Broom making might not be a craft you hear about every day, but today, we’re introducing you to Jamie Dun, a passionate maker who’s one of few who is bringing this timeless skill back to life in the UK. Originally from Montana, Jamie moved to the UK and found herself struggling to find a high-quality, handmade broom for her 180-year-old house. Not wanting to settle for another plastic broom, she started to teach herself the craft and has now started her own business selling them here in the UK with the aim to teach others! WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST? Head over to https://www.wearemakers.shop and pick up a copy of our printed publication. Filled cover to cover with amazing makers from Around the world. We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: @www.wearemakers.shop Jamie Dun Insta: @bristol.broomworks Website: https://bristolbroomworks.com _______________________ Recorded on: Nomono Insta: @nomonosound Website: https://nomono.co/WAM

A podcast in the forest, in Wales (UK) - no problem! 🌳

In this episode, we joined Lee John Philips and his life partner, Diana Brook, in the beautiful setting of Stiwdio Sylen—a soon to be woodland studio in the wilds of Carmarthenshire, Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Through our conversation Lee, an illustrator turned spoon carver, discusses one of his significant projects—an illustrated inventory of items from his late grandfather’s toolshed, expected to document over the estimated 100,000 items (so far he’s illustrated over 8,500) tune in to find out the story!

Together, Lee and Diana live creatively in their van and are crafting a space to teach and inspire 🙌🏻

We Are Makers

Insta: @weare_makersWebsite: @www.wearemakers.shop

Lee John Philips & Diana BrookInsta: @leejohnphillips & @dianarbrook

Website: https://www.leejohnphillips.co.uk / http://dianarbrook.com

Recorded on: Nomono

Insta: @nomonosound

Website: https://nomono.co/WAM

Criostal na Rinne is a hand cut crystal studio workshop situated in Ireland's Ancient East in the picturesque Irish-speaking area of An Rinn, the Waterford Gaeltacht. Eamonn Terry, a master craftsman glass cutter of over 50 years experience, started his career with Waterford Crystal before establishing Criostal na Rinne in 1987, producing Irish crystal of incredible quality and beauty.

We Are Makers

Insta: @weare_makers

Website: @www.wearemakers.shop

Eamonn Terry (Criostal na Rinne)

Insta: @criostalnarinne

Website: https://criostal.com

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Recorded on: Nomono

Insta: @nomonosound

Website: https://nomono.co/WAM

Our travels in Ireland continued where we travelled to rural West Cork to meet Paul O’Brien who we featured in our printed magazine back in March 2021. It was really interesting to chat more in-depth about his business and how things have been since Covid and how it's shaped his empire,
Paul is a furniture designer and maker based in rural West Cork, Ireland. Originally from Dublin, with a fine arts background and fine furniture training in London, he returned to Ireland to work at a renowned furniture studio. After honing his skills alongside skilled international craftspeople, he chose to establish his own workshop, driven by a desire to work with his hands, create beautiful objects, and be his own boss. His approach combines traditional craftsmanship with modern design, aiming to produce world-class, functional, and aesthetically pleasing furniture. Paul focuses on using solid timber and a mix of hand skills and machinery, ensuring every piece embodies a fine balance of various design elements. His philosophy stresses that crafted objects should add value to daily rituals, enhancing them with thoughtful design and integrity.
WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST? Head over to https://www.wearemakers.shop and pick up a copy of our printed publication. Filled cover to cover with amazing makers from around the world.
We Are Makers
Insta: @weare_makers
Website: @www.wearemakers.shop
Paul O’Brien
Insta: @modet_furniture
Website: https://modet.ie
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Recorded on: Nomono
Insta: @nomonosound
Website: https://nomono.co/WAM

