Made by Hand

Are you familiar with Made by Hand? It's a film series "celebrating the people who make things by hand -- sustainably, locally and with a love of their craft." As someone who grew up in a community of artisans who not only lived off the land but produced and sold exquisite handmade goods -- furniture, hammocks, looms, fly fishing flies, pottery -- the Made by Hand project is near and dear to my heart.

The second video in the Made by Hand series, below, showcases Joel Bukiewicz of Cut Brooklyn. A fiction writer turned knife maker, Joel articulates the satisfaction of creating an object that is not only loved and used by the person who buys it, but is of the caliber to become a family heirloom. I love what he says about the community of producing things by hand, the challenge of making each piece the best he's ever produced, and the drive to master his craft to the point of art.

I'm no Joel Bukiewicz, but I get what he's saying about the massive and immediate payoff of someone enjoying what he's made. It's what I miss most about my bakery business, and why I cook, bake and write and photograph this blog.

The music in this video is too creepy and severe -- something along the lines of "Cello Song" by The Books would have been a nice choice -- but the cinematography and story are spot on. Check it. [Note: there are many well-placed expletives in this video, so you've been warned.]

Made by Hand / No 2 The Knife Maker from Made by Hand on Vimeo.