Maker | Wanderluxe

As part of our first series of collaborations with talented small business owners we were so excited to work with Erin Myles of Wanderluxe Design. Her creations reflect a fantastic style that backend back to prairie and Native American design in a cool, fresh way. Erin has become an expert in metalsmithing through her business and we asked her to share her story in her own words. Here is the journey of Erin Myles and Wanderluxe.

I began my adventure with jewelry design in college. I was originally a ceramics major at UMASS but switched to a double major with jewelry/metalsmithing after taking an introductory metalsmithing class. I've always considered myself more of a craftsperson than an artist, so college was tough for me in that everything had to be "art". If a piece wasn't about your dead grandmother or your struggle with gender equality it wasn't valid. I was just interested in making beautiful well-made objects. I was, and still am, very interested in pattern and repetition. Most of my inspiration at that time came from Japanese and Islamic pattern and Indian Mehendi hand painting.

I entered the costume jewelry industry after college where I designed for many of the stores you find at the mall. That was super fun for a long time, but I began to feel like I was just filling the world with stuff. It wasn't well-considered and it didn't support a local community of manufacturers that still exist in RI where I live. Everything is mass-produced overseas and I wanted to make a contribution that was more personal and local. I know my work will wind up in the hands of a few people who love it instead of a garbage can.

Wanderluxe is the medium between my college and workforce experience. I'm happy now to work with local manufacturers who help with some of my processes. All of the components used are sourced from local chain and rhinestone manufacturers. Each casted piece in the Wanderluxe line is original, hand drawn by me and I hand embroider each piece in my studio. I'm happy that I can be attached to the making process again. I feel like I'm creating something original, refreshing and responsible.

In the future I would like to share some of my other passions with the world. I will be sharing homemade apothecary recipes on my blog along with a monthly studio playlist. Right now I'm experimenting with making natural skin care goods and fragrances. I've taken the time to source responsible suppliers in the U.S. so if and when I introduce a new product line it will be in keeping with my ultimate goals of transparency and responsibility. 

To learn more about Erin and Wanderluxe, hop over to her website at www.wanderluxedesign.com and follow her journey on Instagram by following her handle @wanderluxejewelry.

Maker | Flidais Parfumerie

Who are You - Rachel McKeon. I am a native rural Pennsylvanian and a current New Yorker. Admirer of all things beautiful, and a staunch supporter of minimalism, simplicity, and realness in our cluttered universe. 

 What is Your Business - Flidais (pronounced "fleu-ish") Parfumerie is an artisanal aromatics house dedicated to the creation of purely all-natural Eau de Parfum fragrance oils that couple a contemporary nose with a dreamy nostalgia. Sustainably sourced floral, wood, resin, lichen, and citrus essential oils and absolutes are lovingly dropped into individually hand-etched bottles, while a single sprig of dried wildflower completes a minimalist aesthetic, with a nod to Wabi-sabi. Blissfully free of excess preservatives, branding, and packaging. 

What Do You Make - Pure, all-natural fragrance oils. Every Eau de Parfum oil is handcrafted from start to finish using only pure natural essential oils and absolutes. The line of fragrance oils was created to breathe life into the natural perfume world, and bridge the cap between classic aromatics and a contemporary sensibility. 

Why Do You Make - As a professional actor, I found my destiny often out of my hands, having to run to appointments that were made for me, turned down for projects I loved, told where to stand, how to behave. I love that work, but I needed something that I could have creative control over from start to finish, and I wanted it to exist in the physical world. Turning to perfume was a natural step, as scent also provides an exquisite respite from the digital world. Smelling something beautiful is a real, authentic experience that cannot be recreated in any way. It was also crucial for me to create something that wasn't smothered in branding, but could exist as a beautiful item in its own right, as an homage to the natural world.

Why Support Makers - In the current market of big brands and big industry, supporting a product made by one person, or a small group of people is paramount for our economic and social welfare. 

 Why Keep Main Street Alive - There's nothing more special than supporting your own community. It is my belief that human health relies on it. We need to reclaim the American tradition of small town commerce.

For more and to shop Rachel's goods visit her website:  

http://www.flidaisparfumerie.com/

Maker | Melissa Tyson

Melissa Tyson of Melissa Tyson Designs grew up in Durham, North Carolina with an immediate love for jewelry. She first started making jewelry as a kid, and recalls scavenging construction sites for electrical wires, pulling out colored pieces, and making jewelry to sell at the swimming pool in the summer. Though she loved it from an early age, she went to college think she would become an accountant. “I hated it,” she laughs, “I transferred to East Carolina University for art school and it was there that I took my first metalsmithing class. The minute I touched it I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

Melissa received a BFA in Metalsmithing from ECU with a goal to travel and learn the trade from as many artisans as possible. She was immediately swept up in an adventure learning from some of the world’s most interesting and talent smiths. “I apprenticed with a swordsmith creating Damascus Blades, with blacksmiths in Montana, a famous goldsmith in Italy that has created jewelry for Kings and Queens–no joke–with local gem-setters & Gemologists, with Lapidary Artists…,” she remembers, “I may be forgetting a few but I have always loved to learn, and I feel goldsmithing is one of those crafts that I could spend the rest of my life learning new things about and still never learn it all!”

For the last fifteen years Melissa has been designing custom wedding and engagement rings and jewelry in her unique and fluid organic style she developed in her early days learning the trade. She designs each piece by hand giving each of her creations a slightly unique quality with different artist’ marks appearing through the process. “The design of my rings is meant reflect a natural beauty we all possess, we all have human flaws but those are the things that make us beautiful. I hope people see the same quality in my work.” 

Melissa intends for all of her jewelry to be special works of art, as she feels we all are. This ideas leads her to find and use many natural stones in her travels that she then brings home to use in her designs. “I often find myself on vacation emptying out my luggage to fill it with rocks and stones my husband graciously lugs through the airport for me,” she laughs. “It’s an all-consuming passion.” 

In addition to finding unique natural stones, Melissa recycles silver and other metals to make her jewelry unique and also ‘green’. By recycling the scraps of her work and melting and molding them into new pieces she is able to reduce her impact on the environment. In fact, one of her favorite things about designing custom pieces is that she is able to work with clients to refurbish or rebirth customer’s heirloom jewelry into beautiful new pieces. “I like being able to take something typically tucked away in a lockbox that someone has sentimental value for but doesn't wear and turning it into something new and beautiful that they can then pass down themselves,” she explains. 

