CRAFTCAST

craftcast.com Permission to Make Bad Art, because sometimes the best thing you can make is a mess! When did making art become so serious? Somewhere along the way, we started worrying about making mistakes, wasting materials, and whether our creations were good enough to share. But what if we gave ourselves permission to make something absolutely terrible? In this episode of CRAFTCAST the Podcast:...

craftcast.com AI is everywhere, but what does it really mean for artists and makers? Is it a creative partner, a time-saving assistant, or something we should be worried about? Join Alison Lee and Patrik Kusek for a lively, honest, and often funny conversation about how they're using AI in their creative businesses and where they draw the line. From designing class handouts and organizing videos t...

craftcast.  com  What  if your purpose isn't something you have to find? What if it's something that's been quietly showing up in your life all along? In this episode of CRAFTCAST the Podcast: Where Soul Meets Craft , Patrik and I talk about finding your purpose and whether the clues may have been there much earlier than you realized. For me, the thread goes all the way back to when I was three ye...

craftcast.com Polymer clay, color, pattern, creativity, and the courage to follow your own artistic path. In this episode, Patrik and I sit down with polymer clay artist and teacher Lucy Struncová to talk about her creative journey, where inspiration comes from, finding your own artistic voice, and what keeps you excited about making after years of creating. We'll get into the magic of polymer cla...

craftcast.com What if your creative life doesn't follow the plan? What if the road takes you from biomedical engineering… to art history… to the technology industry… and eventually to becoming a metal clay artist, teacher, publisher and champion of a creative community? That's the wonderfully winding story of Brandy Boyd . On this episode of CRAFTCAST: Where Soul Meets Craft , Alison Lee and Patri...

craftcast.com What if travel could change the way you see craft, culture—and yourself? Join Alison Lee and Patrik Kusek for a fascinating conversation with Gregory Hamilton Miller , founder of Ceramic Adventures. Gregory has spent years exploring the world through craft, including an apprenticeship with legendary Japanese potter Shimaoka Tatsuzo. Together, they'll talk about craft as a doorway to...

craftcast.com Have you ever wondered why taking a break isn't always enough? In this episode of CRAFTCAST ~ Where Soul Meets Craft , Patrik and I have a heartfelt conversation about what it really means to do a hard reset after life's challenges leave you feeling creatively depleted. Over the past several months, I've personally walked through some difficult life challenges that made it almost imp...

craftcast. com Remember the feeling of the last day of school? The final bell rang, summer stretched out in front of you, and suddenly the world felt full of possibility. No schedules. No homework. Just endless days to ride your bike, build forts, make art, explore the woods, catch fireflies, or simply let your imagination lead the way. In this episode of CRAFTCAST ~ Where Soul Meets Craft , Aliso...

craftcast.com We all go through those times where we feel creatively exhausted. The ideas stop. Everything feels harder than it should be, and we start to convince ourselves we're failing because we're tired. We are good at being hard on ourselves. In this episode, Patrik and I talk honestly about burnout, losing your creative mojo, and why being hard on yourself usually makes everything worse. We...

craftcast.com Me: Be honest. If I walked into your studio right now, would I see: A) a clear, inspiring workspace… or B) twelve half-finished projects, three mystery tools, and something sticky? Patrik: First of all, the sticky thing is probably important. LOL Me: Of course it is. LOL Patrik: Look, people, love to say they're "creatively stuck," but sometimes, you just can't find your pliers. Me:...

Silver prices are up. Is your creativity up as well, or feeling the pinch?  craftcast.com In this episode, Patrik and I sit down with the smart and resourceful Pam East to talk about what's on every metal clay artist's mind right now and how to keep creating when silver clay feels like a luxury item. Pam shares clever, real-world ways to stretch your materials (without sacrificing design), smart s...

What really goes on behind the scenes of the craft world? This week on CRAFTCAST, we're hanging out with Abby Glassenberg, co-founder and president of Craft Industry Alliance, and talking about the creative world from a whole different angle. Abby has her finger on the pulse of what makers are creating, teaching, selling, worrying about, and celebrating, so this conversation wanders into the real...

