A solo episode, Fitchburg Forge-in announcement. a preview of just some of the awesome stuff to see at the Catskill Mountain Maker Camp, and my take on the "What is Social Media?" question posed by the Woodworking is Bullshit podcast!

Shane Bowman is my guest this week. We chat about discovering printing and graphic design, and accidentally finding a career in industrial design make point-of-purchase product displays. He wanted to make a case for a favorite pen and to his surprise that started his love of leather craft. Next he saw some custom leather hardware, and found a way to make his own, and to provide that for the wider maker community.

Follow Shane on Instagram

Chelsea Witt has recently been appointed the Executive Director of The Chairmaker's Toolbox whose mission is "Increasing access and equity in the field of chairmaking. Founded by & for under-represented woodworkers & chair nerds". We chat about Chelsea's journey from and interest in art, and taking pre-med classes on way to becoming a surgeon, to the pivot to woodworking, and in building the woodworking community through education.

Check out Chelsea on Instagram and their web site.

The Chairmaker's Toolbox

Kellan Moss from @dirtmossart shares how she discovered the field of medical and scientific illustration and the interesting places it has taken her, including a geology research ship. From geological cores we move on to why making art is good for you, and the value of bad art.

Learn more about Kellan's work on Instagram

Steve from @haybudden is here and we cover how he got the amazing username "Haybudden" and how he discovered his love of blacksmithing and making things with metal. We chat a bunch about how the New England Blacksmiths fit into the maker community and also a bit about how great Pat Quinn and the Center for Metals are. Don't miss Field of Tools August 8-10 at the Blackthorne Resort.

Follow Steve on Instagram.

Check out the New England Blacksmiths

Learn something at the Center for Metal Arts

Photo by Mark Adams Pictures

In which I record a single take stream of consciousness this time on the subject of curiosity. What is it? Are scientists studying it, and what does it mean for our band of creative weirdos. I don't answer these questions, but I sort of talk about the subject around it.

Inspired by Keith Sawyer and Scott Thorp on the Science of Creativity Podcast.

Read Learning to See by Keith Sawyer

Check out the Working Hands Podcast with Trevor Higgins

Read The Wild Dark - Finding the Night Sky in the Age of Light by Craig Childs

(no affiliate links but check these things out!)

Caitlin was drawn to the ornamental ironwork as a kid and re-ignited that passion as an adult searching for a hobby. From there she discovered the joy of blacksmithing and the idea of sharing the craft with a school was born! It took some time, but now Caitlin created a school and has been sharing what she has learned for years. We discuss Caitlin's journey and some of what she learned from her students about teaching. Caitlin is a founding member of the Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths and we discuss their mission of supporting equity, diversity, and accessibility in blacksmithing.

Check out The Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths

Check out Ms. Caitlin's School of Blacksmithing

Dan Peterson is making quilts, with a little math. We go over Dan's journey to quilting, and I try to remember what an irrational number is, so I can pick my favorite one! Along the way we cover tetris, sudoku, lava lamp security, and a lot, a real lot of squares. There's an interesting bit on what it means to seek mastery in a field. I met Dan on Xyla Foxlin's Patreon discord, and we discuss what a great community it is.

Check out Dan on Instagram and Youtube.

Want to know what I have been going on about regarding the independent web? Here's some thoughts! Check out

Own Your Web

Painting with the Web

Introducing the FediVerse

Design is Blank on Patreon

Margaret Janiczek is a biostatistician artist and printmaker, currently focused on copperplate etching. We go over her start in creating cozy watercolor robots, and discovery of printmaking at First Proof Press. Along the way we find out about community life drawing, philosophy and theater, and learning piano.

Follow Margaret's work on Instagram and her web site.

Check out First Proof Press in Brattleboro Vermont.