Who Does Good Work?
We live in a world of increased homogenization and cost cutting, but there are still people out there who buck the tide. We’ve all seen examples of craftspeople who do good work, so let’s talk about them!
For example, we recently had a plumber in to replace a pipe, and he was able to work out the connections to our 100 year old pipes, which are no longer standard.
Maybe you’ve been to a restaurant and been knocked out by the skill put into the garnish by some anonymous person in the kitchen. Or maybe you got a pair of shoes resoled, or a pair of pants altered, and the shop did a great job.
Or maybe you’ve picked up a painting or photo or piece of pottery from a local artist who put in the work to make something good. For example, I saw this remarkable unfinished portrait on a piece of plywood in an alley, probably by a local art student who decided to leave it behind.
There are florists who put together great bouquets. There are DJs on late night radio who have tiny numbers of listeners but still do the work to put together great song sets. There are brewers at local pubs who manage to turn out fantastic fresh beer at the tiniest fraction of the scale of the macrobeers.
Maybe you specialize in something yourself. Or you have a relative who is a great carpenter. Or you have a barista you admire. Talk up anyone who does great handmade work!
for the time being…and tho me being personally carless nowadays means i dont use them anymore….me mum and brother still do
ive got 2 old boy mechanics what can fix anything with wheels…long past where it should be salvageble….and on as close to on a shoe string budget as that kind of work gets
2 brothers…must be pushing 70 now…..and i think they were born in that garage…
doubt theyll ever retire….but they will stop sooner or later
and thats going to be sad….nobody to fill their shoes either…. never married…no kids..no aprentices….just two old boys what know how things works
also they always gave me the seat terror as a loner car
they still give it out as a loaner car…..its fucking hilarious….feels fast at any speed….it isnt… but thats not what your brain tells you as you feel every bump and have a little engine screaming at you at 50mph…. not to mention the creaks and rattles….its an experience
That’s great. Is that a camper?
work van or grey license as its called over here
2 seater backs all storage….significant tax breaks if you are a business
There’s a business I’ve used to fix purses and jackets – JG Sewing and Leather Repair. I’ve referred friends to them for repairing antique chairs. I’m pretty sure they can fix anything with upholstery.
good upholsterrers…and pastry chefs
worth their weight in gold
The guys working on my parents house have been doing a masterful job of fixing 40 year old plumbing.
There’s a guy who lives near me who uses a chainsaw to turn an old tree stump into a sculpture of a bear. You see them all over around here. We bought a 2 foot tall one from him and took it to Belgrade Serbia where it stands today. The artist was so excited about having his work displayed on two continents.
There’s someone at our state fair who does that. It’s scary awesome.
It’s the time of year I email the small wine maker that sells at the farmer’s market & stock up on his stuff. He is so nice & his full time job is making aquariums & giant tanks for commercial & environmental applications. He makes wine that blows the doors off most the stuff 2 to 3x the cost. I pay him in cash & he gives me a good discount & always a new bottle for free to try. Besides being the nicest old dude, he looks just like Pinocchio’s dad.
I’ve always wanted to try winemaking but we’re a long way from good wine grape country.