Elijah Vance
Editorial byline
Elijah Vance is an editorial byline for Porch & Press, with a focus on Makers & Craft, Goods & Finds. Biographical credentials and external profiles are published only after verification.
Learn more about our editorial process and use of automation in our AI & Automation disclosure.
Coverage Areas
Latest Articles
Reading the Belief in the Wood: How Shaker Principles Became Furniture
Shaker furniture's iconic design, characterized by clean lines, functional forms, and honest construction, is a direct manifestation of the religious community's core principles of simplicity, utility, and honesty. Understanding these beliefs reveals how each piece serves as a physical expression of faith and continues to influence modern design.
Oct 27, 2026 · 4 min read
How to Tell If Pottery Is Handmade: A Collector's Diagnostic Guide
Distinguish handmade pottery from factory-made items by systematically examining visual clues like glaze and form, tactile sensations, and maker's marks. Understanding the production methods behind these characteristics helps collectors make confident assessments.
Oct 25, 2026 · 4 min read
Two Threads of American History: What Baltimore Album and Great Plains Quilts Reveal
American quilts serve as historical documents, with styles like Baltimore Album and Great Plains homestead quilts revealing distinct regional environments, social conditions, and cultural narratives of their time and place.
Oct 23, 2026 · 5 min read
Soy, Beeswax, or Palm? Choosing the Artisanal Candle Wax That Matches Your Ambiance
Choosing artisanal candle wax involves weighing trade-offs between soy, beeswax, and palm wax. Each wax offers distinct benefits for fragrance, burn time, natural properties, and aesthetic appeal, allowing you to match your candle choice to your desired ambiance.
Oct 21, 2026 · 4 min read
Bau Truc's Wheel-less Pottery: How a 300-Year-Old Cham Craft Survives by Hand
Bau Truc pottery, a 300-year-old Cham craft from Vietnam, is uniquely shaped entirely by hand without a potter's wheel. This UNESCO-listed tradition faces challenges but is being preserved through community tourism and training initiatives.
Oct 21, 2026 · 5 min read
Jamdani Weaving: How Bengal's Looms Create Patterns That Are Woven, Never Embroidered
Jamdani is a traditional hand-loom weaving technique from Bengal where intricate motifs are created directly on the loom using a discontinuous supplementary weft. This process results in fine, sheer cotton fabric with patterns that appear to float, distinguishing it from embroidery.
Oct 19, 2026 · 5 min read
From Kitchen Shelf to Museum Pedestal: How American Studio Pottery Became Fine Art
American studio pottery underwent a significant transformation from a domestic craft to a recognized fine art form, largely between 1940 and 1979. This evolution was driven by advancements in education, technology, patronage, and the vision of influential artists who moved clay from utilitarian objects to museum pedestals.
Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read
Hand-Blown Glass, Forged Iron, or Woven Rattan: Which Handcrafted Lighting Material Fits Your Classic Interior?
Choosing handcrafted lighting involves matching material properties like light diffusion and aesthetic character to your interior design style, exploring how hand-blown glass, forged metal, and woven fibers each offer unique ambiance and suit specific classic styles.
Oct 18, 2026 · 4 min read
Kintsugi: Why Japan Mends Broken Pottery With Gold Instead of Hiding the Cracks
Kintsugi is a Japanese craft that repairs broken pottery with lacquer and gold, celebrating the cracks as part of the object's history rather than hiding them. This practice embodies the philosophy of wabi-sabi, finding beauty in imperfection and impermanence.
Oct 17, 2026 · 5 min read
From Furnace to Finished Piece: The Six Stages of Traditional Glassblowing
Explore the six fundamental stages of traditional glassblowing, detailing the journey from molten glass at over 2,000°F to a finished, cooled piece. The process involves gathering, shaping, inflating, refining, and finally annealing, all while managing the material's rapid cooling.
Oct 17, 2026 · 5 min read
From Lump of Clay to Finished Pot: The Eight Stages of Hand-Thrown Stoneware
Creating hand-thrown stoneware pottery is a meticulous, multi-stage process involving eight critical steps from raw clay to a finished vessel. Understanding these transformations, including drying, trimming, and two firings, highlights the skill and time invested in artisanal ceramics.
Oct 14, 2026 · 6 min read
How to Choose Artisanal Textiles: A Decorator's Guide to Natural Fibers
Learn how to choose artisanal textiles by understanding the origins of natural fibers like cotton, linen, wool, and silk, and the traditional techniques that define their unique character and suitability for your home decor.
Oct 7, 2026 · 5 min read
NY Now Opens Applications for Revived Winter 2027 Handmade Division
NY Now has opened applications for its revived Handmade division for Winter 2027, offering a curated platform for artisans to connect with wholesale buyers. Artisans must submit their applications by October 15, 2026, to be considered for one of the 75 limited spots.
Oct 2, 2026 · 2 min read
Choosing Natural Fiber Textiles: Balancing Comfort, Care, and Sustainability for Your Home
Choosing natural fiber textiles for your home involves balancing comfort, care, and sustainability. This guide explores the unique properties, benefits, and maintenance of cotton, linen, wool, and silk to help homeowners make informed decisions for a beautiful and mindful living space.
Sep 30, 2026 · 5 min read
Discover Maryland's Premier Craft Events in 2027
In 2027, Maryland will host at least three major craft events within a three-month span, signaling an unprecedented boom for the state's artisan economy.
Sep 13, 2026 · 2 min read
The Artisan Shift: Handmade Goods' Economic and Cultural Value
During the COVID pandemic, supply chain disruptions caused widespread product unavailability for artisans, leading to long wait times and business closures.
Sep 10, 2026 · 3 min read
Indian and Filipino artisans showcase heritage innovation at global exhibitions.
In 2026, 29 Indian artisans will showcase intricate, hand-carved stone and mother-of-pearl works at the prestigious Homo Faber Biennale in Venice, while Filipino buri bags will debut at FashionPhilipp
Sep 5, 2026 · 2 min read
Homo Faber 2026 Venice: Global Artisans Showcase Craft Trends
In spring 2025, Es Devlin's 'Library of Light' installation alone drew nearly 200,000 visitors, according to Homo Faber 2026: An Island of Light .
Aug 31, 2026 · 3 min read
The Economic and Environmental Benefits of Local Spending
For every $100 spent at a local business, $68 remains within the community, a stark contrast to just $43 if spent at a chain store, according to Cameonetwork .
Aug 30, 2026 · 4 min read
Top 4 Examples of India's Exceptional Global Craftsmanship
In 2023, the devotional Garba dance of Gujarat joined a prestigious global list.
Aug 28, 2026 · 3 min read