When we first began to think about opening Craftsman & Apprentice, my ex-husband, Jon, and I would talk at length about what we love about being makers. Jon is a master stonemason who learned his trade over many years as an apprentice. We would ask ourselves questions like, "How do we know what we know, and " How do we do our best work?" We also talked about all the things we’ve loved about being part of a creative community here in Denver for 20 years. When we boiled it all down, we came to the realization that making things and learning how to make things with our hands is best done in community; in real-life proximity to other people, all learning and creating together while we change and grow over time. When we learn from each other, we all benefit. It’s human nature to build upon the practices and innovations of others. These are the founding principles of our work at Craftsman & Apprentice.

12 years on, a lot has changed (these kids are almost adults now!), but the principles remain the same. We’ve hosted thousands of workshops, camps, and classes not just in our little shop but all over the Front Range at museums, libraries, schools, and businesses. We are so grateful for our entire community and our amazing staff!