For Melissa, that’s what the process of smithing is all about, creating something special for people that they can hold dear in their life’s journey.  “I'm an adventurer at heart and I love people, traveling, God, my family, dancing and making art,” Melissa says. “My Dad once said to me,–‘Melissa you are making treasured heirlooms that will travel down generations’–and I hope that’s what my work means to everyone.”Melissa Tyson of Melissa Tyson Designs grew up in Durham, North Carolina with an immediate love for jewelry. She first started making jewelry as a kid, and recalls scavenging construction sites for electrical wires, pulling out colored pieces, and making jewelry to sell at the swimming pool in the summer. Though she loved it from an early age, she went to college think she would become an accountant. “I hated it,” she laughs, “I transferred to East Carolina University for art school and it was there that I took my first metalsmithing class. The minute I touched it I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

Melissa received a BFA in Metalsmithing from ECU with a goal to travel and learn the trade from as many artisans as possible. She was immediately swept up in an adventure learning from some of the world’s most interesting and talent smiths. “I apprenticed with a swordsmith creating Damascus Blades, with blacksmiths in Montana, a famous goldsmith in Italy that has created jewelry for Kings and Queens–no joke–with local gem-setters & Gemologists, with Lapidary Artists…,” she remembers, “I may be forgetting a few but I have always loved to learn, and I feel goldsmithing is one of those crafts that I could spend the rest of my life learning new things about and still never learn it all!”

For the last fifteen years Melissa has been designing custom wedding and engagement rings and jewelry in her unique and fluid organic style she developed in her early days learning the trade. She designs each piece by hand giving each of her creations a slightly unique quality with different artist’ marks appearing through the process. “The design of my rings is meant reflect a natural beauty we all possess, we all have human flaws but those are the things that make us beautiful. I hope people see the same quality in my work.” 

Melissa intends for all of her jewelry to be special works of art, as she feels we all are. This ideas leads her to find and use many natural stones in her travels that she then brings home to use in her designs. “I often find myself on vacation emptying out my luggage to fill it with rocks and stones my husband graciously lugs through the airport for me,” she laughs. “It’s an all-consuming passion.” 

In addition to finding unique natural stones, Melissa recycles silver and other metals to make her jewelry unique and also ‘green’. By recycling the scraps of her work and melting and molding them into new pieces she is able to reduce her impact on the environment. In fact, one of her favorite things about designing custom pieces is that she is able to work with clients to refurbish or rebirth customer’s heirloom jewelry into beautiful new pieces. “I like being able to take something typically tucked away in a lockbox that someone has sentimental value for but doesn't wear and turning it into something new and beautiful that they can then pass down themselves,” she explains. 

For Melissa, that’s what the process of smithing is all about, creating something special for people that they can hold dear in their life’s journey.  “I'm an adventurer at heart and I love people, traveling, God, my family, dancing and making art,” Melissa says. “My Dad once said to me,–‘Melissa you are making treasured heirlooms that will travel down generations’–and I hope that’s what my work means to everyone.”

Fresh Strawberry Pie

FRESH STRAWBERRY PIE

BY: RIKKI SNYDER

Warmer weather cannot come soon enough! I found myself sitting here dreaming of days when you can step outside barefoot and feel the grass between your toes.

 One of my favorite things to do when the weather turns warmer is go strawberry picking. I absolutely love strawberries and none of the store bought ones ever seem to taste as good as the ones we pick ourselves. On the way back from the farm they always make our car smell so good and all I can think about is eating them dipped in warm, melted chocolate...my favorite!

There are so many things to do with your fresh strawberries, like making jam or ice cream or fresh smoothies...the possibilities are endless. One of my favorites however, is a nice slice of strawberry pie. 

This is the easiest pie that I have ever made and by far one of the best.  Maybe it's because I love these fresh strawberries so much or maybe it's because of all that incredible whipped cream that I pile on top of my pieces. The vanilla pudding mix whipped with the cream is the best. There's no way I could go back to eating store bought whipped cream after this! Just wait until you try it.

What do you like to make with strawberries?

Strawberry Pie

3 quarts strawberries, hulled and divided

1 1/2 cups sugar

6 Tablespoons cornstarch

2/3 cup water

10-inch deep-dish pie crust, baked

1 cup whipping cream

1 1/2 Tablespoons instant vanilla pudding mix

Optional: A few drops of red food coloring

In a large bowl, mash berries to equal 3 cups; set aside along with remaining whole berries. Combine sugar and cornstarch in a large saucepan. Stir in mashed berries and water; mix well. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly; heat and stir for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, add food coloring if desired for red color. Pour mixture in a large bowl; chill for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture is just slightly warm. Fold in remaining whole berries. Pour into prepared pie crust, chill for 2-3 hours. Place cream in a small mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to whip cream and pudding mix until soft peaks form. Spread whipped cream mixture around edge of pie or dollop on individual slices. Serves 8-10. ​

Meet Bourbon Barrel Aged Coffee

Makers and small-businesses have always been important to us. We were raised in them, our communities are founded on them, and because of them we have learned the passion to create and seek creative people in our lives. We recently started collaborating with some of our favorite small businesses we've along this journey to create a few products that are unique. Unique because of the people involved, but unique to them as well because they reflect a piece of our story and heritage.

Last year our friends at District Coffee Roasters in Tomball, TX came to us with an idea. Why don't we create a coffee blend together? Of course Heath thought it was a perfect plan at just the mention of the word coffee and I was excited by the idea that we could work with someone whose products and mission we had admired for a while. 

Our first and newest product this year has been a few months in the making and we're excited to unveil it. We spent a while thinking about what we could bring to the dark, smoky luxurious flavors that we always expect out of Billy's coffee when it finally came to us one day. Bourbon. Inspired by our bluegrass roots we teamed up with Billy to create something together that lets everyone taste a little bit of our home in theirs.

