Craftsmanship

This week on "The Secrets of Mastery" produced by Craftsmanship Magazine, we’re talking about letterpress printing. 

For centuries, newspaper and book publishers used this analog method of printing, involving heavy machinery, ink, paper, and thousands of tiny metal typecasts, to reproduce their words for the masses.  Though it’s largely been replaced in commercial printing by cheaper, faster methods, there’s a tactile, handmade quality to letterpress that makes the digital word feel merely two dimensional.   

Craftsmanship Magazine visited San Francisco’s iconic Arion Press, one of the last fully integrated letterpress printing shops that casts, types, and binds its own limited edition books. We sat down with Creative Director and Lead Printer Blake Riley, who surprised us with details about the craft’s history and recent revival— though he was skeptical about applying the term “master artisan.” 

The “Secrets of Mastery” podcast series is a production of Craftsmanship Magazine. It's a series of conversations with artisans and innovators about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them.

Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. 

Music in this series is from Blue Dot Sessions. 

Pauline Bartolone produced The Secrets of Mastery series for Craftsmanship Magazine. 

She is also Senior Audio Editor for Craftsmanship.net.

Managing Editor for the magazine is Laurie Weed.

Todd Oppenheimer is the founding editor and executive director of Craftsmanship.

LINKS: 

Arion Press: https://arionpress.com/

More podcasts from Craftsmanship Magazine: https://craftsmanship.net/podcasts/

Sign up for Craftsmanship Magazine on Substack: https://craftsmanship.substack.com/

This podcast episode is inspired by the Craftsmanship Magazine photo essay “Printing with Love” by Douglas Cruickshank, with Todd Oppenheimer and Claire Bloomberg.

 https://craftsmanship.net/printing-with-love/

On this edition of "The Secrets of Mastery," we’ll hear one woman’s journey from starving artist to owner of a successful, large-scale glassware company.

Annie Morhauser, founder of Annieglass, started her business 40 years ago with little more than debt and determination. Today, her glassware can be found on fine dining tables across the country—as well as in the Smithsonian.

“The secret to mastery is adaptability,” Morhauser says. “I don’t care how talented you are, how much money, opportunity, [or] if you’re at the right place at the right time. The most important thing is adaptability.”

Annie Morhauser first fell in love with glassblowing in the 1970, when she saw the craft at a beach party on the California coast. She went to art school, and began selling her own handcrafted glassware at galleries and craft fairs. But she soon learned that wouldn’t pay the bills. So she scaled up and started her company,  AnnieGlass, which now has a factory in Watsonville, California. 

Morhauser has found a way to mass-produce plateware that is durable enough to survive a storm, but still has the unique beauty of glass made by the human hand. 

The 20+ workers at AnnieGlass use minimal technology, like waterjets, to produce Annie’s designs for a broad client base that includes high-end department stores like Neiman Marcus, and hotels in Las Vegas Hotels. 

Annie shares her wisdom about “letting go” of mistakes, the importance of “hiring up,” and how she feels about babies being baptized in her glassware. 

LINKS: 

AnnieGlass: https://annieglass.com/

Craftsmanship Magazine's podcast page: https://craftsmanship.net/podcasts/

Sign up for Craftsmanship Magazine on Substack: https://craftsmanship.substack.com/

On this episode of "The Secrets of Mastery," from Craftsmanship Magazine, we walk into the world of drought-resistant gardening at the Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery in Walnut Creek, California.

Cricket Riley, former design services director for the garden, gives us a tour of the 3-acre oasis of succulents, cacti, and herbaceous plants that need very little water. Then we sit down for a chat about the unique horticultural design principles of the late Ruth Bancroft, and how her love of succulents turned into an international model of climate-resilient gardening.

When she died in 2017, Ruth Bancroft was 109 years old. She worked in the garden 8 to 10 hours a day into her late 80s, according to a New York Times profile. 

