Colophon

About the Sample Descriptions

Descriptions were written based on the information provided by the sample supplier and the resources listed below. Each entry includes an explanation of the material, where it comes from, its known properties, and how it can be used in craft.

About the Category & Keyword Definitions

Primary category definitions were created using the Oxford-English Dictionary, the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative, Biofabricate, existing Materials Collection definitions, and knowledge and expertise from the Center for Craft’s 2025 Materials Research Fellow Amira Chowyuk.

The keyword categories were created using materials science logic and hierarchies, and carefully selected and refined for relevancy in a craft context. The keywords were developed with help from Amira Chowyuk, the Center for Craft’s 2025 Materials Research Fellow, and cross-referenced with the Institute of Making Material Library for relevance and accuracy.

Bibliography

  • Barnes, Marianne. New and Different Materials for Weaving and Coiling. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., Atglen, PA. 2012
  • Levy, Matt, Takuro Shibata, and Hitomi Shibata. Wild Clay: Creating Ceramics and Glazes from Natural and Found Resources. Herbert Press, London. 2022
  • Ball Clay. Ceramic Materials Atlas. n.d. Link
  • Del Harrow. Kaolin. Ceramic Materials Atlas. December 4, 2023 Link
  • Glossary of Pottery Terms. Ceramic Arts Network. n.d. Link
  • White Oak Baskets. Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual. June 30, 2023 Link
  • Halem, Henry. Glass Notes: A Reference for the Glass Artist. Franklin Mills Press, Kent, Ohio. 3rd ed.. 1996
  • Franklin, Katie, and Caroline Till. Radical Matter: Rethinking Materials for a Sustainable Future. Thames & Hudson Ltd., New York, New York
  • Hardwood Manufacturers Association. American Hardwood Information Center: The Authoritative Resource for American Hardwoods. Hardwood Manufacturers Association. Accessed August 1, 2024 Link
  • Hale, Peter M., and Moses Ashley. The Woods and Timbers of North Carolina: A Compilation From the Botanical and Geological Reports of Drs. Curtis, Emmons, and Kerr, to Which Are Added. Legare Street Press, Great Britain. 2021
  • Rabinowitz, Nica. Fruiting Bodies: Recipes to Connect Us with the Mycelia Web and the Interconnected World All Around Us. Fiberhouse Collective, New York, New York. 2024