Cut the Craft

Episode Recorded October 1,  2021.  Julia Kalthoff specializes in making carving axes in Stockholm, Sweden under the moniker Kalthoff Axes. As a young girl she grew up amidst textile crafts but was always curious about metal… “How did it work? How could you transform it from one state to another?” By a series of coincidences she worked at an axe making workshop and then managed Wetterlings Axe Man...

Episode Recorded August 9,  2021.  Kirk Lang specializes in kinetic sculpture and jewelry with a particular focus on astronomy; the first time he saw Saturn in “real time” he was hooked! The sense of awe he felt as he looked through a telescope at the stars heavily influences his work as a craftsperson. He explores unconventional materials like titanium, niobium and meteorite which he pairs with g...

Recorded July 21, 2021.  In this interview Danielle Chutinthranond shares her non-linear path leading to pottery and how important following her instincts has been in the process of becoming a craftsperson. She identifies her reciprocal/creative relationship between her pottery and the food intended to be served on her pieces, and even creates work based on particular entrees. Along the way she al...

Episode Recorded July 13,  2021.  Weaver Christine Novotny identifies herself within a traditional lineage of weavers, but also sees  herself as placed within a contemporary context and wants to keep weaving relevant for today. She draws heavily on her training as a painter to design the colorways of her weavings and finds the interactions of colors and design to be part of what keeps her process...

Episode Recorded June 28, 2021.  Aspen Golann is a dynamo furniture maker based in North Carolina who started out her craft career dabbling in weaving before being drawn to woodworking at North Bennet Street School in Boston, Massachusetts. Recently she’s been collaborating and working on a new craft equity project looking for tool makers in the field that are under-recognized for their amazing wo...

Episode Recorded June 21,  2021.  David Harper Clemons points to how his relationship with materials can be the springboard for work and how he’s drawn to the broad spectrum of physicality in metalwork. He shares his thoughts on mass production and how that relates to the economics of studio craft. David also elaborates on themes like social/cultural commentary, how last summer’s events tie into h...

Episode Recorded June 2,  2021.  Elizabeth Brim has an illustrious Artist Blacksmithing career that matches her colorful personality. She’s well known for turning the blacksmithing world on it’s head with her steel womenswear. She popularized a technique of using compressed air to make pillows out of steel and she also played an instrumental role in rebuilding Penland Craft School’s Iron program....

Episode Recorded May 4, 2021.  Porfirio Gutiérrez is a Zapotec textile artist specializing in natural dyes. He uses insects, plants and fruits to create dye for the textiles he creates in his studios in California and Oaxaca. He grew up in a family where the knowledge of medicinal plants and textile/dyeing crafts were part of his life, and Porfirio’s journey of re-discovering his passion of honori...

Episode Recorded April 17,  2021.  Woodworking enthusiast Roy Underhill sits down with us to share his experience teaching students and his belief that both hand skills and materials shape us in a profound way. Roy teaches students both in person, online, and for 37 years on the popular PBS television show “The Woodwright’s Shop.” Through those outlets Roy has shared his passion for hand tool wood...

Episode 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 envir...

Recorded March 29, 2021.  A staple to cabinetry work, Nancy Hiller sits down with us to illuminate the intricacies of different tuna fish sandwich recipes. Jokes aside, during the course of her woodworking career, Nancy has come to recognize the importance of efficiency in her business, and also how writing is part of what keeps her happy. In spite of her intimidatingly incredible work, Nancy’s dr...

Recorded March 23rd 2021.  In this information-packed interview, Sweetgrass basket maker Corey Alston takes us through the history of basket making in Gullah culture. Corey relates how the tragic history of African enslavement is inextricably rooted to his story as a maker and how his work is directly influenced by Gullah culture. Harvesting his materials by hand is important to him as he navigate...