Billy says that being a maker is about the joy and satisfaction that comes with creating a great product that consumers can enjoy and share with others. "We roast coffee because we enjoy the hands on craft, the community element, and the culinary presentation." They specialize in toasting the sweetness out of top-flight specialty coffee beans. All of this leads to amazing conversations and creativity that inspires and is inspiring to Billy and the other makers he works with.

The FOLK X District Coffee Bourbon Roast will mark the beginning of a string of partnerships with small brands across the U.S. that are doing exciting and unique things. We hope you will support the makers we will be collaborating with and get to know more about them as we start a new journey with them. "We believe in supporting makers because they are the essence of what makes our country such a great nation," says Billy of District Coffee Roasters. "The creativity and entrepreneurial drive to make great things is at the heart of America and this new maker movement."

ORDER BY CLICKING HERE

Exploring Iceland

Early this February, I found myself needing something. It was one of those nameless things a soul yearns for that you can only find through a journey. A break? No, not really that simple, but close. Amidst all of the technological connection and overstimulation, though, that’s what it amounted to. When I found myself aboard a plane headed from John F. Kennedy Airport to Iceland, I was hopeful I’d find some kind of calm there. I didn’t know what to expect, but after countless beautiful images shared by friends of the lush and wild landscapes, I was hopeful. The first night of my journey in Iceland found me neck deep in a hot natural spring, a faint smell of sulfur wafting off the surface in a cool steam as it mixed with the icy air. Leaning back I stared up at a foggy night sky, waiting for my chance to see the Northern Lights, and though I didn’t see them, I discovered something else. Rest; Calm. That thing a soul craves that it can’t find in the soft-but-probing glow of an iPhone screen.

The morning before I found myself in a new place, a small country with a total population of roughly the same as my college-town home. Winding through the small, inviting Keflavik Airport I found a cab quickly and headed out to rest up. A five-hour flight was nursed with a warm breakfast at the IcelandAir Hotel Keflavik, and after a short nap and a longer walk along the beautiful rocky coast I felt myself start to unwind. Possibly because I had to leave my phone charging in my room*, but probably because of the calm sea swirling beneath me undisturbed and gently whispering away my troubles. Snapping back to the real world during a short flight to Reykjavik and long drive to Fludir, I found myself in that Secret Lagoon letting that warm water melt away my techno-troubles.

My second day of my journey took me on expected and unexpected adventures. The day started normally. Shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, pack up, and leave. A couple miles outside of the small town of Fludir, our bus driver had to pull over. In a charming landscape of ice and snow and farmland we found ourselves stuck on the side of a road coated in a few inches of thick ice. Standing in the middle of that frozen country road, silence. Stillness. I popped open a tiny bottle of Brennivin and grabbed my camera and just enjoyed the view. Tiny homes belonging to farmers separated by miles of stretching snow, blanketing a fertile soil that I know these locals were eager to plow. Once again I found myself able to just breathe and enjoy my surroundings. A short while later, we were ‘rescued’ by another bus and taken to Gulfoss to see the 32-meter waterfall and the geyser in Thingvellir National Park.

On that day before I left Iceland, I found myself face to face with something familiar–coming from my native home of Kentucky–but different, a horse farm for Icelandic Horses. The Icelandic Horse is one of the rarest and purest breeds of horses in the world. First brought to the island nation in the 9th and 10th century settlers it has survived volcanic eruptions, harsh cold, and extreme farm work by selective breeding. It is a protected species as Iceland has legislation stating that no horses may be imported and all those exported can never return as a way to prevent illness in them. Having two extra breed-specific gaits, this pony-sized, long-haired horse is today ridden for leisure, shown, raced, and used for traditional farm work. Avoiding near-extinction in a volcanic eruption in the 1780s, the Icelandic horse lives on to remind people of the country's Scandinavian heritage, Norse Mythology, and agricultural history. Another day went by full of fresh air and adventure, and calm.

My last night of my Icelandic adventure was spent in the national capitol, Reykjavik. That night I went out with a group of people I’d met along the way, fellow reporters and photographers mostly traveling from Europe. After a family style meal in a local restaurant we spent the evening chatting and getting to know each other, the locals, and what everyone brought with them and were taking away from their trip. No phones, no social media, no disturbances. It was pure human connection. That was something I found most appealing, the ability to disconnect from all of the technology that binds us and find something real. That night I met two hilarious and fun ladies who worked with papers in England, a talented food columnist, a former National Geographic videographer, and a quiet but beautifully interesting young woman with enviable style. We talked. We learned about each other. We left friends.

Before heading to the airport and returning home we made one final stop. A short trip outside the city with a lively local driver who made a suggested detour at a Viking Village brought us to the Blue Lagoon. Another natural hot spring just outside of Reykjavik. I’m sure you’ve seen it in recent news, especially following Jay-Z and Beyonce’s quick visit recently. It’s a natural lagoon full of nutrients and vitamins that locals and visitors still use to purify and refresh their bodies. With our new friends in tow, we took our first and last dip in the lagoon. 

It should be noted that on the way over, our new friend the driver gave us a quick piece of Icelandic Farmer advice. ‘Should you ever be unsatisfied with the weather in Iceland, wait five minutes.’ Moments after getting neck-deep in the lagoon with a face caked with cleansing mud, it began to hail. In the middle of the warm lagoon, without my glasses and being pelted with hail, I began to laugh hysterically. Where else could someone have this experience? To me, it was the perfect sendoff and I found my soul and shoulders a little more lightened. Without electricity–knocked out by the sudden storm– I began packing up my things for the journey home and an hour later I was waving goodbye to new friends and new places that felt a little like home. Calmed.

*An aside, don’t forget your international charging adapter, I was that guy and found myself using the television’s USB-port all week.

Maker | Fancypants

The best things in life come with hard work, love, and a great idea. The same is true for Maura Duggan and her brand of crispy, mini cookies she makes for her company Fancypants Bakery. Inspired by a desire to own her own company and a love for cookies, she quit her boring day-job and began her journey. Get to know more about Maura and Fancypants and her upcoming plans in her Q&A with FOLK.

Heath: How did you get started with Fancypants?

Fancypants: I started Fancypants in my cramped Boston apartment. I was bored at my job (statistical analysis, anyone?) and spent a lot of time daydreaming about doing something else. I started baking - and was hooked. Justin (then boyfriend, now husband) was happily teaching elementary school; but he was a foodie at heart, and couldn't resist joining the fun of building a cookie business.

