Host Eric Gorges visits John Wilson, a writer, a teacher and a woodworker, at his home shop and learns how to make a shoulder plane. Eric learns the history of shop-made tools, how to home temper tool-steel and the importance of salt in the woodshop.
Host Eric Gorges visits a friend, April Wagner, a glassblower working in abstract art. Eric and April discuss the connection between making a sacrifice when starting up a business and the give-and-take that successful craft people must make and the rewards that eventually come. Eric learns how hot a glass studio can get and how to make a glass cup.
Brian Galloup builds guitars and runs a school to teach others the craft of guitar making. Host Eric Gorges visits the school and learns what it takes to build a guitar from scratch. They discuss the tonal properties of wood, steam bending and key steps of guitar building.
Host Eric Gorges visits with Walter Arnold, an accomplished stone carver. Eric learns what it takes to carve limestone and marble. He also hears about the history of stone carving and early days of Walter’s apprenticeship in Italy, including kicking around the same quarry where Michelangelo shopped for his marble.
Host Eric Gorges visits goldsmith Susan McDonough, who works in a small studio on her family’s farm in the mountains. Eric makes a silver ring using a 3,000-year-old technique. The conversation turns to the paths that craftspeople take in their journey. Susan describes working in kitchens and bakeries, as a school bus driver, EMT, firefighter and librarian, on her long journey to becoming a goldsmith.
Host Eric Gorges visits potter and musician Akira Satake, who discovered his love of pottery later in life. Eric makes a ceramic teapot. Eric and Akira discuss the serendipity that leads craftsmen to their craft. Akira started his career as an accomplished photographer in Japan, then found another successful career in New York as a recording studio owner and a session banjo player before finding his true passion in pottery.
Charon and Tom Caldwell changed the horse saddle industry. Host Eric Gorges visits the Caldwell ranch in Georgia and learns about making saddles. Charon and Tom Caldwell embody the craftsperson who knows when it’s time to strike out on their own. After years of successfully working for a top saddle maker, they charted their own paths and created a revolution in the way saddles are fitted to the horse.
Mike Brooks builds long rifles based on designs over 100 years old. Host Eric Gorges discovers the history of a long rifle and along the way learns that the old ways of the gunsmith are alive and well
Host Eric Gorges visits with Lorelei Sims, a talented blacksmith working in a mostly male-dominated trade and learns how to make a dagger. Their conversation reveals the blacksmith's way of life — communal, family-oriented and often, an extension of home life.
Knife-maker Tim Zowada's creations start from sand collected from Lake Michigan. Host Eric Gorges visits with Tim and makes a knife.
Chad Pastonik makes fine art books. Host Eric Gorges visits Chad's studio to learn about 400-year-old printing and binding techniques.
John Yothers builds beautiful and very functional wooden boats. Host Eric Gorges learns the proper way to blueprint a boat and also what goes into building a boat from scratch.
Host Eric Gorges visits with Ron Paquin, a Native American who teaches others the fine craft of bark basket weaving. Eric and Ron both build baskets together.
Welcome to the magical world of a clockmaker, where the gears are lovingly handmade and time truly does stand still as host Eric Gorges and young clock maker Nate Bower create a beautiful exposed gear clock.
With intricate flourishes, filigree, and a lot of magnification, host Eric Gorges and metal engraver David Riccardo create a breathtaking metal engraving.
Let the chips fly! Host Eric Gorges and master wood turner Alan Hollar turn a wooden bowl in the Appalachian Mountains.
Ekaterina Reier and host Eric Gorges play with light and glass in this episode where viewers learn that following your dream can really pay off.
The century old tradition of building the Windsor Chair is a practical and elegant pursuit – host Eric Gorges and master craftsman Curtis Buchanan give the viewer a front seat.
Master weaver Jaunita Hofstrom wanted to have a place just for weavers to gather and pursue their love of weaving. She bought a little church around the corner from her house and started living that dream. Host Eric Gorges explores the ins and outs and up and overs of this traditional craft.
Cheese, please! Join master cheesemaker Bruce Workman and host Eric Gorges for an inside view of an award winning creamery. Who knew master cheesemakers started their day at 2am?!
Experienced naturalist and wilderness survivor, Greg Anderson is also a master bow maker. Host Eric Gorges learns how to craft a traditional bow with Greg as his guide and tests his skills with the bulls-eye.
James Gillaspie has been making medieval/Renaissance armor for over 20 years. Host Eric Gorges plays to his base as a fellow metal shaper. James and Eric do a little jousting and a lot of shop-talk!
Theadra Fleming hands over the needle and thread to host Eric Gorges as this quilter explains the African American tradition of quilting with a focus on colors, symbolism and the history of African textiles.
Best foot (ware) forward! Host Eric Gorges picks up the hammer and nail to try his hand at being a shoemaker. Master shoemakers Jesse Moore and Marika Verploegh Chassé give expert guidance along the way.
