The Crafter's Box Podcast

If you’ve ever been curious about how to spin your own yarn for all of your favorite fiber arts, this workshop is what you’ve been waiting for. We are learning how to spin custom yarn from fiber on a drop spindle with incredible fiber artist and pattern designer Lauren McElroy In her own practice, Lauren sources and curates her yarn from fleece to wearable art. In this workshop, Lauren teaches us how to start with top wool and spin it into a beautiful skein of hand-spun yarn. This workshop comes with everything you need; including two wooden drop spindles, combed top wool, cotton leader yarn, spools and wooden dowels. We’ve also lined up the perfect set of add-ons to really take your spinning skills to the next level — like a blending board and niddy noddy (don’t worry, Lauren covers all of these in her digital tutorial). We begin by learning the fundamentals of drop spinning: how to split wool in preparation for spinning, how to draft and park to spin singles, and how to ply and finish the yarn. Combed top w

Welcome to our workshop exploring Eastern Geometric Drawing & Painting. Fine artist and friend of The Crafter's Box Zahra Ammar leads the way on how to construct two ancient patterns step-by-step: The Breath of the Compassionate and The Geometric Rosette. Once constructed, Zahra then shows how to tesselate, transfer and watercolor these intricate pieces. The result? A beautiful, vibrant and shimmering piece of fine art for the home. In our conversation today, Zahra discusses her love for geometry, the rich cultural history surrounding this art, the significance of the two motifs she chose for this workshop, and much more. Learn More about this workshop: Eastern Geometric Drawing & Painting

In this workshop we are exploring the beautiful and delicate art of embroidery featuring woodland botanicals with artist Katie Martin of Harvest Goods Co. Whether you’re brand new to embroidery or a long-time stitcher, this workshop will elevate your embroidery skills and knowledge through Katie’s comprehensive direction. We’ll learn how to split threads, tie off, correct mistakes (and realize how easy they are to fix!) and how to finish your pieces. In this detailed tutorial, she also covers all of the basic stitches and dives into some more seemingly advanced but totally doable techniques including stem stitching, french knots, whipped back stitching, and even thread painting! By the end, you’ll have a beautifully elegant botanical embroidery full of dimension, movement, and texture. If embroidery is something you’ve always wanted to try but has seemed intimidating to you in the past, this is the workshop for you. Katie talks about some of the stitches that first seemed a bit daunting to her when she starte

Welcome to our workshop exploring the medium of ink through illustrations & silhouettes of magical, mystical forests inspired by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Artist Peggy Dean of The Pigeon Letters shares her skills, techniques and knowledge behind this flexible paint alternative to explore illustrating greenery using her very own line of ethically produced paint brushes. We will explore ink as our medium of focus and all of the unique characteristics ink offers. The ink Peggy chose in this workshop is so opaque it can be applied over colorful watercolor washes as she shows us how to use this technique to create beautiful silhouettes. Together we will explore the tones and hues of deep green while experimenting with the transparency of watercolors. Peggy will teach us how to properly prep our paints and palette wells while utilizing techniques to create detailed trees with white ink over a dark watercolor wash to create an opaque finish. The result? A gorgeous, whimsical forest painting to frame f

In this premium workshop, we are learning from artisan Ashley Marie LeBaron as she leads us through the traditional craft of cold process soap making and the significance of using natural, skin-nourishing ingredients your skin needs and deserves. This artisan apothecary workshop will teach you how to work with lye, mix ingredients, use essential oil blends, and mold beautiful soap loaves with the traditional cold process technique. Learn more at: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-q4-premium-featured-maker/

Welcome to our workshop exploring the intricate art of Himmeli. Artist and designer Samantha Leung introduces her craft with a detailed, digital workshop starting with the fundamentals of geometric pattern design that teaches about the Finnish holiday craft of Himmeli: a brass mobile or hanging craft highlighting the beauty of a delicate, geometric design. Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-12-featured-maker/

Welcome to our workshop exploring the delicate art of hand crafted crepe paper florals. Artist Sandra Gaestel shares her skills, techniques and knowledge behind this medium to build detailed floral arrangements — in this special bundled kit we’re combining everlasting paper palms + delicate garden roses and cosmos. Sandra has curated a toolkit of the materials she uses in her own studio to bring life to her craft. We can’t wait for you to dive in.