H: Were you always interested in owning your own business?

FP: Definitely. Ever since I was young I knew I wanted to do my own thing. (Though I never thought it would be owning a cookie business) H: How did you learn to bake commercially? FP: It’s been a very gradual process. I started baking with a tiny apartment-sized oven and store-bought mixer. I’ve gradually added larger equipment – but there’s been a lot of trial and error. Luckily we have lots of volunteers who are willing to eat our “mistakes….”

H: How do you get ideas for products?

FP: We seem to get ideas from everywhere. Our mini Crunch! cookie flavors are based on great classic recipes that I love to eat – chocolate chip (first baked as a kid with my grandmother) – that was a must. Brown sugar oatmeal – yum! This year, my goal is to get to know lots of other makers…and for that reason we’re collaborating on an entirely new line of cookie products that are inspired by the great products other small companies make. H: How do your hobbies influence what you make? FP: I have to say – aside from eating cookies (if you can even call that a hobby) – I'm pretty deficient in this area. I work, spend time with family, hanging out with friends. But I do really like to drink an occasional craft beer. Because of that, we’re launching a new craft beer inspired cookie that is made with beer produced at a local Boston brewery!

H: What has been your biggest lesson?

FP: Connect with other people. There have been periods of time when we’ve been so busy with the day-to-day operations of running a business that we didn’t make time to interact with other people – in our industry, other business owners, anyone! That’s isolating. This year, I vowed to reach out more and have already made some great new friends because of it. 

H: What’s your favorite thing about owning your business?

FP: Right now, the best thing for me is having some flexibility in what I do. I decided that I want to travel this year and so far have trips to California, Texas, Georgia and New York booked. It’s amazing to me to have a dream like that, and then be able to do it.

H: What’s been your best advice you've been given?

FP: Network. It’s true. It’s not just about making the next sale either. It’s about connecting with people – they could become business partners, but they could also become friends, mentors, or someone that you can help.

H: Why should people support small business?

FP: People who work for and who own small businesses keep communities alive. Everyone who is part of our team lives 2-20 miles away – there’s a bond when you live and work in the same community, and it’s something I love about having a small business.

H: What’s been your biggest challenge in owning your own business?

FP: The biggest challenge for me is one that many people face – striking a balance between working and actually living – enjoying time with my family and friends. 

FP: Definitely. Ever since I was young I knew I wanted to do my own thing. (Though I never thought it would be owning a cookie business) H: How did you learn to bake commercially? FP: It’s been a very gradual process. I started baking with a tiny apartment-sized oven and store-bought mixer. I’ve gradually added larger equipment – but there’s been a lot of trial and error. Luckily we have lots of volunteers who are willing to eat our “mistakes….”

H: How do you get ideas for products?

FP: We seem to get ideas from everywhere. Our mini Crunch! cookie flavors are based on great classic recipes that I love to eat – chocolate chip (first baked as a kid with my grandmother) – that was a must. Brown sugar oatmeal – yum! This year, my goal is to get to know lots of other makers…and for that reason we’re collaborating on an entirely new line of cookie products that are inspired by the great products other small companies make. H: How do your hobbies influence what you make? FP: I have to say – aside from eating cookies (if you can even call that a hobby) – I'm pretty deficient in this area. I work, spend time with family, hanging out with friends. But I do really like to drink an occasional craft beer. Because of that, we’re launching a new craft beer inspired cookie that is made with beer produced at a local Boston brewery!

H: What has been your biggest lesson?

FP: Connect with other people. There have been periods of time when we’ve been so busy with the day-to-day operations of running a business that we didn’t make time to interact with other people – in our industry, other business owners, anyone! That’s isolating. This year, I vowed to reach out more and have already made some great new friends because of it. 

H: What’s your favorite thing about owning your business?

FP: Right now, the best thing for me is having some flexibility in what I do. I decided that I want to travel this year and so far have trips to California, Texas, Georgia and New York booked. It’s amazing to me to have a dream like that, and then be able to do it.

H: What’s been your best advice you've been given?

FP: Network. It’s true. It’s not just about making the next sale either. It’s about connecting with people – they could become business partners, but they could also become friends, mentors, or someone that you can help.

H: Why should people support small business?

FP: People who work for and who own small businesses keep communities alive. Everyone who is part of our team lives 2-20 miles away – there’s a bond when you live and work in the same community, and it’s something I love about having a small business.

H: What’s been your biggest challenge in owning your own business?

FP: The biggest challenge for me is one that many people face – striking a balance between working and actually living – enjoying time with my family and friends. 

READY TO ORDER: CLICK HERE

Maker | Freemans Collective

Who are You?

Freeman’s Collective is a creative commune emphasizing active lifestyles and adventure travel through leather goods, woodcraft & outdoor apparel. We are the product of our California environment; as creators, artists, athletes, and activists we seek to experience the world around us for its true and natural value. Our mission is to bring that world to life through the stories that we share and the products that we make.

FMC promotes the sustainability of precious natural resources and the enjoyment of wilderness areas by donating a portion of proceeds from every order to the US National Parks Service every year. As an artist collective, we also offer artwork and pieces handcrafted from a network of personal relationships we’ve developed with local artisans.

What do you Make?

We make American hand-crafted leather products using antique vegetable tanning methods; hand-stitching, hand-staining, and hand-cutting every leather piece to order. Our threads are made from materials organically grown in the United States. We create outdoor apparel that’s designed and screen-printed at our shop in Newport Beach, CA as well as provide quality outdoor gear for adventure enthusiasts.

Why do you Make?

It’s simple. We make to better ourselves and with each product or project we improve our methods and techniques to bring quality crafted goods to our community. We create to reflect our natural surroundings and to explore further reaches of our environment. Our passion is our trade and we want nothing more than our products to allow our community to enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle. If we can give our community adventure, we’ve made our mark.

Why is it important to support makers?

It’s important to support makers because it is crucial to developing local communities and supporting the craftsmen way of life. It’s a wonderful thing to see a once fading trade revived with a new breath of life from the support of people like you. It’s a symbiotic relationship. We support the lifestyle our community lives for and they support the trade that we work to perfect.

Why keep Main Street America alive?