Creative block is rude. One minute you're full of ideas, the next you're staring at your worktable like it personally betrayed you. In this episode, Patrik Kusek and I share favorite quotes sent in by listeners. It's those lines people return to when creativity goes missing, confidence dips, or starting feels strangely difficult. Some quotes are brilliant. Some are comforting. Some sound simple un...

In this Craftcast podcast episode, Patrik and I are joined by CRAFTCAST instructors Mags Bonham and Wizz Stearne for a lively conversation about the quotes that inspire us, guide us, and sometimes make us laugh out loud. We shared favorite words and sayings that have sparked creativity, helped us through challenges, and stayed with us over the years, along with plenty of humor, laughter, and unexp...

craftcast.com Today I'm talking with  Janine Vangoo l, founder and editor of Uppercase, a magazine that celebrates creativity in all its forms. We talk about building an independent print publication, curating inspiring content, supporting artists, and why print still matters in a scroll-happy world. Janine shares how UPPERCASE began, how it evolved into books, compendiums, and creative projects,...

craftcast.com Patrik and I had the absolute honor of talking with  Harriete Estel Berman, artist, activist, and one of the most fearless voices in contemporary jewelry. We dive into recycled materials, social commentary, creative courage, and how to build a body of work that truly stands for something. But this episode isn't just about jewelry. It's about voice. It's about courage. It's about deci...

craftcast.com In this episode, we chat with Annie Morhauser , founder of Annieglass , to talk about what it really takes to build a design brand that lasts. Annie began creating her signature hand-painted, kiln-fired glass in the early days of the American craft movement — and somehow turned it into a nationally recognized luxury tableware brand that's still thriving decades later. I still love he...

craftcast.com We're told to think outside the box. But today's guest asks a better question. Patrick Duffy, the cardboard artist behind Clever Fool, calls himself a Cardboard Creative. Instead of escaping the box, he asks: What can I do with the box? In this episode of Craftcast: Where Soul Meets Craft, we talk about cardboard as both a material and a metaphor, about creativity, constraint, play,...

This week, Patrik and I are joined by the wonderful Tamara Honaman for a lively, behind-the-scenes conversation about her new book, Projects and Techniques for Metal Clay Jewelry , and what it really takes to bring a creative book to life. We talk about the projects and techniques inside the book, the joys and challenges of the writing process, and why we're all so deeply passionate about making t...

craftcast.com In this episode, Alison and Patrik look back on a full creative year, the tools, the classes, the surprises, and the lessons we learned. We're flipping through the highlights, sharing our favorite discoveries, and why they mattered. Perfect listening if you love tools, learning, and growing as a maker. Pull up a chair and join us for a year-in-review that celebrates curiosity, creati...

craftcast.com In this episode of  CRAFTCAST , Patrik Kusek and I sit down with Shelley Atwood to talk all things color, how she chooses it, trusts it, and lets it guide her work. Shelley shares insights into her intuitive color process and the lasting influence of her teacher, Joan Tayler , on her creative voice. If color ever feels intimidating or you're ready to move beyond playing it safe, this...

Ready for a heart-to-heart about the real creative life? Perfectionism? Too many tools? Feeling stuck? We've been there.  This time, we're sharing  what we're learning ,  what we're loving , and  what we're finally letting go of  in our creative lives. #CraftcastPodcast #SoulfulMaking #CreativeLife #MakersGonnaMake #ArtistsOfInstagram #CreativeJourney #HandmadeWithLove

craftcast.com Today on the podcast, Patrik and I are catching up on everything, life, work, and the beautiful chaos in between. We're sharing what we're creating, what's coming up next, and a few holiday traditions that keep us grounded (and laughing). Please grab a cup of something warm or fuzzy and join us! A little life, a little art, a little holiday magic 🎄✨ Patrik and I are catching up on...

craftcast. com Feeling fried? Creatively crispy? We've all been there. In this episode, Patrik and I share our favorite quick-fix tips to reboot your mojo and bring some balance back into your creative life. Think: ✨ Fresh-eyes ✨ Mini studio cleanups ✨ Brain breaks that actually work ✨ Little rituals that spark big joy Grab a snack, hit play, and let's unfrizzle that creative brain together!...