Made by Hand...

Every time I pass the ReBuilding Center in my Portland, OR, hometown, I smile.
They are the center for creative reuse of building materials in Portland and also offer deconstruction services.  Interior woodworking, windows, metal details created by artisans of the past are being salvaged and reused today. Don't 'cha like that? If you'd like more information click on the link above.

Writing about my own experiences as a maker of things I thought about the small but meaningful hand-made gifts I received as a child. A hand-tooled child-size leather bag made by my grandpa, a hand-painted cloth doll from mom, a goofy toss-toy from an aunt and uncle.

With dad we brewed our own root beer and hammered and nailed odd bits of this and that together to make unexpected "somethings" that could be a wagon, a boat, a railroad car...whatever we imagined it was. All of those hand-made things were unique, down to the one-of-a-kind labels on the root beer bottles.

Read More