On our recent trip through Albuquerque, New Mexico, we had the opportunity to meet Jessi Lloyd of Grey Collective Hats.

Since her cover feature in We Are Makers Edition 12 Jessi has downscalled from her retail space, started, funded and planned a huge creative space before funding was pulled, rebuilt her shop in her garage, and found a beautiful work around to continue to host her hat making courses in stylish Air BNB's all whilst keeping her thriving in person market approach of selling her hats alive.

Jessi, a lifelong maker, started Grey's Hats to serve her late husband's need for a hat. Through her husband's ill health, she has ardently pursued hat-making since day one and really found her stride with it.

She is one of the foremost hat makers in the world in our eyes and brings passion, excitement, and a willingness to do the work to everything she does.

Jessi Lloyd - Grey Collective Hats

Instagram: @greycollectivehatsWebsite: https://www.greycollectivehats.com/

We Are Makers

Instagram: @weare_makersWebsite: https://www.wearemakers.shop

Recorded on Nomono Sound Capsule.

Website: https://nomono.co/wam

We sat down with We Are Makers repeat offender Sarah Garvey in her Arizona workshop and talked all things leatherwork, her journey, and where she is leaning now. Sarah was the cover feature of Edition Eight of We Are Makers. We get to go back and visit her and see what she has done since then, whilst recapping on her story and the importance her work has played in her life. Hosted in person, from her 40ft shipping container workshop adorned with her work from the past years, the setting was a beautiful place for us to take on our first 3-camera podcast setup to make things a little more engaging for you, our podcast listeners and watchers.Sarah Garvey - Western Skies HandmadeInstagram: @westernskieshandmadeWebsite: https://westernskieshandmade.com/We Are MakersInsta: @weare_makersWebsite: https://www.wearemakers.shopRecorded on Nomono Sound Capsule. Insta: @nomonosoundWebsite: https://nomono.co/wam

In North Carolina, working from a 100-year-old cabin on his land, Tobias Crislip is keeping a traditional craft alive. As part of the small, family-run business Wyatt & Dad, Tobias doesn’t just fix boots, he gives them new life.Cobblering is often overlooked. It’s not about starting from scratch, but about repair and preserving what matters. Tobias is carrying on a skill fewer people know how to do.We visited him in May to hear about his journey, the craft and how he’s educating the public through social media and YouTube, one pair of boots at a time.We Are MakersInsta: @weare_makersWebsite & WAM Mission Info: ⁠https://www.wearemakers.shopTobias CrislipInsta: @procobblersWebsite: https://wyattanddad.comRecorded on: NomonoInsta: @nomonosoundWebsite: https://nomono.co/Want to support us on the road? Buy us a coffee:⁠https://ko-fi.com/wearemakers

In this episode, we sit down with Becca Jane Koehler, a ceramic artist and illustrator based in Nashville, TN. We visited Becca at her home studio back in May while passing through the area and had a great conversation about her creative journey. We've followed Becca's work on Instagram for a long time, so was really great to see her work in person. Becca started out in product design at Target, creating furniture, dinnerware, and bedding. Since then, she’s worked as a freelance illustrator and built a career that spans ceramics and design. We talk about transitioning between creative fields, building a freelance career, and how she balances multiple disciplines while turning her home into a space that reflects her style.A great lunchtime listen! We Are MakersInsta: @weare_makersWebsite & WAM Mission Info: ⁠https://www.wearemakers.shopBecca JaneInsta: @beccajanestudioWebsite: https://www.beccajane.comRecorded on: NomonoInsta: @nomonosoundWebsite: https://nomono.co/Want to support us on the road? Buy us a coffee:⁠https://ko-fi.com/wearemakers

For this episode, we travelled to Indiana to meet Nathan Brandt – CEO of Coal Iron Works – and hear the remarkable story behind the company’s founding. What followed was a powerful, emotional, and deeply personal conversation. Nathan opens up about the origins of Coal, the hardships they’ve faced, the lessons learned, and the profound loss of co-founder and friend, Andy Davis.A huge thank you to the entire team at Coal Iron Works for welcoming us into their world – and for getting Jack into Coal School to forge his very own hammer!We’re also incredibly proud to share that Coal Iron Works is now an official sponsor of We Are Makers, supporting our mission to tell maker stories across the globe.We Are MakersInsta: @weare_makersWebsite & WAM Mission Info: ⁠https://www.wearemakers.shopCoal IronworksInsta: @coalironworksWebsite: https://coaliron.com/

Nathan BrandtInsta: @farmsmith.coInsta: @brandtblossomfarmRecorded on: NomonoInsta: @nomonosoundWebsite: https://nomono.co/Want to support us on the road? Buy us a coffee:⁠https://ko-fi.com/wearemakersIf you’re drawn to real stories, raw conversations, and the fire that fuels creative lives – this episode is for you. Like, share, and subscribe – it really helps!

