The Crafter's Box Podcast

Let's explore stained glass art. Lauren Earl is a stained glass artist designing unique, hand-crafted glass pieces that are both decorative and functional. In this premium workshop, Lauren breaks down how to work with glass from start to finish making this gorgeous, traditional art approachable and accessible.

Lauren brings a modern edge to her medium - often combining colored glass with alternative metals, mirrored pieces and architectural designs to create simple and stunningly creative glass art.

This episode explores the traditions and techniques that Lauren has adapted into her stained glass art. From materials to processes, we're ready to dive in!

Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2019-2-premium-featured-maker/

We sat down with Alli Koch to discuss her creative past, her passion for iconic floral design, and overcoming a perfectionist nature. After graduating college Alli began making art for herself, then selling to her family, and quickly realized she had created her ultimate dream job. Today, Alli's designs can be found on several murals and in stores across the country. Listen in to get ready for a wonderful upcoming workshop! Thanks for joining us.

Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2019-08-featured-maker/

In this podcast episode we welcome acrylic landscape artist Colleen Elizabeth, our featured maker in June, to our monthly interview series. We also introduce our MARKETPLACE and our first ever premium workshop! A Rigid Heddle Weaving Workshop that delves deep into handwoven goods.

Colleen shares about the curation of her kit as we explore the tools & materials featured with more depth. We chat her daily inspiration, a bit more on her background, and studio practice. Through each of our monthly informal interviews we learn so much more about our lead artist and their upcoming workshop collaboration with The Crafter's Box. 

In June, we are exploring color blending, color theory and landscape painting with the incredible Colleen Elizabeth.

Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2019-06-featured-maker/

In our VERY first premium workshop, we're collaborating with weaver Rachel Snack to introduce rigid heddle weaving with a detailed digital workshop and a tools & materials kit to learn a brand new medium. In this interview, Rachel shares more about her background, her weaving history & education, and what inspires her to create the beautiful textiles and hand woven designs she's most known for.

This kit in particular is so special - it features a New Zealand beechwood Ashford loom as well as Italian cotton linen + Japanese silk noil fibers for the beginning rigid heddle weaver. The digital component of this workshop introduces warping up this complex loom, learning how each and every component works and how to make your very first hand woven scarf. Then, the sky is the limit! Table runners, handwoven placements, wall textiles...

Let's dive in. Let's chat - what is a weave structure? What ARE the different types of looms out there - and how are they used? What does a textile conservator do? Listen in to learn more.

Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2019-05-premium-featured-maker/

In this episode, we have the opportunity to sit down with Aftyn Shah of @riseandwander to learn more about the detailed, digital workshop and curated kit of tools & materials she's built for our Linocut Printmaking Workshop.

Aftyn shares about her printmaking process using mounted linoleum and specialized carving tools to capture slices of nature. Living just outside of Philadelphia with her family, Aftyn is inspired by the Great Outdoors - family adventures, favorite hikes and moments captured in time through photography inform her carving style. Diving deeper, Aftyn shares how a tragic injury when she was pregnant with her first son led to the start of her printmaking practice, the exploration of nature as its subject, as well as the life changing call to acton and eventual company name, 'Rise and Wander'.

Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2019-05-featured-maker/

In this episode we chat with Mandi Smethells, our featured artist behind the beautiful sculptural works of fiber we're building together. She's curated a unique kit of tools & materials that come from years of experience and play. 

Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2019-04-featured-maker/

In February of 2019, we're exploring woodworking with artist Nicole Sweeney. The iconic shape found throughout Nicole's work is a triangle - she uses this shape to create all sorts of beautiful art for the home by manipulating it's color, contrast, size and placement. We're going to play and explore next month using Nicole's guidance. 

Let's learn more about Nicole's artistic background, what inspires her and how she has grown through her own creative journey into the artist & teacher that she is today. 

Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2019-02_featured-maker/

In this episode, we're chatting knitting and the unique tools & materials shared in this workshop to build a custom knit floor pouf. Alison shares about her home in Montreal, how she started knitting and what inspires her. Join us! And can't wait to see your knit projects.

Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2019-01_featured-maker/

In this episode artist Melanie Abrantes introduces us to the art of carving. Melanie is leading a workshop in shaping, whittling, sanding and finishing a beautiful custom wooden spoon and we use this episode to dive deeper! Melanie shares about her art background, her journey to wooden turning & carving, her Oakland studio and what she loves about the art she practices. We explore the unique kit of tools & materials Melanie has designed and the makers behind them. Melanie shares with us a typical day in the life, and walks us through a 2018 exercise in which she explored new 'little habits' each month for the FULL year. This wonderful chat leads up to an awesome workshop collaboration! 

Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2018-12_featured-maker/

In this episode we explore our upcoming Hand Quilting Workshop with maker Elise Cripe of @elisejoy. Elise shares with us her love of quilt making and sewing, and how crafting in general brings balance and creativity to her busy life. Elise shares why hand quilting is so historically special and what makes stitching and 'binding' truly unique to the art of quilting in general.

Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2018-11_featured-maker/