Cynthia Main @sunhousecraft is an artisan maker in Berea, Kentucky who has built a thriving business hand making home goods. Inspired by the timeless traditions of Appalachian crafts, her wooden wares are hand made, often hewn with axe and knife. Brooms are hand woven, with a non-electric process, with utmost attention given to the details of each piece. The materials are sourced and harvested from local, sustainable materials. In this conversation, Cynthia discusses her lifelong passion for learning traditional agrarian skills and the arts of self sufficiency, from farming to building, wood working, furniture making and crafting the basic tools of everyday life. With many of these skills largely forgotten by our consumer culture, Cynthia shares the story of how she has made her way, rediscovering these skills for herself, teaching others, and demonstrating an alternative path through a life of making.
1:20 - Catch up with Mary and Emma
Let’s get into the interview!
12:00 - Cynthia introduces herself
17:50 - The importance of mindful supply chains
20:40 - Broommaking and Appalachia
31:00 - Crafts, accessibility and price
39:00 - Claiming your own power
45:00 - Cynthia’s work in relation to The Good Dirt
48:30 - How 2020 has affected Sunhouse Craft
Things Mentioned:
https://www.sunhousecraft.com/ (Sunhouse Craft)
http://marleegrace.space/a-quilt-is-something-human (Emma's quilting course - A Quilt is Something Human)
https://www.statethelabel.com/ (State the Label)
https://eastfork.com/ (East Fork Pottery)
https://raleighdenimworkshop.com/ (Raleigh Denim)
https://emergencemagazine.org/essay/the-serviceberry/?fbclid=IwAR2yOTKYBU894o3aQOVuC_Ut-Cl4vtYYmEqHtOxcsAP21P9kz7bPruHgcp (Serviceberry: An Economy of Abundance by Robin Wall Kimmer)
https://oneworld-publications.com/the-way-home.html (The Way Home - Tales From a Life Without Technology by Mark Boyle)
https://www.lady-farmer.com/the-good-dirt-militza-maury/ (Let’s Talk About Your Skin! Herbal Skincare with Militza Maury)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxyZUjr9VwNBekZNEzJ6kSA/videos (Sunhouse Craft on Youtube)