Two Hands Woodcraft

Matthew Comer’s life and work are rooted—quite literally—in the red clay of Iredell County, North Carolina. Raised on a family farm by hardworking parents and inspired by a grandfather who ran the local general store, Matthew grew up with a deep appreciation for honest labor and objects built to last. Today, he, his wife Jennifer, and their children, Titus and Abigail, live on the same small farm that has been in the Comer family for seven generations. His workshop, a restored cabin once used to store grain, is where tradition meets artistry.

From childhood, Matthew felt compelled to make things with his hands. Drawing and painting never felt substantial enough; he wanted to create something both useful and beautiful. His path became clear the day he read a newspaper article about an old-time chair maker. He tracked down the craftsman, apprenticed himself to the trade, and discovered a calling that resonated with his rural roots.

Matthew specializes in ladder-back, or post-and-rung, chairs—timeless pieces built with the same techniques that supported generations before him. He works from locally cut, veneer-quality red oak, splitting each log to follow the straight grain essential for strength. Every chair features steam-bent back slats, spoke-shaved surfaces, and traditional wet-dry joinery, where super-dried rungs lock into air-dried legs for unmatched longevity. Seats are woven from hickory bark or carved from solid hardwood, then finished with hand-rubbed coats of Matthew’s own oil blend. He also carves spoons and ladles from naturally curved tree branches, functional sculptures designed to grow more beautiful with age.

In March 2025, tragedy struck when Matthew’s cabin studio burned, destroying tools and works in progress. Thanks to the generosity of friends—including a community fundraiser that collected more than $8,000—he now works in a new studio, rebuilding his practice one piece at a time.

To support Matthew’s recovery, commission a piece, or schedule a studio visit in Union Grove, North Carolina, visit 2handswoodcraft.com.

Cole Johnson Glass

For glass artist Cole Johnson, craftsmanship is both a discipline and a devotion. Shaped by years of travel, study, and hands-on experience, his work is grounded in three enduring values: respect for tradition, excellence in craftsmanship, and an unwavering attention to detail. Whether using centuries-old methods or inventive contemporary approaches, Johnson treats glass not only as a medium of expression but as a material for continual exploration. By studying the history of glass and focusing deeply on the power of line, he pushes the boundaries of both technique and artistry.

For Cole, the act of making is more than a skill—it is a spiritual practice. Time in the studio becomes a form of meditation, a rare and sacred moment to reflect, listen, and communicate with God. This profound connection, paired with his enduring love of the process, is what draws him back to the furnace day after day.

Cole’s journey began at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro, North Carolina, where he first encountered hot glass while studying at Western Carolina University. Captivated, he spent every spare moment interning in the hot shop, absorbing as much knowledge as he could. After several years of apprenticeship, he traveled to Adelaide, Australia, working for two years as an Associate Designer in Glass at The JamFactory, one of the world’s leading centers for contemporary craft and design.

Now based in the mountains of western North Carolina, the North Wilkesboro native has devoted more than twelve years to refining his craft. His work blends hot and cold processes, traditional forms and experimental techniques, resulting in pieces that embody precision, curiosity, and reverence. Both teacher and lifelong learner, Cole continues to travel, share knowledge, and expand the possibilities of his medium—all while returning to the meditative heart of creation.

To contact Cole, learn more about the artist or to purchase work visit colejohnsonglass.com

Brey Quality Crafts

Growing up on a 400-acre dairy farm in Wisconsin, Betsy Brey learned early the value of working with her hands and the quiet wisdom of the natural world. Those lessons followed her as she traveled widely, ultimately guiding her to the foothills of Wilkes County, North Carolina, where she settled in 1978. Surrounded by the abundant natural resources of the Southern Appalachians, Betsy discovered a calling that felt both deeply traditional and entirely her own: mountain basketry.

For more than 30 years, Betsy crafted baskets using time-honored Appalachian techniques, drawing inspiration from the forests, hillsides, and creekbeds around her. In 2010, she shifted her focus to the ancient practice of bark peeling—an art that begins each spring when sap rises and the bark of yellow poplar trees can be carefully gathered and peeled in long, supple sheets. Today, her work seamlessly weaves together her mastery of basketry with her expertise in bark harvesting, resulting in distinctive baskets, containers, and sculptural pieces that honor both material and maker.

Every object Betsy creates comes from the land she calls home. She gathers all her materials—yellow poplar, cedar, hickory, white oak, hemlock, and reed—from the 25 acres surrounding her studio in the Boomer community. By collecting seasonally and working exclusively with native materials, she seeks to “restore the human touch to our material lives,” crafting pieces that reconnect people to the natural world and to the long lineage of Appalachian makers who worked with what the forest provided.

Visitors to Brey Quality Crafts can tour her studio and grounds, where in spring they may find her peeling bark straight from the tree. In addition to her bark and basketry work, Betsy offers handmade soaps and leads hands-on cold-process soap-making classes—complete with all materials and a take-home half-gallon mold of luxurious soap.

Her Boomer, North Carolina studio is open by appointment. barkoffandlyes@yahoo.com