For this episode, we travelled to rural Indiana to meet Daniel - a former creative professional whose career was upended by the layoffs of 2020. With an industry in collapse and no clear next step, Daniel and his family made a life-changing move: back to the farming community where he was raised, to start over from scratch.What began as an experimental side project in his basement has grown into a thriving letterpress studio. Now, Daniel creates custom prints, collaborates with businesses, and shares his journey through talks and workshops across the U.S., all from his home studio nestled in the heart of farmland - which we visited!His story is one of creative reinvention and the power of staying open to unexpected possibilities. It’s exactly the kind of story we’re here to tell.We Are MakersInsta: @weare_makersWebsite & WAM Grant Info: ⁠https://www.wearemakers.shopHOOSIER TYPE CoInsta: @hoosiertype.coWebsite: https://hoosiertypeco.squarespace.com/Recorded on: NomonoInsta: @nomonosoundWebsite: https://nomono.co/If you'd like to buy us a coffee on the road - the link is below:⁠https://ko-fi.com/wearemakersIf you enjoy genuine conversations, road-trip discoveries, and creative inspiration, this episode is for you. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share - Please!

Have you ever experienced an inspiring encounter that was completely unplanned? That happened to us on the road in the USA. We dropped in on Jordan Wright of Wright & Rede and were blown away.... he used the hashtag madeinclevland on instagram and that's how we found him!In this episode, you’ll hear:– How this spontaneous stop led to one of our favorite conversations– Jordan's incredible artistic vision, philosophy, and creative process– Stories behind his most memorable works and collaborations– Insightful takeaways about pursuing passion and embracing unexpected opportunitiesJordan is one of those rare people you instantly feel happy to meet. His energy, openness, and craft are truly inspiring and this chat is as genuine and refreshing as it gets.We Are MakersInsta: @weare_makersWebsite & WAM Grant Info: ⁠https://www.wearemakers.shopWRIGHT & REDEJordan LeeInsta: @wrightandredeWebsite: https://www.wrightandrede.comRecorded on: NomonoInsta: @nomonosoundWebsite: https://nomono.co/If you'd like to buy us a coffee on the road - the link is below:⁠https://ko-fi.com/wearemakersIf you enjoy genuine conversations, road-trip discoveries, and creative inspiration, this episode is for you. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share - Please!

Our USA trip continues where we stopped and visited this amazing family business in Sylvain, Pennsylvania. We speak with Connie & Kayle Sickler.

This conversation features a family running a timber frame business and explores their philosophy and journey. They discuss the origins of the business, tracing a love for timber framing through generations, and the decision to incorporate CNC machining for efficiency and wider reach while still valuing traditional craft. The family emphasizes the importance of work-life balance, prioritizing family time over unlimited growth, and their belief in collaboration with external experts. They also touch on the durability and potential for reuse of timber frames, viewing their work as creating lasting structures that become part of people's lives and the landscape.

We Are Makers

Insta: @weare_makers

Website & WAM Grant Info: ⁠https://www.wearemakers.shop

Settlement Post and Beam

Insta: @settlementpostandbeam

Website: https://www.settlementpostandbeam.com

Recorded on: Nomono

Insta: @nomonosound

Website: https://nomono.co/

If you'd like to buy us a coffee for on the road - we'd LOVE that as a thank you for bringing these conversations to you.

⁠https://ko-fi.com/wearemakers

Thank you!

In this episode, we hang out with Will Adams – the maker behind Honey Brook Tools. Based in Vermont, Will creates beautiful, functional hand tools for woodworkers, all crafted with care in his one-man workshop.

We talk about his journey from teaching to toolmaking, what inspires his designs, and how he’s built a business focused on quality, honesty, and good old-fashioned craftsmanship. Will’s all about making tools that feel great in your hand and make you want to create. It’s a relaxed, honest chat with a guy who genuinely loves what he does.

We Are MakersInsta: @weare_makersWebsite & WAM Grant Info: https://www.wearemakers.shop/Will AdamsInsta: @honeybrooktools_and_woodworksWebsite: https://honeybrooktools.com/Youtube: @Honey_Brook_ToolsRecorded on: NomonoInsta: @nomonosoundWebsite: https://nomono.co/If you'd like to buy us a coffee on the road - the link is belowhttps://ko-fi.com/wearemakers

Our first podcast back in the US took us to New Hampshire where we had the honour of sitting down with Thomas Boucher, the skilled hands and curious mind behind Greasy Luck Forge. From growing up in his father’s blacksmith shop to becoming one of the few traditional locksmiths in the U.S., Thomas is on a mission to preserve and share the intricate art of handmade lock-making and historical metalwork.We loved visiting his shop after having featured him in Ed.4 of our We Are Makers Magazine. Jack and I stayed the evening, went for dinner and enjoyed getting to know Thomas better.

We hope you enjoy!

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We Are MakersInsta: @weare_makers

Website & WAM Grant Info: https://www.wearemakers.shop/

Thomas Boucher

Insta: @greasyluckforge

Website: https://www.greasyluckforge.com/

Youtube: ‪@GreasyLuckForge‬

Recorded on: NomonoInsta: @nomonosound

Website: https://nomono.co/

If you'd like to buy us a coffee on the road - the link is below

https://ko-fi.com/wearemakers