When if ever is it OK to work in the style of another culture? Can this work honour the native culture or is it always going to be demeaning and is there a danger of craft homogeneity with all woodworkers from around the globe taking what they like from Native American, Maori, Scandinavian or West African wood culture? If I…
Is it fair game to copy the work of traditional craftspeople because their work is traditional rather than their own artistic invention? I actually encourage folk learning craft to copy good work as a way of mastering skills. I see this as a bit like learning to play music by playing other people’s songs. The Rolling Stones learnt their craft…
Which is more important speaking and writing or making? I just listened to a fascinating interview with prof Mark Miodownik of UCLs institute of making on BBC radio 4 “The life Scientific”. “You can change whom makes the stuff that you use and who’s expression it is. Is it the expression of a big corporation? Most of the stuff that…
I love my job. I make useful things that people get pleasure from using. Yesterday was spent making spoon carving knives, some would consider it boring repetitive work, putting an identical 20 degree bend in 750 blades. I get pleasure out of setting everything up so that it works efficiently, smoothly, precisely, with little stress on my body. Then I…
It is hard to know how to do justice to this book in just a few words. The book is the product of 11 years meticulous research by Tanya Harrod, possibly the best writer commentating on the craft field today. Michael Cardew is a seminal figure in 20th century craft and a torch bearer for a particular focus within the craft…
Here is a wonderful film. I am so excited by the 21st century we can use the most amazing technology to find and link up with folks around the world with an interest in simple technologies. Great film making and ace music too. Yoav bought a porringer off me a month ago, if I am thrilled that it has gone…
Each year around this time we get a load of stuff shared on facebook suggesting we buy local, craftsman made etc. All worthy enough but this year I really liked this one. The sad thing is that it is being widely shared without any credit to either the person that penned the words or whoever did the layout. In fact…
This delightful little book was published last week. For those that don’t know craftivism is a mixture of craft and activism. Craftivists get together and do stuff to raise awareness about issues and attempt to change the world for the better. The link between craft and campaigning for a better world is long perhaps Gandhi (a keen hand spinner) and…
I am a man who owns too many axes, it must be around 100 or so including a dozen by Gransfors Bruks, many antique English ones from the heyday or the British tool industry and perhaps some of my favourites a dozen or so antique hand forged laminated Japanese axes. I use axes every day to carve wood, I have…
Craving the analog We live in an increasingly digitised age, we are all connected and seemingly the more connected we are the more successful we appear. This change has happened incredibly quickly, far faster than the change from rural to urban living during the industrial revolution. Whilst digital connectivity has many advantages it can also result in a feeling of…
