Wood entices us with its natural beauty, usefulness, and endless variety. Yet, perhaps more than any other raw material, it defies the artisan's Sisyphean quest for perfection.

Handicraft can offer more than the eye may see. Follow Gary Rogowski, a master furniture maker, on his quest for mastery and creative focus.

Felipe Ortega, a well-known micaceous clay potter from New Mexico, devoted his life to creating the perfect pot of beans—and to teaching his methods to others of all backgrounds.

The long march of espadrilles, from medieval Spanish peasantry to global shoe icon.

Only a handful of artisans still practice the centuries-old craft of rust printing on fabric. Of those who do, even fewer use the traditional stone mangle, or press, on handwoven, raw hemp fabric, yielding textiles that last for centuries. The Marchi family printworks, in Italy’s Romagna region, may well be the only place left in the world that still produces authentic, rust-printed textiles that are fully handmade. This short documentary, by Italian filmmaker Luisa Grosso, takes you inside the Marchi family's workshop to demonstrate the workings of their original, 17th-century mangle and other tools of the trade that have been handed down through four generations. Hand-carved wooden molds or stamps are used to print patterns on antique hemp fabrics for a soft, lustrous textile that can last for centuries. You can learn more about the art of rust printing in Ms. Grosso's short article, found on The Craftsmanship Initiative site: http://bit.ly/rust-print-mangle

Yes, professional upholsterers are still out there—reviving old armchairs, preserving a time-honored craft, and keeping many tons of trash out of landfills every year.

A colorful museum in San Miguel de Allende is helping to preserve Mexico's tradition of elaborate toys and miniatures.

Anne Loquineau left a traditional career path to follow her passion. Now she crafts sculptural (and surprisingly sturdy) porcelain bags that highlight her dual heritage and unique vision.

Setting out to buy herself a manual typewriter, an AI-weary writer visits the last full-time typewriter repair shop in Washington state—and encounters a time machine, of sorts.

TK - natural handmade incense

Gary Rogowski, a master woodworker and furniture designer (and longtime Craftsmanship collaborator) reflects on how his first handmade bench came into being.

Many of the Native American tribes located in the Southwest have retained their ancestral homelands and their sovereign governance through the ages—which has enabled their traditional lifeways and art...

How one journalist (and her daughters) turned her frustration with household plastic waste into a sustainable, handmade line of organic soap bars—crafted with creativity and a whole lot of heart.

In Lyon, the silk-weaving capital of Europe for centuries, the rhythmic clatter of Jacquard Looms once emanated from about 30,000 workshops. Today, only three workshops still uphold this tradition.

Profile of Bob Kramer, a master knife-maker, and his idiosyncratic pursuit of perfection in a field dominated by larger manufacturers.

When Joe Cunningham started making quilts, in 1979, it was an unusual occupation for a man—a fact that set him free as a fabric artist.

Maria Luisa Frongia sews and embroiders traditional garments by hand, one at a time, keeping a centuries-old custom alive in a rapidly changing world.

A pen, a notebook, a vintage typewriter, some art supplies: A writer’s quest to reclaim her love of the craft opens up a new creative chapter (so to speak).

In the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico, a band of determined Indigenous women led the overthrow of a criminal cartel, and took back their town.

Scribes craft sacred Hebrew texts using an ancient, laborious process. Here, we visit three of them to learn more about their art.

Gary Rogowski—woodworker, furniture-maker, author, and craftsman—muses on a skill of the trade that can take a lifetime to master.

Brian Boggs, maker of fine, handcrafted wood furniture in Asheville, N.C., just can’t seem to leave a good idea alone. A lifetime of tinkering and experimentation has led to his line of innovative woo...

Meet some of the master guitar makers of Paracho, Mexico, and find out how they develop new techniques while keeping their traditions alive.

For the team behind Wowhaus Studio, great public art isn't just about design; it's about creating purpose, meaning, and joy. They apply this philosophy in their daily lives, too—and so can you.

Brian Callan is part of a slow, steady revival of traditional harp-making in the Emerald Isle. Most of his handmade harps are built from fallen trees—some of them ancient; each with a story to tell.