Ruth Bancroft’s garden design sensibility was unusual for her time. She started planting succulents back in the early 1970s, when succulents weren't in style. 

Ruth created visual interest, Riley says, by blending plant texture, such as the angular, coarse texture of agaves with the finer texture of herbaceous plants. 

The Bancroft garden is also noted for a sense of seamlessness. There are no retaining walls or landscaping edging. Three-to-four-foot mounds provide plants with adequate drainage and create smaller “rooms” for visitors to wind through. 

When Ruth started the succulent garden, her family was limiting water use on the part of the farm designated for her pleasure garden. Instead of seeing that as a limitation, Ruth used the parameter to create a stunning landscape for any Mediterranean climate. 

“She didn't do it for like an altruistic idea,” said Riley. “It was this idea that ‘I'm going to create this garden that will be able to withstand the conditions of this place.’ And isn't that what climate resilience is?”

Over the years, Ruth Bancroft took meticulous notes about the horticulture project and the trial and error she practiced. In the 1990s, the garden opened to the public. And since then it has become an example of what everyone can do to reduce their carbon footprint and use fewer resources in the garden. 

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The “Secrets of Mastery” podcast is a production of Craftsmanship Magazine. It's a series of conversations with artisans and innovators about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them.

Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. 

Music in this series is from Blue Dot Sessions. Pauline Bartolone is the senior audio editor for Craftsmanship.net. Managing editor for the magazine is Laurie Weed, and Todd Oppenheimer is the founding editor and executive director. 

LINKS: 

Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery

Cricket Riley’s forthcoming book, “Designing The Lush Dry Garden,” co-authored with Alice Kitajima & Kier Holmes. 

On this edition of “The Secrets of Mastery,” a production of Craftsmanship Magazine, we hear from Italian gelato-maker, Andrea Soban, based in the northern city of Valenza, Italy. 

Soban is a third-generation gelato maker, who continues to win prizes at international competitions for the quality of his coveted dessert.

In 2019, Soban published a book titled simply “Making Italian Gelato.”

In this short interview, Soban talks about the differences between gelato and ice cream, and about what his family has taught him about mastering this creative culinary endeavor. 

This story draws on original reporting from journalist Erla Zwingle, who wrote “Secrets of an Italian Gelato Maker” for Craftsmanship Magazine. 

The “Secrets of Mastery” podcast series is a production of Craftsmanship Magazine. It's a series of conversations with artisans and innovators about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them.

Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. 

Music in this series is from Blue Dot Sessions. Pauline Bartolone is Senior Audio Editor for Craftsmanship.net. Managing Editor for the magazine is Laurie Weed, and Todd Oppenheimer is the founding editor and executive director. 

LINKS: 

Gelateria Soban: https://www.gelateriasoban.com/en

"Making Italian Gelato" book by Andrea Soban: https://www.gelateriasoban.com/en/the-book.html

"The Secrets of an Italian Gelato Maker by Erla Zwingle:" https://craftsmanship.net/the-secrets-of-an-italian-gelato-master/

Craftsmanship Magazine: https://craftsmanship.net/ 

On this episode of "The Secrets of Mastery," we learn about an unusual folk art of the American West called horsehair hitching. Horsehair hitching involves the knotting of horsehair into complex patterns to make belts, necklaces, decorative walking sticks, and—of course—accessories for horses. 

Shoni Maulding, who has been practicing the craft for more than 30 years, talks with Craftmanship's Pauline Bartolone about its mysterious origins, how she’s found the patience to master this unique art form, and why a machine could never learn to hitch.

"The Secrets of Mastery” is a series of conversations with artisans about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them. 

Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. 

On this episode of "The Secrets of Mastery," we discuss the value of handmade work with master woodworker and furniture maker Gary Rogowski. The founder of the Northwest Woodworking Studio, Rogowski is also the author of many books about woodworking and creativity in the digital age.

In this interview, we discuss whether technology helps or hinders us in the creation of beautiful things. And about how he sees patience as key to mastering anything. 