Welcome to our workshop where we explore handknit socks with artist Ksenia Naidyon featuring three unique cabled patterns — so all knitters, intermediate to advanced will have a cozy sock pattern that is perfectly comfortable for both their feet and their skill level. While this is an intermediate-level workshop, beginners will be ready for the challenge as we’ve included the materials and guides you need to be able to knit your own cozy socks. Learn more at: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-11-featured-maker/

Welcome to our workshop exploring macrame — the unique art of tying knots in a series of patterns to create custom designs from cotton rope and string. In this workshop, artist Rachel Breuklander shows us how to take macrame to the next level by focusing on dyed cotton string to embellish and build knotted landscapes using a simple combination of classic macrame knots, such as the lark’s head knot and the square knot. Learn more at: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-10-featured-maker/

Welcome to our workshop exploring hand block printing and the use of tessellated or tiled patterns. In this workshop, artist Mindy Schumacher introduces her craft with a detailed, digital workshop sharing how to create custom hand block printed silk scarves. With Mindy as our guide, we’ll explore the basics of geometric pattern design by carving and making impressions with a printer’s block made from a rubber stamp-like material. She’ll teach us how to roll fabric ink onto the block with a blend roll gradient technique, creating depth and movement with the colors. The result is a truly unique piece of wearable art — a silk scarf unlike any other featuring your own original prints. Through this experience, you’ll also gain the knowledge and tools to continue experimenting in pattern printmaking.   Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-09-featured-maker/

Welcome to our workshop exploring hand-poured cement. In this kit, Christie introduces her craft with a detailed, digital workshop in sharing how to create custom planters. Using both a silicone mold (an exclusive design just for this workshop) plus sustainable vessels like recyclables, we'll build new homes for your favorite plants and succulents. Keep creating with Christie's tips on how to continue exploring hand-poured techniques with various molds for future making. Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-08-featured-maker/

Welcome to our workshop exploring the fiber art of locker hooking. Using a specialized hook + needle tool and a unique mesh fabric, Lindsey guides us through building wool trivets for the kitchen and dining room from scratch. Let’s start together at step one and then expand to new materials, large scale wall hangings, and even floor rugs.  Locker hooking is a beautiful, durable craft similar in style to traditional rug hooking or punch needle, but with a hidden cord beneath the surface to “lock” all of your loops in place. This style of craft became popular 100 years ago in Great Britain and America where women would use thick wool to create rugs. Modern artists have adapted the craft to use strips of fabric as well. Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-07-featured-maker/

Welcome to our premium workshop where we will begin to explore the fundamentals of leatherworking in its raw form with Tyler Axtell. This workshop is designed to inspire making across the board in this beautiful medium. In this project, we'll begin by making a hand-sewn leather messenger bag from the ground up from a cut of hide. Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-q2-premium-leathercraftsmanship/

We are exploring the wonderful medium of raw beeswax as we learn to create custom dipped taper candles in this workshop. Hand-dipping tapered candles is an ancient craft that remains unaltered to this day. The rhythmic process of dipping cotton wick into hot wax - slowly building layer upon layer - connects one with both past and current moment. The result is a pair of beautiful beeswax candles for home or gifting.   Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-06-featured-maker/

Welcome to an introduction to modern quilling with artist Zahra Ammar. In this podcast interview, Zahra introduces the art of quilling in her beautiful, modern style - we learn more about her creative background, her inspiration, her artistic journey. Zahra shares her favorite tools and the curation behind her full workshop kit.  Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-05-featured-maker/

Welcome to an introduction to pressed florals with artist Karly Murphy. In this workshop, Karly teaches the foundations of the flower and leaf pressing to capture beautifully dried botanicals. Once an assortment of flowers and leaves have been preserved, Karly shares her tips to creating finished works of art with bundled composition and style. Flower pressing is an age-old art that at its heart can become a memory keeping craft to time capsule important events such as weddings, baby showers and even funerals. Preserve florals from an abundant garden harvest in a new home or press leaves on a favorite family vacation. Pressed florals make lovely framed art or special gifts for family and friends. Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-04-featured-maker/

In this episode, we sit down with sashiko artist Jessica Marquez of Miniature Rhino. Jessica shares about the custom kit she's put together for The Crafter's Box including her in-depth video tutorial and the tools & materials she's curated from her own studio space.  Sashiko is a craft founded in rural Japan. When making precious fabrics from seeds, the art of sashiko was developed to mend, strengthen and reinforce garments for longevity. With a name meaning “little stabs”, this technique creates a design of running stitches through swaths of fabric. As time went on, simple running stitches were developed into more intricate patterns. In this workshop, Jessica teaches the foundations of the sashiko technique - we’ll explore both beginning and advanced pattern and shape making, building out several sashiko samplers and finally a large scale custom pillow project for the home.  Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-03-featured-maker/

We're diving into modern quilt making with artist and expert maker Arianna Caggiano. This premium workshop explores a contemporary style of color blocking with geometric shapes to quilt a modern, gorgeous piece for the home.  Join us as we learn more about Arianna in this latest episode of our podcast. So very excited to welcome her to the show. Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-02-premium-featured-maker/

Welcome to an introduction to weaving geometric shapes with artist Erin Barrett. In this workshop, Erin guides us through the creation of one of her iconic designs in a custom colorway curated for this project. Using color blocking and a geometric composition, we’ll be weaving together a beautiful handmade wall hanging for the home. Learn More: https://thecraftersbox.com/2020-02-featured-maker/