Because this is America and there’s no better answer than that.

We would also like to offer 10% off any purchase of our leather products with the promo code for the LIVEFOLK promotion:

10% OFF AMERICAN CRAFTED LEATHER COLLECTION CODE: LIVEFOLK10

Maker | All Out Adventure Supply

Who Are You?

I am Derek Reynolds a 25 year old maker with a passion for making quality goods by hand with locally sourced materials. Favoring waxed canvas and leather as the main focus of materials, All Out also uses up cycled vintage textiles for short run collections as well as collections of goods with new materials rotated each season.
Born in Northwest Georgia All Out is bred from a southern heritage of makers and DIY culture. I am from a community that has produced several notable artist and artisans such as the world renowned folk artist Howard Finster. Hoping to revive this folk culture I have changed gears from owning and operating a graphics shop to making quality goods by hand, using traditional processes past generations used and proved highly effective.

Why Are You a Maker?

I believe that working with your hands and creating objects from materials is just a small fraction of the structure of a maker. Being a maker is very important to my life quality because I believe following your passion creates synchronicity that is normally lost by following a career path that does not serve your inherent craving to follow your dreams. I am a maker because when I create a product, I love the feeling of knowing that the person the product is intended for will be able to pass that item down for generations. They will know that it has been hand crafted by someone who loves what they do and uses domestic materials, instead of imported, faulty materials that hold no history. I want to revive the faith in handmade, Made in America goods and inspire and motivate my customers to follow their own dreams and passions along the way.

Why Should We Support Makers?

By supporting makers you are doing more than just purchasing a "product", you are supporting hard work and someones ability to go out of the box to sustain their way of life. Supporting hand made is basically supporting someones dream and by doing that in turn you're inspiring others to support handmade. You are putting effort into the purchase instead of running to a big box store to get something fragile and imported and this is so important. Supporting makers is reviving a traditional culture that serves humanity so much more than the current capitalist structure that dominates American markets.

Why is it important to keep Mainstreet alive?

Shopping local is the best way to purchase goods, because your supporting an individual who had the courage to step out and use their talents to provide a needed service or product. Mainstreet gives a medium for makers to display their creations in a way that may be overlooked in a digital market place. By keeping Mainstreet alive you are keeping the American dream alive, because it gives a much needed retail outlet for makers to promote their skills and a way for customers to get hands on with the products made.

Learn More:  http://kck.st/1DM08rn

Authentic Lives | Colby Keller

Not all creative endeavors involve making a product in the traditional sense. In fact, despite our capitalist mindset distracting us with wanting to know what we will get, sometimes our greatest reward from creatives is a new understanding of something abstract and pervasive. We spend a lot of time talking about things. Things made and things purchased. However, what about things given away and things experienced? For his upcoming artistic endeavor, our friend Colby Keller has decided to give away more than he receives. Giving away all of his earthly possessions in his exploration for a better understanding of something abstract we all share in common: sex. Sure, it’s a taboo concept, but one worth discussing more freely. Hear Colby’s thoughts on sex, earthly possessions, and more in his interview for Colby Does America.

INTERVIEW: HEATH STILTNER | PHOTOGRAPHY: WADLEY WADLEY

I love to travel and I love the United States. As a kid, we would camp at a different state park every weekend. When my former slumlord forced me out of my home in Baltimore last May, I couldn't afford to move to a new apartment. It didn't seem sensible to put my things in storage either. To cope with the emotional trauma I was experiencing at the time, I transformed my eviction into something positive. I decided to give away all of my belongings as part of an art piece. By the end of the project I was stripped bare, quite literally. Eyeglasses. . .shoes. . .clothes. . .computer. . .TV. . .phone. . .I gave everything away. A nod to "Debby Does Dallas", "Colby Does America" is an orgiastic response to the situation I currently find myself in: homeless and horny.

My hope is to learn what it means to truly be an American, from body to body, sea to shining sea. I don't mean to sound flippant. It's far too easy to be negative. I truly want the project to embrace diversity, both in terms of the subjects depicted and the methodology used to produce content. Shared effort and mutual respect are difficult concepts to fold into any creative endeavor. Good sex certainly requires both. I guess I'd like the project to eventually reach some sense of sex as creative metaphor.

I grew up in Texas. While Dubya did a lot of work to destroy the Lone Star State's reputation, it's a much more dynamic, engaging place than many think. It's also true that large parts of the state remain incredibly conservative, more so than I remember growing up. We fail to give credit where credit is due. Let's remember just how thoroughly corporate propaganda assaults us at every turn. It infects nearly all of our social and cultural institutions. The precious states in our fragile union that deserve the most significant change are also often the most stubbornly conservative. A "circle the wagons" mentality for an enemy that doesn't exist pervades all aspects of public life, aided no doubt by ill-intentioned fiscal interests. Fear rules the weak. Traveling the United States can be a sad, devastating experience without the right frame of reference. It's important to remember our history (nearly all of it sad and devastating) and to recognize the potential for good despite the prevalence of bad. It IS possible to work together and think outside the limiting prospect of "self-interest". In reality, it's in all of our self interests to work together and treat each other equally. The struggle to overcome division however, remains immense. There are a lot of interests at work preventing change from happening. Texas is a great example of this ideological stalemate.     

I can't really anticipate where I'll be when. Much of the work happens on the ground, once I reach a particular state. For that reason it's impossible to plan ahead. I think some people who'd like to participate in the project get frustrated with my inability to commit to an established schedule. I hate disappointing the people eager to help me realize this project, but I also enjoy unpredictability. Travel can be exhausting but in a good kind of way. It's exciting. I also have to give myself permission to have as much sex as possible–to get as kinky and creative as I can. Unfortunately, I still have a lot of shame about sex. Occasionally I find myself questioning the intensity of my sexual interest, a propensity that ultimately doesn't help the aim of the project (or my libido). Sex is powerful! Sex is fun! Sex is Good! Every human being is the product of a shared sexual moment, hopefully one that is enjoyed and consensual. The more work we do to promote a positive understanding of sex as mutually beneficial, the further we get in our ability to recognize the potential each of us has to create powerful, shared experiences together–sexual and otherwise.

