New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice A groundbreaking and endlessly surprising history of how artisans created America, from the nation's origins to the present day. At the center of the United States' economic and social development, according to conventional wisdom, are industry and technology-while craftspeople and handmade objects are relegated to a bygone past. Renowned historian Glenn Adamson turns that narrative on its head in this innovative account, revealing makers' central role in shaping America's identity. Examine any phase of the nation's struggle to define itself, and artisans are there-from the silversmith Paul Revere and the revolutionary carpenters and blacksmiths who hurled tea into Boston Harbor, to today's “maker movement.” From Mother Jones to Rosie the Riveter. From Betsy Ross to Rosa Parks. From suffrage banners to the AIDS Quilt. Adamson shows that craft has long been implicated in debates around equality, education, and class. Artisanship has often been a site of resistance for oppressed people, such as enslaved African-Americans whose skilled labor might confer hard-won agency under bondage, or the Native American makers who adapted traditional arts into statements of modernity. Theirs are among the array of memorable portraits of Americans both celebrated and unfamiliar in this richly peopled book. As Adamson argues, these artisans' stories speak to our collective striving toward a more perfect union. From the beginning, America had to be-and still remains to be-crafted.

Here is the first comprehensive survey of modern craft in the United States. Makers follows the development of studio craft--objects in fiber, clay, glass, wood, and metal--from its roots in nineteenth-century reform movements to the rich diversity of expression at the end of the twentieth century. More than four hundred illustrations complement this chronological exploration of the American craft tradition. Keeping as their main focus the objects and the makers, Janet Koplos and Bruce Metcalf offer a detailed analysis of seminal works and discussions of education, institutional support, and the philosophical underpinnings of craft. In a vivid and accessible narrative, they highlight the value of physical skill, examine craft as a force for moral reform, and consider the role of craft as an aesthetic alternative. Exploring craft's relationship to fine arts and design, Koplos and Metcalf foster a critical understanding of the field and help explain craft's place in contemporary culture. Makers will be an indispensable volume for craftspeople, curators, collectors, critics, historians, students, and anyone who is interested in American craft.

Cursed by a Persian sorcerer and haunted by ancestors after a mission gone wrong, magician Army Captain Dale Morton is targeted by Major Michael Endicott, who would protect Dale despite Dale's possibly demonic nature.

Shows modern folk art in the form of textiles, jewelry, clothing, ceramics, glassware, silver, ironwork, furniture, quilts, and sculpture

Illustrated with 200 stunning photographs and encompassing objects from furniture and ceramics to jewelry and metal, this definitive work from Jo Lauria and Steve Fenton showcases some of the greatest pieces of American crafts of the last two centuries. Potter Craft

From the author of Yacht Designing and Planning and Boatbuilding: the definitive history and survey of the great classic American small sailing craft.

In the 1960s and 1970s, a generation of young Americans rejected the promise of prosperity and the suburban dream embraced by their parents. Furious about the war in Vietnam, fighting for civil rights at home, and eagerly exploring the effects of psychedelic drugs, the delights of free love, and the mystical teachings of eastern religions, thousands followed the advice to "turn on, tune in, drop out," bringing about a counterculture in the process. For many American jewelers, these events and values found their way into the studio, as well as affecting how they lived, worked, and loved. Jewelers, like other studio craftspeople, rode the wave of popularity for the hand-made and authentic that was at the heart of the counterculture. In Flux is the story of how their jewelry contributed to the raucous, contradictory, and enthusiastic clamor for a new kind of society that made the 1960s and 1970s so extraordinary.

Step-by-step instructions are given for 16 crafts projects. Includes Kirsten's Craft Book and materials for making three of the projects.

First published in 1969, this expanded third edition is an excellent reference for both collectors and craftspeople. Detailed instructions for measuring, patternmaking, fitting, and construction guide the crafts worker in producing a wide variety of authentic Native American footwear that's tailored to each individual's foot. Readers are provided with a fascinating overview of the history of indigenous footwear in North America and an in-depth Introduction to rawhide, leather, and buckskin by G. D. Wood. Patterns for 28 moccasin types covering over 30 tribes - including the Assiniboine (Alberta/Manitoba), Kootenai (British Columbia), and Yellowknives (Northern Territories) of Canada - are featured along with new instructions for making Plains hard-sole, Northern Plains soft-sole, and Cherokee/Southeastern-style moccasins. Also included is a brief history of the tribes, additional resources, and website references. Forty-one full-color photographs accompany the patterns, along with 22 historic period photos of camp life, tanning hides, individual chiefs, and more.

For the first time ever, the general public can access biographies of many of America's professional craftspeople by referring to PROFILES: WHO'S WHO IN AMERICAN CRAFTS. PROFILES features more than 1,000 contemporary American craftspeople, spotlighting their techniques, inspirations, & philosophies. Organized into chapters by craft medium, each biography explores the artist's background, including education & career highlights, & celebrity collectors. Many featured artists have a black & white photo of themselves alongside their biography. A full-color section entitled "Profiles Gallery" functions as an exhibition of artists' works with oversized photos of award-winning Ceramics, Glass, Jewelry, Mixed Media Objects, & more. Next, Craft Guilds & Organizations are listed, with information on member services, founding dates & directors. More than six hundred of the nation's top craft retailers are listed in the Galleries section, providing an easy reference for craftspeople, art lovers, & collectors of Contemporary American Craft artforms. PROFILES is published by Rosen Publishing in Baltimore, Maryland in cooperation with NICHE magazine. (1-881930-00-9), $24.95. Discounts available for multiple book orders. Call Amy Feinstein at (800) CRAFT93 or (410) 889-2933.