#craftperson

[tanuki-kimono]

The Enduring Haute Couture of a 466-Year Old Kimono House

How Chiso, a relatively obscure Japanese textile firm, keeps an age-old craft fresh.

It’s always a bit sad to read about those highly skilled artisans slowly disappearing in our modern world... Japan’s high end kimono industry isn’t the only one having this issue, same goes in France for many métiers d’art (art and craft professions). Let’s hope they’ll find a way of surviving, and in the meantime let’s try to shop away for mass manufacture items!

[woodyou]

The foundation of the modern craft of woodworking was built long ago. It’s rich, ancient history is something that draws a lot of makers to the craft. Some even make whole careers out of exploring it’s antiquity.

However, the culture of modern woodworking could not be sustained without the generous nurturers of creativity, the dedicated leadership of teachers, and the open sharing of knowledge by passionate craftspersons. Fortunately for this generation of woodworkers, Laura Mays encompasses all of those things.

Laura’s full-time position as the program director at The Krenov School places her guidance at the helm of many woodworkers’ careers. Her recent contribution to Fine Woodworking Magazine’s discussion on the education of design explains her approach to creativity as a practice and woodworking as an equitable craft for all to enjoy.

She began her own personal journey in the craft in 1995. “I did a course in Ireland, in Letterfrack, county Galway. A two year course in Furniture Design and Manufacture. I fell head over heels for woodworking,” she shares.

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Laura was born and raised in Ireland, but now resides in Fort Bragg, California, where she moved seven years ago.

When asked what her favorite tool was, she replied, “As a woodworker it would have to be my little Lie Nielsen block plane – with a block plane you can make more planes, wooden planes of any size or shape! And as a teacher, it’s my pencil, definitely. You can explain almost anything with a pencil.”

‘Not Yet’

When it comes to favorite works of art, she shared, “Tons of things, hard to pick a favorite…Perhaps, Waiting for Godot, the play by Samuel Beckett. Right now I’m listening to Schubert a lot.”

To view more of Laura’s work or get in touch:

IG: laurabmays E: [email protected] W: yaffemays.com

Women of Woodworking – Laura Mays, Fort Bragg, CA The foundation of the modern craft of woodworking was built long ago. It's rich, ancient history is something that draws a lot of makers to the craft.

[hertswood-blog]

Working on my shapes at the moment. Here’s a tear plop. Similar to a tear drop but more of a plop. #smoothleavedelm #elm #woodturning #form #design #decor #interior #hollowform #woodcraft #handmade #makersgonnamake #berkhmastedcraft #berkhamsted #hertfordshirewoodturner #madebyhand #craftsman #craftperson #localart (at Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire)

[trunkhome]

Cherishing Invaluable Skills

My travels have inspired TRUNK. The knowledge I have gained over the years, from finding makers to seeing factories or individual craftspeople applying their skills, is where the idea for TRUNK was born. The East is, for me, a place where people have learned exquisite crafts and techniques through a need to grow and provide for their families. Some of our artisans don’t even read or write but what they have is their hands and knowledge to create objects of great beauty. Their skills are precious to them and at Trunk we appreciate this and help them to keep their skills alive. Making things by hand adds ‘soul’ to a product - the connection of the material used and handprint of the maker, woven or carved into it with loving care and skill, makes it something to treasure.