Handcrafted America Season 3, Episode 14: Best of the West

Spearguns, Wood & Tile Cabinets, Pewter Goblets

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. In Riviera Beach, Florida, John Ippolito shows Jill how he makes the spear guns that are changing the sport of spearfishing with their amazing accuracy. Then in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jamie Yocono makes beautifully crafted wood and tile cabinets and proves woodworking is not just a job for men. Finally, in Templeton, California, Randy Stromsoe, a classically trained, award-winning metal smith demonstrates how he makes the one of a kind pewter goblets that have been used by U.S. Presidents.

Salvaged Stools, Baby Wraps, Porch Swings

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. In New Orleans, Ross Lunz shows Jill how he takes street signs damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and turns it into unique furniture that captures the spirit and resilience of the city. In North Port, Alabama, Jill meets Jessica Tuggle, a woman who weaves baby wraps with hand dyed yarn, allowing mothers to wear their babies on their bodies. Finally, Jill travels to Las Vegas and learns how Tom McGrady puts his heart and soul into beautiful wooden porch swings.

Street Tiles, Hammocks, Glass Doors

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. In New Orleans, Mark Derby and his wife Ann Marie show Jill how they reproduce the historic tiles that adorn the streets of the Big Easy. In Woodstock, Georgia, Jill learns how Tony Kramer redefines “roughing it” with his innovative hammock tents that actually make camping comfortable. Finally, in Las Vegas, Jill meets Tony Milici, a glass artisan who chips away at layers of glass to make doors that add a touch of Vegas sparkle to any entry.

Glass Piggy Banks, Espresso Machines, Rubboards

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. In Hollywood, Florida, Brenna Baker is turning molten glass into money hungry piggy banks. In Buellton, California, Italian born and raised Salvatore Cisaria is making sure people are getting their morning dose of caffeine with his handcrafted espresso makers that are more like an Italian sculpture than beverage machine. Then, in Sunset, Louisiana, Jill meets Tee Don Landry a man following in his father’s footsteps and making rubboards, one of the only American born musical instruments.

Fire Screens, Toy Cars, Pine Needle Baskets

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. In Charleston, South Carolina, metalsmith Sean Ahern shows Jill how he hammers out his intricately designed and elegant steel fire screens that look like natural bamboo. Then, in Omaha, Nebraska, woodworker and toymaker Steve Baldwin lets out his inner child when he makes his beautiful wooden puzzle toy cars. Finally, Jill goes to West Point, Mississippi where she meets basket weaver Bessie Johnson who uses only what she can find in her yard to craft intricate pine needle baskets.

Saddle Shoes, Fluted Ceramic Stoneware, Spanish Lanterns

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. She starts in Omaha, Nebraska, with 4th generation shoemaker, Jeff Ketzler. His family has a rich tradition of crafting quality footwear, with clients like Ronald Regan and our first astronauts. Then, in Charleston, South Carolina, Jill is with a young potter named Christian Royal, who uses greenery found in his garden to make unique stoneware. Finally, in Santa Barbara, California, Tanya Holroyd and Dave Polarek show Jill how they recreate Spanish-style lanterns that are hundreds of years old from photographs.

Etched Crafted Lighting, Driftwood Pens, Straw Hats

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. First, Jill is shocked by how Detroit woodworker, Paul Bonenberger uses electric current to “paint” his one-of-kind Lichtenberg etched light fixtures. In the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland, commercial airline pilot Tom Gaunnt scours the local beaches for driftwood that he infuses with sea glass colored resin to make his distinctive beach inspired ink pens. Down in Charleston, South Carolina, awardwinning milliner Natalie Simmons is off to the races making her Kentucky Derby style sinamy hats with handmade floral accents.

30 min

River Fishing Nets, Standup Paddle Boards, Aluminum Tables

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. Denny Carson of Spokane, Washington, is a woodworker and catch-and-release fisherman who marries his two passions to make stone-studded fishing nets. Heath Van Den Bogaert is a stand up paddleboard maker in Deerfield Beach, Florida who shows Jill that his custom made boards are not just for hitting the water during the daylight hours. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, furniture maker Peter Handler creates whimsical tables using local hardwoods and brightly colored aluminum in a process not usually used to make furniture.

30 min

Canoes, Adirondack Chairs, Wood Music Stands

Host Jill Wagner visits a maker in Georgia crafting wood canoes. In Michigan, Jill finds a self-taught woodworker who is making state shaped Adirondack chairs. In Idaho, Jill discovers someone hitting the right note making intricate wood music stands.

30 min

Glass & Metal Faucets, Steamer Trunks, Shuffleboard Tables

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. In Baltimore, Maryland, Aric Wanveer and Tim McFadden bring together fire, metal and glass to create some of the most unique and colorful water faucets ever to fill a sink. Portland, Michigan, is home to woodworker Dennis Weber who is building classic cedar-lined steamer trunks that are used today more for storage than traveling the world. In Peachtree City, Georgia, Chris and Lizz McKay head a second-generation family business that brings families across America together with their handcrafted shuffleboard tables.

30 min

Metal Handbags, Razors, Neon Signs

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. Wendy Stevens was told that her idea for making purses from stainless steel was impossible. Yet today, outside of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, she is creating a line of coveted metal purses. In Baltimore, Maryland, Dan Janssen is turning exotic woods and semi-precious gemstones into heirloom quality razors. Last stop, Las Vegas, where Jill learns from Paul Macias how he and his family have been lighting up the city by turning colored glass tubes into classic neon signs for decades.

30 min

Recycled Wood Guitars, Silver Teapots, Infinity Bookshelf

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. Detroit, Michigan rocks again, thanks to Mark Wallace. His company reclaims wood from dilapidated, historic buildings in the city and turns them into amazing electric guitars. Down in Charleston, South Carolina, Kaminer Haislip crafts sleek, modern teapots using silver and exotic woods. Her work is exhibited in museums the world over. And in Monroe, Georgia, Eric McKenna left a desk job to follow his dream of woodworking and now bends and joins wood to create his infinity shaped bookcase.

30 min

Wristwatches, Cowboy Whips, Luminarias

Host Jill Wagner travels the country on a quest to find talented craftsmen who still make incredible items by hand. Philadelphia is home to watch maker Roland Murphy who doesn’t just assemble watches from acquired parts, but is actually making more than 90% of the pieces himself. In Otis Orchard, Idaho, Jill gets crackin’ with Joe Strain who makes bullwhips used around the world and even in popular movies like Indiana Jones. Last stop is Edgewater, Maryland, where former boat maker Allen Cady uses his woodworking skills to transform a find of rare heart of pine lumber into translucent luminaries.

30 min

The Great Outdoors