Ep 5. Old Things/New Hands

In Weekends with Yankee season 3 episode 5, titled "Old Things/New Hands," hosts Richard Wiese and Amy Traverso explore the ways in which New Englanders are keeping traditional crafts and skills alive while putting their own unique spin on them.

The episode begins with a visit to the studios of ceramicist Rebecca Roche in Cambridge, MA. Roche shares her passion for pottery, discussing the importance of handmade objects and the joy of working with clay. She demonstrates her process, throwing clay on the wheel and trimming and glazing the finished pieces.

Next, the hosts head to Bristol, RI to meet the team behind Blount Boats, a family-owned company that has been building custom ships for over 75 years. They tour the workshop and watch as a crew builds a 48-foot catamaran. The Blount family members explain how innovation has allowed them to continue their craft in a changing industry.

The episode also features a visit to The Maine Crafts Association, where Traverso interviews Executive Director Sadie Bliss about the organization's mission to promote and support craft artists in Maine. She chats with a few of the artists and admires their beautiful work, which includes textiles, jewelry, and furniture.

In Plymouth, MA, the hosts meet woodworker Ben Brungraber, who creates stunning, intricate marquetry pieces using pieces of wood that would otherwise be discarded. He describes the process of carefully selecting and arranging the wood to create stunning designs before cutting and shaping them with a scroll saw.

Wiese and Traverso also visit Taza Chocolate in Somerville, MA, where founder Alex Whitmore explains the company's mission to make high-quality chocolate while also supporting small farmers and sustainable farming practices. They get a behind-the-scenes look at the chocolate-making process, from roasting to grinding to molding.

Lastly, the hosts travel to Portland, ME to meet glassblower and jeweler Amanda Coburn. She shares her passion for working with glass and demonstrates her process of creating unique pieces of jewelry using lampworking techniques.

"Old Things/New Hands" showcases the creativity and skill of New England craft artists and entrepreneurs, demonstrating their ability to merge traditional techniques with modern ingenuity. It celebrates the importance of preserving these crafts for the future by continuing to innovate and adapt.