Gary has his own podcast, Splinters, which you can find wherever you get your podcasts. 

The “Secrets of Mastery” is a production of Craftsmanship Magazine. It's a series of conversations with artisans and innovators about what it takes to master their craft, and what their journey has taught them.

Craftsmanship Magazine is a multimedia publication about artisans and innovators who are creating a world built to last. For more Secrets of Mastery episodes, or more stories about craft, check out Craftsmanship.net. 

As consumer technology improves, basic household appliances, like the washing machine, keep sprouting new, high-tech functions. Not surprisingly, they’re also increasingly difficult to repair. So our journalistic gumshoe ventured to find out: Who put us in this jam? And why?

“The Great Washing Machine Scam,” originally appeared in Craftsmanship, a digital magazine about master artisans and innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — free of charge and free of ads.

You can find more written stories like this one on our website,Craftsmanship.net.   That’s also where you can make a donation to support Craftsmanship’s journalism. We’re funded by grants and individual donations, and every bit of financial support goes a long way.

Written by AARON BRITT 

Introduction by PAULINE BARTOLONE

Narrated by MITCH GREENBERG

Produced by PAULINE BARTOLONE

Music by BLUE DOT SESSIONS

Read the original story: https://craftsmanship.net/the-great-washing-machine-scam/

Though he calls himself simply a “songster and storyteller,” Andy Hedges is compiling a rich, unique audio archive of cowboy music and poetry—and bringing the legends of the genre together on CD and stage.

"The Cowboy Folklorist" originally appeared in Craftsmanship, a digital magazine about master artisans and innovators, and the architecture of excellence. You'll find many more stories, videos, audio recordings, and other resources on our site — free of charge and free of ads.

You can see more fantastic photos of cowboy poets by Meredith Lawrence on the Craftsmanship website.   That’s also where you can make a donation to support our independent  journalism. We’re funded by grants and individual donations, and every bit of financial support goes a long way.

Written and photographed by MEREDITH LAWRENCE

Introduction by PAULINE BARTOLONE

Narrated by GÖRAN NORQUIST

Produced by PAULINE BARTOLONE

Music by ANDY HEDGES, DOM FLEMONS, RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOT, JACK THORP, BRENN HILL, MAGGIE ROSE HEDGES, BLUE DOT SESSIONS. 

Ever open a brand new package of clothing and get a strong whiff of chemicals? Journalist Alden Wicker took a deep dive into the chemicals in our clothes in her new book, “To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion is Making Us Sick and How We Can Fight Back.” 

Craftsmanship Magazine interviewed Wicker about the prevalence of chemicals in clothing, and about the regulatory efforts and personal choices that can keep fashion safe. 

Written by CRAFTSMANSHIP EDITORS

Introduction by PAULINE BARTOLONE

Narrated by PAULINE BARTOLONE & ALDEN WICKER

Produced by PAULINE BARTOLONE

Music by BLUE DOT SESSIONS

You can find out more about Alden Wicker’s work on ecocult.com, including how to get her new book, “ To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion is Making Us Sick—and How We Can Fight Back.” 

If you liked this episode, subscribe to Craftsmanship on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Craftsmanship Magazine is funded by grants and donations from readers and listeners like you. If you like our journalism, please consider making a donation at craftsmanship.net. Every bit of financial support goes a long way.

You can also support us by sharing our work with others. Thanks for listening. Until next time!

Our hands are deep in a new audio project - a series of interviews with master artisans and craftspeople. We’ll be talking to makers of culturally distinct crafts from around the world - about their passion, and secrets to their mastery.

We’ll hear from a horsehair hitcher in Montana, a compost king in Oregon, and about Greece’s secret to honey making.  And there will be many more stories.

Look out for the series starting in January 2024, on our website - craftsmanship.net. 

In the meantime, consider making a donation to craftsmanship, so we can continue to bring you these stories.  None of our journalism would be possible without your financial support.