
2020-02-0101 min