Recorded March 8th 2021.  Incredibly talented Bill Oyster guides us through the twists and turns of his path toward making bamboo fly-fishing rods. After realizing his love of crafting fly rods he quickly had a huge waitlist and took a deep dive into engraving them. Bill also elaborates on the history of fly-rod making, and his own love of participating in nature through fishing. He’s inspired by...

Recorded February 22, 2021.  Woodcarver Danielle Rose Byrd started out making things with anything she could get her hands on. Her ingenuity has continued to influence her work as she starts to include different materials into her practice. Danielle is particularly interested in conceptual woodworking and its interplay with function. She makes bowls that are unique, beg to be interacted with, and...

Recorded February 15, 2021.  Papermaker and book artist Radha Pandey gives us an in-depth view into the history of papermaking, starting in China, Korea and Japan, and it’s subsequent migration to India and Europe. She tells us why she’s so interested in our collective relationship with nature, and how her childhood fostered observation of the environment. Radha shares her upcoming work, which foc...

Recorded February 8, 2021.  Studio potter Akira Satake shapes his story for us as he circled around creativity through a variety of life paths. He started his journey through photography and music but came to a breaking point that led him to pottery. Through ceramics, Akira is inspired by the collaboration between himself, clay and fire. Even when he thinks he might be disappointed with a piece wh...

Recorded February 1, 2021.  Book arts legend, Hedi Kyle, guides us through her career as a book conservator and her ground-breaking influence on the book art community. As well as her depth of experience, Hedi stresses the importance of learning the foundational techniques before breaking out into something new. And as time goes on she’s more free than ever to work within the book arts, and even p...

Recorded January 18, 2021.  Metalsmith Erica Moody introduces us to her first experiences with setting goals, financial stress, large projects and the behind the scenes effort that goes into building a business. In a moment of life’s intensity she pivoted toward her current style of work by coming around to her place as a maker in Maine. She specializes in creating fine metal wares such as utensil...

Recorded December 14, 2020.  Designer/maker, Cody Nowell, guides us on her journey towards homecraft. Having a background in textiles, Cody landed her first job sewing sails for sailboats. The technical experience from that job has helped her explore a variety of goods, including leather bags, accessories, and even clothing. Cody also spends time maintaining a garden and pursuing other crafts such...

Recorded December 7, 2020.  Letterpress wizard and graphic designer Brad Vetter has a lot to say about his start in crafting designs with letter press, often towing the line between laser engraving and traditional letterpress technologies. From his humble beginnings as a copy boy, Brad has grown into a letterpress superstar with an impressive list of clients, including popular musicians such as Ch...

Recorded November 10, 2020.  We decided to mix up this episode a bit for the holidays! This is a two-way interview, where we have a few questions for woodworker and teacher Thiago Endrigo, and he has a few for us! We covered a lot of ground including the variety of reasons one may get into handcraft, how “placing” oneself can happen through handwork, and other universal mysteries.  To find more of...

Recorded December 3, 2020.  This Side Projects starts with announcements from John C. Campbell Folk School and North House Folk School, and progresses into a collaboration with Ray Deftereos of Hand Tool Book Review podcast! Ray chose to share and provide context for a reading from John Ruskin of the Arts and Crafts movement. Many listeners are most likely familiar with Ruskin in name but perhaps...

Recorded October 1, 2020.  Miriam Johnson is a London-based stone carver, mason, and sculptor. She chiseled herself a place in stone carving at age 17 and hasn’t looked back since. She has a diverse background in both architectural masonry and the artistry of stone carving, and brings both aspects into her work through private commissions and working with other masons on Elizabeth Tower (which hou...

Recorded September 17, 2020.  Weaver, spinner, and natural dyer Cassie Dickson guides us through her vast experience with fibers and textiles. Cassie mostly works with flax linen; growing, processing and using the flax plant, but also has maintained silkworms for many years. She was employed full time in the public school system for many years, which allowed her to continue her interest in weaving...

Recorded 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