Ultimately I think money poses the biggest challenge to the project. I would like to finish all 50 states and Canada too. In all honesty however, I'm certain the project will require additional funding to complete. Rest assured, I won't stop until my bank account is bone dry! 

I've experienced quite a few setbacks actually. It's taken me much longer to fulfill my IndyGogo obligations than I'd like. T-shirts are coming, I promise! Recently, a few social media platforms have also deleted my accounts. Instagram alone has deleted my accounts on three separate occasions! It's a sad reminder of how oppressive our culture truly is. We seem to have no problem endorsing violence and mutual destruction, but find it challenging to embrace desire and mutual pleasure. Everybody has genitals!! Is it really that scandalous? 

In terms of how Colby Does America might affect an audience, firstly, I hope that the individuals involved with each state's video enjoy the outcome and the process involved in making it. The project really is a shared endeavor. I hope the project eventually enfolds a diversity of potential viewing options as well: art to some, porn to others, serious at moments, silly and playful at others. I'd like to find as many ways as possible to tackle the question of sex as medium and as metaphor.

So far every state I've completed has presented its own unique rewards. While some state have certainly given me more frustration than others, I can't say I prefer one experience over another. They're all my favorites. That said, some videos might be more entertaining, or sexual, or engaging than others. It's hard to predict how viewers will process the end result but I certainly hope they discover something nearly as rewarding as my experience helping to create it.  

To learn more about Colby Keller and his current project, visit his blog at www.bigshoediaries.blogspot.com or www.colbydoesamerica.com and follow his travels on Instagram @colbydoesamerica.

Maker | Stone + Cloth

Stone + Cloth does a far better job than I possibly could in sharing their story. From amazing visuals to the amazing quality of their goods they are doing amazing things....and thats all before you find out about the amazing charity work they are doing. Read this short q and a for a brief brand overview, but then head to their site and learn about it all!

Who are you?

stone + cloth is a backpack and bag company dedicated to designing quality products that help provide scholarships for students in need. We ask people to Carry an Education. 

Why do you make?

We believe business can be a powerful vehicle to create change. Our vision is to grow up to be a brand that advocates and invests in education on a global scale and we think the best way to get there is by creating high quality products that people love to use. Our non-profit partner, the Knock Foundation, is located in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro focuses on scholarships and developmental needs within the community. 

What do you make?

We make backpacks, totes and other accessories. Our flagship piece is The Benson, a minimalistic reinvention of the original canvas rucksack. We consider our products to be modern, simple and utilitarian. When designing, we always start with the user and think about what they need. We often work with this quote in mind: "a designer has reached perfection not when there's nothing left to add, but when there's nothing left to take away." Our bags are the final step in the process of identifying problems and finding creative and original solutions. For example, one of our products, The Totepack, is a tote bag that converts into a backpack for those times when your hands aren't free.

Why support makers?
We think it's important to support makers because they're the ones that are always thinking and acting on how to make things better, easier, more fun. And we think it's important to keep that train moving! Nurturing the smaller, grassroots maker is key in keeping quality products and original thinking alive. 

Our Core Value #1: Have fun and get shit done!

Join us at www.stoneandcloth.com for new products, weekly giveaways and positive vibes. 

#carryaneducation

Maker | Upstate Stock

These winters seem to go on and on! Why not stock up and prepare with these handmade goods by Upstate Stock! Every piece is designed and made in the great state of New York. We couldn't pass up sitting down with Upstate Stock to learn about what they're making and how they're keeping production in the U.S.

Why are you a maker? 

Upstate Stock works with a factory in Upstate NY that has been manufacturing knit accessories since 1946. All of our candles and apothecary are made here in Brooklyn, very close to our Greenpoint offices.

Who are you?

 Upstate Stock was born out of simple fact that American manufacturing of the highest quality is still out there, the same manufacturing from decades ago that is both at a standard that very few countries can match, but also affordable.

What do you make? 

We make 100% NY State made knit accessories and lifestyle goods. Why support makers: Contemporary "makers" are the backbone of the new social economy and are reviving trades and manufacturing across America.

Why keep Main Street alive?

Because there's no town without Main Street.

FOR  MORE + SHOPPING CLICK HERE

Maker | Happy Arsenal

He has a necklace inspired by The Goonies. That is all you need to know to fall in love with the Happy Arsenal. We recently sat down with Chris Jones, the maker behind the brand to learn about his business and why he supports the maker movement! 

Who are you?

Happy Arsenal is Chris Jones. I create unique earrings and necklaces by
etching designs into copper and brass. I'm often asked where the name Happy
Arsenal comes from. I feel that a woman's best arsenal is the accessories
that she chooses, it's those little things that make anyone feel more
special and unique than they already are. What I do is a craft that has
many variables, and almost every time I'm surprised by the end result. I
guess that's why my tagline is "Perfectly Imperfect Jewelry." It's
impossible to create the exact same piece twice. When you consider how
brass and copper patina based on the individual who is handling it and
wearing it, it's hard to say every piece isn't as individual as the person
who is wearing it. I love how brass and copper can feel 100-years-old in a
matter of months. It's like that favorite pair of broken in leather boots.

 

Why be a maker?

I've always worked for myself. When I was in college in the early 1990s, I
made crazy hats and sold them at nightclubs, as well as wholesale, to
various shops around the country. Once I earned my degree in Graphic
Design, I decided to start my own company instead of working for someone
else. This eventually lead to my current design firm, which I've owned for
the past 15 years: Popcorn Initiative. Spending most of my day in front of
a computer and on the phone eventually spawned a desire to want to work
with my hands again. One thing lead to another, and the next thing I knew I
was creating designs and figuring out how to etch them into copper and
brass. The process is involved and detailed, but it's exactly the break my
mind needs from my day job. I think everyone is creative in some way and
it's important to express that - whether you decide to express it privately
or put yourself out there and let the world see what you do. For me the
reward of making one small piece of jewelry and seeing someone personally
connect to it is priceless.

 

Why should we support makers?

The obvious answer is because we are all makers. We all are making
something, it may not be tangible, it may be working for someone else, and
it may seem trivial, but at the end of the day, I think we all want to feel
the reward of making something for ourselves or someone else. Most of us to
want to be a maker. This is the exact reason to support makers. It's an
amazing thing to be able to connect with the actual people who are creating
the products you are buying. It doesn't matter if it's in person or through
social media or email. The provenance of a piece you own is something that
you don't get by shopping at a mall or a big box retailer. Makers connect
us all in ways that most people don't realize.