Oh, the freedom of two wheels! Host Eric Gorges discovers how master bicycle maker, Stephen Bilenky, brazes bikes and has made a living for over 30 years doing exactly what he loves.
Host Eric Gorges visits Alan Kaniarz, an innovator in the world of furniture design. Together they discuss the love of making furniture, environmentally conscious approaches to the craft and award-winning workmanship.
Nothing fires up host Eric Gorges like working with molten metal! In this episode, Eric and master sand caster Scott Nelles, create a bronze and aluminum ray gun.
This episode is all about hoof to hat. Meet Maple Smith, a retired schoolteacher who raises her own alpacas, shears their coats, and spins yarn. Eric gets out of his comfort zone and starts knitting!
Hey dummy! In this episode host Eric Gorges visits famous master ventriloquist puppet maker, Tim Selberg. Here we get to see the behind the scenes genius of creating the intricate (and maybe magical) mechanization process of puppet making.
Duck! Here come some of the most exquisitely carved duck decoys host Eric Gorges ever laid eyes on! Meet Ben Heinemann, master carver, who teaches Eric a thing or two about the real thing.
Seth Gould could easily be called one of the rock-stars of metalsmithing. Host Eric Gorges heads South to the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina and the famed Penland School of Crafts to learn from this amazing craftsman. In this episode Eric and Seth make a breathtaking hammer.
In this episode host Eric Gorges meets Dan and Jael Rattigan at their chocolate factory in Asheville, NC. The Rattigan’s truly craft from bean to bar, letting Eric live out his lifetime dream of working with chocolate.
Geri Littlejohn has been making Native American style flutes for over 20 years. Host Eric Gorges and Geri start with a simple piece of bamboo and end with what she likes to call a “sacred musical gift of art.”
Host Eric Gorges and master soap maker, Deb Kraemer, stir it up with essential oils and herbs. For a guy who likes to get his hands dirty, Eric cleans up nicely!
Think handmade wooden buckets a thing of the past? Cooper Jim Gaster keeps the craft alive and well. His buckets were recently in The Revenant. Host Eric Gorges and Jim make a bucket – no leaks!
Host Eric Gorges meets the celebrated Jake Weidmann, the youngest ever master penman and one of only 12 in the world. Together they make a pen and explore the fascinating world of lettering.
Host Eric Gorges throws down! Master ceramist David MacDonald shares his magnificent talents with Eric as they work with clay and make a bowl.
Host Eric Gorges and master bamboo fly rod makers, Jeff Wagner and Casimira Orlowski, make a rod together, underscoring Eric’s belief that “a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work.”
We’re switching it up! Host becomes the guest as master metal shaper Eric Gorges is the featured master craftsman, letting master blacksmith Lorelei Sims (Season 1) do the interviewing while they heat it up and make a motorcycle fender.
Host, Eric Gorges, takes a stab at sword-smithing with Master Bladesmith Kevin Cashen, learning about the mystical world of metallurgy, forging a spatha.
Eric hits the slopes on handmade skis he makes with son and father team, Jeff and John Thompson.
Eric Yelsma has been drawn to sewing since a teenager. Now his shop makes jeans from American sourced, sustainable fabric that is constructed and sold in Detroit. Host Eric Gorges gets to stitching, confirming threads do make the man.
For his sixth birthday, Mark Whitley, was given a hammer and toolbox. Now an award-winning furniture maker in Smiths Grove, Kentucky, Mark and host Eric Gorges make a table together.
Christopher Kelley makes beautiful copper stills. Host Eric Gorges works with Christopher to make a moonshine still worthy of the most potent of spirits.
Eric shines the brass with master French horn makers and musicians, Rick and Celeste Seraphinoff.
Master wood carver Jackie Wilson built a rocking horse for Prince George of Cambridge. On this episode she and host Eric Gorges will make a rocking horse fit for a king.
Cherokee National treasure, Noel Grayson shows host Eric Gorges how to craft traditional Cherokee arrows using primitive tools.
Master Hatter Nate Funmaker is one of the only Native American Master Hatters in the nation. Eric travels to Texas to meet this extraordinary craftsman and tries his hand, and head, at hat making.
Texas cowboy and master craftsman, Wilson Capron, creates spurs that truly are a thing of function and beauty. Host Eric Gorges works with Wilson to make a pair of spurs.
Legendary Lazy Spoon creator, Jonathan Simons and host Eric Gorges dish up! Jonathan teaches Eric how to make a spoon.
Master glass maker Shawn Messenger calls her pieces Impressionistic. Shawn and host Eric Gorges create a paperweight from brilliant colored glass, sure to make a lasting impression.
Host Eric Gorges meets the craftsmen behind the esteemed H. Gerstner & Sons brand and learns how to make the tool box that’s been treasured for generations.