Wednesday, June 22, 2016

appreciating craftsmanship

'For a long while I have collected early American wooden tools-- those things that pioneer people people fashioned at home.
When I show my collection to young people, I am very careful to avoid saying, "See how old these things are." Instead I say, "See how carefully and beautifully people created things in those days. How aware these people were of the kinds of materials they worked with. How aware they were of the time in which they lived; everything is dated and signed. How richly awake they must have been to every moment of each day."'

~ Eric Sloane, Diary of an Early American Boy: Noah Blake 1805

Perhaps Sloane is romanticizing a bit about the daily life of the pioneer people, but I do think he captures the spirit of the people who were craftsmen; carving, molding, making, and passing skills on to their sons and daughters.


  1. Reminds me of the verses in the Old Testament that describe the craftsmen working on articles for the sanctuary as being filled with wisdom & skill.

    1. Oh yes, that's a great thought, Carol.

  2. I hadn't thought about this book in a long time. Our boys would pore over it for hours - and they grew up to be craftsmen, both of them. I suppose one of them has the book at his house.