 

Why is it important to keep Main Street alive?

I think the main reason is that sense of community and locality that you
can't get through any other manner. One of the main reasons my wife and I
chose to relocate to Greenville, South Carolina, is the amazing feeling of
community and the support the community provides for the makers and artists
of the region. It's the type of place you walk down the street and people
you don't know say "Hello." I think that's an uncommon occurence these days
and without the communities that are built and being revived around those
"Main Street" ideals, we would be destined to be a boring, nondescript
society. Main street breeds individuality and creative thinking.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE + TO SHOP

Maker | Facture Goods

I love wooden goods. Maybe it is the Ron Swanson in me, but I love the diversity in goods that can be produced with wood. I love the rawness of it and the integrity of wood. With each piece that is crafted from wood we hold in our hands hundreds of years of growth, human history, the history of our planet, and the story of us all. Wood—trees—the fibers of it all have been around for decades, and in the hands of the right craftsman the goods produced from simple wood will continue on for generations. When I met Aron Fischer I knew he had a bit of Ron Swanson in him, and was a maker I wanted to get to know. 

Who are you? Aron Fischer - Maker at Facture Goods

What do you make? Facture Goods is a provisions line that focuses on handmade utensils and home goods in wood, metal and clay.

Why do you make? Because it not only allows me to be my own boss . . . but it challenges me to be as creative as I can with my material choices.

Why support makers? I grew up in a family of tinkers, engineers and craftspeople who were always creating, growing food or working with their hands.  This is the language that I know. Making gives so many of us absolute freedom to speak when we can't find the words. It provides a balance to the mass produced - to the homogenized.

Why keep Main Street alive -  I feel that our generation has the chance to address the idea of "Main Street" as a cultural phenomenon in a way that it hasn't before because of social media.  We are no longer reliant on taste makers to tell us what we want....instead we are able to share our work with the masses in a way that is thoughtful and honest.

More: facturegoods.com 

Maker | Red House

Red House - A Portrait from Brittany Witt on Vimeo.

MEET RED HOUSE

Who are you?

My name is Britt and I am the maker behind Red House.

Why be a maker?

Becoming a Maker was never the plan but always our future.  Upon moving our small family to the green mountains of Vermont, we set out to live a more simple, handmade life. Making things was what it was all about. I dove into the art of bread making, pickle jarring, granola baking which carried into the sewing of wood fetchers, storage bins, and market totes. for a good long while, If we needed something we made it. It was not until a dear friend suggested that I make for others did I decide to do so. Now that I have discovered the Maker world, there is nothing I would rather be doing. No industry I would rather engage. No career path I would rather travel. Simply, I love it.

Why should we support makers?

The modern maker is helping redefine what we as a culture find value in. Their inspiring efforts are creating a renaissance of lost craftsmanship that have gone to the wayside, while big box stores and factory assembly lines have dominated the marketplace. We should support the makers as an effort to move away from that modality and begin to place our value on things that embody intention and genuineness. It is in this support,  believe,  that people will shift into a world that places more value on people than it does on things.

Why is it important to keep Main Street alive?*

When we support our Main Streets we are supporting our community, our neighbors, our schools, our people. Spending locally is a continuous and effective way to support a local economy.  In America, the maker movement is returning us to the fundamental grounds on which our society was originally built. At the same time, there is Global Main Street emerging, fueled by individuals seeking to create their own independence thru their craft. It is important that we also support this Main Street, for that community is comprised of our kindred folk.

SHOP NOW: redhouseinc.com

Maker | Peg + Awl

For Margaux and Walter Kent, the desire to create unique upcycled items started with their love of creating items for their home that they saw a need or space for. Walter jokes, " From the moment that we met we have been making things together, the first being our first boy Soren." The two are the artistic minds behind Peg and Awl, a leather and repurposed goods business that makes creative solutions for households and one-of-a-kind treasures out of vintage and upcycled materials. 

BY: HEATH STILTNER

Walter and Margaux started Peg and Awl after Walter returned home after serving a year in Iraq. It was their way of continuing to collaborate with their designs. Margaux says that the products they created came out of a need and want for beautiful and well-made things that they could use everyday. "When we discover a need for something in our home or studios we design a simple, useful and beautiful product to fill that space.We began making these things for ourselves and now we make them for everyone." 

Both Margaux and Walter have been creators of one thing or another since they were children. "When we first met, Margaux sat me down and showed off the very first book she made, Going to the Cirsis (Circus)," recalls Walter. "It was full of childhood sketches and hand-bound - she was about 6 when she made it." Margaux wrote her next classic at the age of nine. After writing and illustrating it, Margaux bound Going to the Zoo. 

"I have always kept a journal and covered my first leather bound book in scraps," Margaux explains. After filling that journal halfway, she was robbed in Amsterdam, the book being amongst the missing items. Desperate for a place to hide her thoughts, Margaux began searching for a book bindery. She found a fantastic shop but had no desire to purchase a new and stinky hide. After gathering paper, needles, and thread and the discovery of a few dusty and wonderfully-worn pieces of leather from chairs from the 1800s a few doors down she created a new journal. "It initiated a new path in my life and a new way for me to connect my love for worn and story-filled materials with my desire to document the current adventures and ideas in my life." 

Not only did this rediscovery of bookbinding allow Margaux and Walter to have unique places to store their thoughts, but it also inspired them to start selling them to others who may share their love of writing and vintage materials. "We love history and what time does to objects and materials and we love incorporating and searching for materials with a story," says Margaux. Their love for treasure hunting, history, and making things, as well as the want to support themselves through their work, begat Peg and Awl. 

"Our products are a salute to days long gone but are always considerate of modern usefulness. We celebrate the marks and wear of years of use and sometimes neglect in each material by giving it new life, turning it into something useful and beautiful," Margaux explains of Peg and Awl's uniquely distressed creations. It is always a scavenger hunt, an adventure. Margaux and Walter travel the world scouring flea markets, antique stores, and abandoned houses looking for leather, wood, or other forgotten materials to turn into something else and continue their story. "Sometimes we pick the materials, and other times the materials pick us." 