Our travels continued in Ireland where we travelled to see a maker who we've featured previously - Sam Gleeson, a Bladesmith from County Clare, Ireland We believe it’s essential to document the evolution of these artisans, offering insights into their journeys and progress. A story that particularly caught our attention and wanted to hear more about was Sam Gleeson’s endeavour to establish a craft school in Ireland, a project he hinted at back in Edition One in 2020. With a scarcity of craft schools available, and nothing else like it in Ireland, it’s crucial to support individuals like Sam who are dedicated to preserving traditional skills and providing the next generation with opportunities to explore craft as a viable career path. We caught up with Sam to learn about the developments in both his professional and personal life since 2020. It’s clear he’s been incredibly active, balancing family commitments with ambitious business goals - we hope you enjoy our conversation! WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST? Head over to https://www.wearemakers.shop and pick up a copy of our printed publication. Filled cover to cover with amazing makers from around the world. We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: @www.wearemakers.shop Sam Gleeson Insta: @thisiswhatwedoo Website: https://www.thisiswhatido.ie

Our first stop on our recent trip was with Kurtis Scott - a luthier based in Bangor, Northern Ireland. Pict Guitars was founded with a vision to create sustainably made, handcrafted instruments that are both visually and audibly stunning. The journey of Pict Guitars began in January 2019 when Kurtis enrolled at the prestigious Lagan Lutherie School under Master Luthier Sam Irwin. Concurrently, a role was secured at a renowned guitar brand in Northern Ireland. With passion and dedication, Kurtis swiftly progressed through various roles within the company while crafting his own first handcrafted guitar. Over the years, his own ideas about guitar making crystallized. As a passionate musician, Kurtis recognised the desire for guitars that were not just to be kept in their cases, but beautiful instruments that beckoned to be played. With a profound connection to nature, the commitment to sustainability became a core principle, leading to the exploration of incredible tonewoods. WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST? Head over to https://www.wearemakers.shop and pick up a copy of our printed publication. Filled cover to cover with amazing makers from around the world. We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: @www.wearemakers.shop Pict Guitars Insta: @pictguitars Website: https://www.pictguitars.com ___________________________________________________________________________ Recorded on: Nomono Insta: @nomonosound Website: https://nomono.co/WAM

Our last podcast in Australia was with the lovely Alison Jackson and Dan Lorrimer. We featured their story in Ed.3 of the We Are Makers Magazine. We were so delighted to finally meet in person in Braidwood where they live and work. Alison Jackson and Dan Lorrimer are metalsmiths, partners in both life and business. Known for their shared love of working with their hands, they often describe their roles as "Dan does big metals, and Alison does small metals," though their world of making is much more intertwined than that. Alison's background is in traditional silversmithing and jewellery, while Dan is trained in contemporary sculpture, tool-making, and machining. Together, they run Ferro Forma, a metalsmithing workshop specializing in handcrafted, small-batch edition objects for both individuals and homes. The name "Ferro Forma" reflects their craft, with "Ferro" meaning ferrous or iron, and "Forma" representing form. This name captures the essence of their work, as everything they create or shape begins with iron. Whether it's the tools they use or the materials they employ, iron serves as the foundation that makes their craft possible. WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST? Head over to https://www.wearemakers.shop and pick up a copy of our printed publication. Filled cover to cover with amazing makers from around the world. We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: @www.wearemakers.shop Ferro Forma (Alison Jackson and Dan Lorrimer) Insta: @ferroforma.studio Website: https://ferroforma.com.au

On our Australia trip we took a bus to Braidwood to visit Lea Durie, who we featured in Ed.9 of our We Are Makers Magazine. It's always great to connect with someone who you've spoke to so much online and over email to then meet in person. We are so thankful for these experiences and connections we get to have through our mission. From Lea's early experiments with clay in fifth grade to her current life as a full-time ceramicist in Braidwood, Southern New South Wales, her journey is one of continuous discovery and dedication. Initially trained as a landscape architect, her love for pottery was rekindled through a night class during a lonely stint in Melbourne. This reawakening led her back to clay after various life detours, including a significant career shift and raising a family. Her professional turning point came with a visual arts degree focused on ceramics and a transformative mentorship that guided her into taking her craft from a passionate hobby to a serious business. We hope you enjoy this incredible chat we had with Lea in her home studio! WANT TO SUPPORT THIS PODCAST? Head over to https://www.wearemakers.shop and pick up a copy of our printed publication. Filled cover to cover with amazing makers from around the world. We Are Makers Insta: @weare_makers Website: @www.wearemakers.shop Mud Dept (Lea Durie) Insta: @mud.dept Website: https://muddept.com