He Knows You Can’t Get Through a Day Without a Blade
At craft shows, Danny Robinson becomes catnip for bored, restless husbands. Almost without fail, guys make a beeline for his booth when they catch…
Her Egg Making is the Unbroken Link to an Eastern European Past
“That’s my mini museum. I like to call it my eggs-hibit,” says Andrea Kulish. She’s pointing to a glass-paneled IKEA cabinet situated against the…
Color Theorist Painted Herself an Escape from the Cutthroat Publishing World
Melissa Moss can thank the National Enquirer for her artistic career. No, she didn’t get her start illustrating celebrity scandals or creeping with a…
You Don’t Have to Know What a Cordwainer is to Walk in His Shoes
By now, Michael Ismerio is used to the confused stares he gets when he tells people what he does. “Nobody knows the word ‘cordwainer’…
Pet Portraitist Isn’t Fur Real When It Comes to Color
She was supposed to be buying fish food. That’s what Angela Alexander says about the moment she met her first dog, a Chihuahua named…
Violin Maker Bows to Tradition — and Then Carves Away the Frills
Violin maker Kate Rickenbacker picked up her trade in the traditional way, apprenticing for three-and-a-half years under masters at the Chicago School of Violin…
One Man’s Clay is Another Man’s Medium of Social Justice
Jim McDowell finishes all of his face jugs with anti-slavery messages and commentary on modern issues in honor of Slave Potter Dave, who inscribed…
When Jousting Wrecked His Shoulder, He Braced for a New Career
For John Gruber, mastering the arcane craft of was a long, complex process, kind of like the medieval era itself. But the inspiration hit…
The Bees Showed Her What All the Buzz Was About
Lots of folks claim they felt “called” to move to Asheville. For Beatriz “Bea” Lothrop, the reasons were vague, but the impulse was urgent….
Artisan-Career Venue Spins Beer City Into Craft City
On a lazy Tuesday afternoon, a casual visitor to The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design might find its polished-industrial headquarters a quiet space…