Their ability to practice so many trades comes from the passion Margaux and Walter share in learning new kinds of craft; The two designers are self-taught for the most part. Both say that a little coaching by friends here and there have helped them hone their skills in certain crafts. Their creativity and ingenuity arise from a need through living and working. When there is a void without a product to fill it they begin developing that new product. "Sometimes we find an object or material at a flea market or from somewhere scavenged that begs to be transformed," says Walter. For instance, a pile of pipe organs from old churches they found at a local shop were transformed into functional knife racks for their kitchen. 

Walter and Margaux use most of the objects they make in their everyday lives. Since both are avid writers, Walter uses the iPad easel often while Margaux uses handmade journals. Their customers also love their unique solutions such as tub caddies, tree swings, and chalk tablets. "People love the book necklaces and the stories behind each one - where the leather came from, how old it is and what it was before we turned it into a miniature wearable treasure," says Margaux, "The waxed canvas bags are also adored!" 

There are many new things in store for Peg and Awl. Walter and Margaux have been hard at work finishing a new waxed canvas bag, a weekender/duffel. "We are working on a messenger bag and have a shell of a library in our house begging to be finished," laughs Walter, "I trust some unforeseen objects emerging during the process!"

Margaux and Walter Kent

www.pegandawl.etsy.com

www.pegandawlbuilt.com

www.ediblebackyards.com 

Authentic Lives | Daniel Burke

Alex Meets Blake Michaels in Malibu

The Art of Cheese Making

SPROUT CREEK FARM

BY: RIKKI SNYDER

It’s always encouraging when you meet someone who has found their passion. For Colin McGrath, he was at the right place at the right time when he found his. Growing up on the west coast, Colin was always getting himself into some sort of trouble when he was younger. At the age of 14 he was given a rather large amount of community service and he decided to do his time working at a church nearby that had a small cafe. Ever since, he was enthralled with the world of food and started working at restaurants. By the time he was 18, Colin made the decision to pack his bags and move across the country to attend the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. 

    The Culinary offers a vigorous program and is surely the best place to be if you want to go into the food industry. Being very familiar with the school, as my father once attended it, I have a pretty good knowledge of what goes on there. So when I met Colin I had to stop myself from bluntly asking, “How in the world did you end up at Sprout Creek Farm making cheese?!”. And after we got to talking I realized that wow, he really was just in the right place at the right time. 

    Sprout Creek Farm in Poughkeepsie, NY is a charming little working farm nestled away in the heart of the Hudson Valley. It’s less than a mile down the road from where I grew up and because of the close proximity we would walk to the farm for field trips in grade school. So much of the farm and staff is dedicated to educating children about the natural world, community and agriculture. I have fond memories of spending days there, cooking vegetable soup in the kitchen with my classmates and standing out in the barns with the goats as they nibbled on my KEDS. 

    In the more recent years, Sprout Creek Farm has expanded into the world of artisan cheese and is now one of the go to weekend getaway places in the Hudson Valley for those living in the city. It’s just a short train ride away and hey, who doesn’t want to spend the day at a beautiful farm eating delicious hand crafted cheese? They have won 3, 2nd place awards in the American Cheese Society Competition and are also on the list of Wine Spectator’s 100 Best Cheeses. So this brings me back to my question at hand, how did Colin end up at Sprout Creek Farm making cheese? 

    With Sprout Creek only being a short 20 minute ride from the Culinary, Colin was first introduced to the farm as a student. “By chance I knocked on their door at the right minute and was able to land a spot in the creamery,” he says. Simple as that. He quickly became captivated with cheese and everything that goes into the process of making it. “It is something that is always on my mind, even when I don’t want it to be,” Colin says. After working here for many years, Colin is just as much in love with his job as he was the first day he started. He works with a wonderful group of people that all share his same love and passion for cheese and is constantly experimenting and producing new products. 

    After being behind the scenes where the cheese is made and watching it happen first hand, my whole perspective on the art of cheese making has changed. As I was observing Colin at work, I started to realize just how much goes into making a batch of cheese that I had absolutely no knowledge of. It was almost as if I was watching a mad scientist in his laboratory. Colin would look at the clock and jot something down on his charts, he had different colorful bottles of liquids and would mix something in a small cup then leave the room to go put it in the fridge to only take it out minutes later. 

    All of it is so intriguing and to my surprise, the better half of Colin’s day is spent not making the cheese, but cleaning and making sure everything is sterilized in between batches. They get the milk for their cheese fresh from the cows and goats they have at the farm. It is then turned into curds that will eventually be turned into wheels of cheese and only takes a few hours to complete. In that time, 2 ingredients are added and multiple steps are taken to separate the solids from the milk, get them into wheel form and then get them set up with the right components in order for them to ripen effectively. The range of age in their cheeses is anywhere from 2 days to 2 years. Each one requires a different length of time based on many different factors that control the ripening rate. And based on that age there will be different characteristics in texture and taste. Not only this, but weather, feed, stage of location, health and mood of the animal will all alter the composition of the milk and overall taste of each cheese. However, as Colin points out, you can’t forget the most important step to the cheese making process, adding love. 

    Sprout Creek farm distributes their cheese throughout the Northeast with a large emphasis on New York City. Their cheeses can be purchased at any Whole Foods store in this region as well as online at sproutcreekfarm.org. Grab a glass of wine or beer and be ready to sample some of the finest, local made, artisan cheese there is.  

Inside Leyden Glen Sheep Farm

 Kristin Nicholas came out from her charming farmhouse to greet us and I was first introduced to the incredible woman who calls this place home. Kristin is a true and talented artist best known for her knitting and stitching patterns. But it doesn’t stop there, her tremendous talents include knitting, crochet, embroidery, dyeing, painting, decorative and interior painting and pottery. She lives in this picturesque 1751 Antique Cape Cod farmhouse with her husband Mark and their darling daughter, Julia. Together they run their Leyden Glen Sheep Farm which now consists of over 300 sheep, 20 chickens, 10 cats, 3 border collies who work the sheep, 1 Great Pyrenees Guard Dog, a Guard Donkey and a Guard Llama.

A look inside her home.... By: Rikki Snyder