weare_makers

We often talk about scalability, or the lack of it, in craft. More and more, we see people jump from fulfilling the odd order to scaling to a larger outsourced manufacturer if and when their products take off. Sometimes even going overseas.

However, what if we just went up the road? Literally. Found craftspeople and capable artisans within driving distance, or in Jason's case walking, distance from ourselves? Could we scale the same? Could this create jobs and better circumstances for our local communities?

Jason thinks so, And having seen it first hand in North Carolina we agree.

Jason thinks so, and having seen it firsthand in North Carolina, we agree. D18'

Among the last of a dying breed, Phil is endlessly and contagiously positive about the work he does and the opportunities it has given him. Be it building cart wheels for royalty or makeshift aeroplanes in the desert. His enthusiasm and hand skills have taken him around the world.

What would you do if you could do something you loved near enough every day?

Want to read Phils full story and the story of other makers just like him? Comment ED19 and Ill send you the link to the latest edition of We Are Makers.

Whether you're terrible, ok, a bit meh, or pretty good straight away, It's never worth giving up. Not without trying. This is the story of Nicole Revy, who, in her own words, was "terrible" when she first tried linocut art. Now, after COVID and a redundancy, she has a thriving one-woman business supporting her family through her art.

It's never easy, but it's never not worth it to put more beauty into the world.

Every Monday we publish an abridged maker's story in our newsletter, totally free. For more details: comment 'Newsletter'

WE ARE LOOKING FOR ILLUSTRATORS!
We have a lot going on this next few years. And are currently obsessed with better communicating place with our readers. So... we are looking for a number of illustrators to help us do that.

Comment an example of your work below or tag an illustrator you know who is well suited for this type of work.

We dont have any style restrictions and are very open to letting this play our and see what styles come our way.

Courses are only one facet of Jacob and the . But they are a big part of it. They are a chance for Jacob to teach and help. They give someone trust in themselves and their abilities through hands-on skills and community.

Their courses range from timber framing to traditional joinery. All of which use their expertly crafted tools in a beautiful setting in the Latvian countryside.

The story of Jacob and the guild is vast; it has many anchors and pathways. But one thing holds true. Jacob's true belief in the magic of craft. It helped him... And now I feel he is on a path to help others with that same magic.

Our grant fund will be closing for applications again soon. With Edition Twenty just around the corner, Kate and I will wade through hundreds of applicants and help those we can further educate themselves, bring equipment in-house and invest in their craft.

We built the grant we wish we had as craftspeople. And our supporters and subscribers got right behind it.

This grant again will be backed up with the incredible support of .crafts and their generous donation of a wheel for one UK-based upstart potter.

It's all too easy for us, as craftspeople, to wish we started sooner. Or worse, assume we are too late. Milford, A Navajo Diné jeweller from New Mexico, is a perfect example of how limiting that mindset is. Milford came into contact with jewellery when, as he puts it "he could appreciate it fully" he stacked mistakes and failures fast in pursuit of excellence and has now established a business that supports him, his family, and allows him to also train some other jewellers.

Dont let a limiting belief stop you from pursuing your dream. Make mistakes, learn from them and above all... Enjoy the process.

The power and captivating nature of a handmade piece is evident in Joe's story. Had it not been for a generous friend visiting from the other side of the world, Joe might never have held something handmade. It was holding this handmade piece that set him on the path to be a craftsperson himself.

We met Joe early in his career some 6 months ago or so. And from time to time, we manage to keep in touch with him and his partner Gary and from what I hear, they are making leaps and bounds as a business. I can confidently say that the hard work and dedication we have seen Joe put into his work, and his attention to detail, catalysed by a kind friend's gift of a handmade card holder, have brought a unique value to the world.

Moral of the story... Give more handmade things; you never know what it may catalyse.

Lisa shared her story with us in Edition Sixteen of We Are Makers. Her success is hard-won and well deserved. She forced her way through a male-dominated world in a time that didn't have much space for equality by getting on with the job at hand and performing it to the best of her abilities, making progress where others would give up.

If you read Lisa's story, you will understand the curveballs life has thrown at her and the obstacles she has had to overcome. Yet Lisa, through it all, has trusted in herself, her abilities, her incredible artwork, and found joy in the everyday.

Lisa's story is available digitally now, as Edition Sixteen has sold out around the world. It's free to all print subscribers, and we have made it available to anyone else who is interested in reading the stories of hundreds and hundreds of craftspeople just like Lisa from all corners of the globe.

MAKE IT has become an incredibly important part of We Are Makers magazine. In all our travels, similar questions pop up. We are fortunate enough to speak to so many craftspeople that oftentimes we have the answers to those questions. Not by ourselves, but from another maker, craftsperson, or answer. So we started inviting those who imparted their knowledge to us or overcame a particularly difficult task to write with us. This became the MAKE IT section. Not a how-to, but an " I lived this experience". A 16-page spread featuring some of the most hard-won knowledge in the craft space and a few pages left at the back for our grant fundees

Want to get your hands on a MAKE IT section? there is one in the back of every We Are Makers edition since Edition Sixteen. Comment 'WAM' for the link.