The Crossroads of Craftsmanship
What Defines Us:
Craftsman Collaborative
A Home For All Things Purposeful
DIY builder projects
Design history & heritage
Community, conversation, creative
The Common Thread
Preserving The Crossroads of Craftsmanship
Learning from craftsmen through time
The processes, the rationale, the way
Carrying these ideals forward
Keeping them alive
What Makes The Craftsman:
Interworking Creative Vision & Skill Towards Utility
Not limited to one trade. To one master skill
Rather, the mindset behind the work
The attention to design, not just current but past
The Collaborative Approach:
Recognizing Attributes That Extend Beyond The Individual.
Greater than the work of one
Undertones of craftsmanship transcend all trades and mediums
A collective knowledge – the common thread lives through this
Where We Come From
A Nod To The Communities That Grew This Mindset Within
Speaking firsthand – I’ve worked the last years as a self-started photographer, writer, and small business manager.
Learning all I could through every project along the way.
Listening to mentors in a number of trades, not limited to one.
A collection of ideas and communities too broad to fit any one label.
Collaborative Growth: Detail In All We Do
City Photo
Rooted in the heart of San Diego.
Studying a craft with plentiful resources, minimal cost, and a peer-group of more working class individuals than not. Diversity in age, background, and occupation – yet a connection to the study: Analog & Studio Photography.
Combined with industry connections as a practicing photographer, a community that still fosters creativity -> SD City Photo / Jake Grove Photo
Wheelbase Magazine
Connecting all curators of 4 wheels and a plank.
The Wheelbase community brought old school skate roots to the downhill scene. A different side of longboarding to hardcore skate rats.
We broadcasted as a purpose driven publication.
Under the lead of Marcus Bandy (OG – look up some classic skate parts)
Connecting tried & true small businesses with skate-hungry communities.
Leading the way while we could.
The mag slowed as life happened, careers changed, and the underlying industry sputtered. But the community still perseveres through us all.
The social archives keep us stoked, and a little nostalgic -> Wheelbase Mag
Central Coast Connections
A stone’s throw from home. The central coast brought its share of influence and connections to communities close, yet right outside the usual reach.
Avoiding the high-demand housing of the college town to settle in a quiet coastal community instead. Living on a block concentrated more of well-rooted contractors, artists, and craftsmen.
Meeting like-minded individuals and establishing the first university van life club we’d ever heard of. Kickstarting a medium to connect all individuals with a knack for alternative living and travel. -> Cal Poly Van Life
The diploma-driven purpose of this chapter progressing through marketing & design. Digging down to the roots of why we do what we do. Why we sell what we sell. And why we solve the problems we solve. Learning by doing.
Concentrating in the study of entrepreneurship to tie it all together.
-> Cal Poly CIE
The Continued Craft
Another creative outlet joined the ranks. Rooted in influence from off-road fabrication and a crossover interest into campers. Combining two worlds.
What started as westfalia retrofitting a vintage Jeep Cherokee snowballed. Ultimately scaling down production grade processes into a garage-build.
Focusing extended time in learning and practicing this new craft.
Fiberglass fabrication – with a side of metal, wood, and electrical design. Kickstarting an ongoing custom camper project -> Expedition Tops
A Good Day’s Work
Personal employment this far has focused professional skills into a small business setting. Rooted in a community close to home.
Working the ranks from an entry level photographer into leadership. Mentored by the founding crew through every step.
Sharing passion in surf lessons and reestablishing a media department. Continuing into leadership to drive brand growth as a core surf shop.
Branching out from skate roots to surf connections.
Building brand strategy perspective as an industry lead along the way.
Trials & Tribulations
The community that was never asked or planned for.
Health revelations were never a top headline of the personas above.
But life happens. What we overcome makes us stronger.
Perspective: Romans 5: 3-5
Personal experience with POTS Syndrome lives within this journey.
A reminder of gratitude. A driver towards adaptability and resilience.
Just as in pursuing fine craftsmanship, all is not without problems.
The skill of understanding things at a fundamental level becomes the key. Crafting a path forward. In health and in hard-work alike.
If this brings just one person motivation or revelation – it’s found purpose.
The Next Chapter
Behind The Brand
Showcasing community connections & lessons learned.
An editorial focus on craftsmanship & creative design.
Growth, perspective, and established roots. Together as one.
Apprenticeship & Learning -> Master Craftsmen Column
Builder Resources -> DIY Tutorials Collection
The Craft Continued -> Camper Chronicles
There’s no pre-destined plan.
Rather, a lifelong focus.
Come along for the ride.
Behind The Man
Currently, completing and documenting the ongoing camper build.
Continuing photography and design through each chapter of the project.
But best of all – marrying the woman that’s been by my side through it all.
A copilot into this next chapter.
Who knows.
Maybe we’ll buy some land and build a cabin.
Or look for that dream fixer upper when the time comes.
But for now, I’ll try and cross off a few more projects first.
We’re Here For It All
Concluding the first landing post of this site, we’re here for it all.
If you’ve read this far we know you’re here for it too.
Take a look around, find your niche within, apply it to your own craft.
– Craftsman Collaborative