Crafts with Dre: Epoxy Art, Metalwork, and the Maker Mindset

Dre shares her journey as a maker blending epoxy artistry, welding, and functional art. Her insights highlight the importance of safety, preparation, and continuous skill development—whether you're working with chemicals, metal, or paint. If you're looking to refine your craft, expand your skills, or simply understand what motivates a multi-disciplinary creator, Dre offers practical advice and inspiration.

Connect with Dre:

• Instagram: Crafts with Dre
• Facebook
• TikTok

• Total Boat Epoxy
• Maker Epoxy
• Lincoln Electric
• Jess Crow Workshops
• Making It Podcast
• Clubhouse App

Final notes: Dre exemplifies how a multi-disciplinary approach—blending epoxy artistry, welding, and personal storytelling—can fuel continual growth. Her emphasis on preparation, safety, community, and self-awareness creates a blueprint for both seasoned makers and newcomers. If you're eager to expand your skills or find deeper purpose in your projects, her journey reminds us that mastery is a continuous, rewarding process.

The Power of Connection and Creativity in the Maker Community

In this episode, we dive into the significance of making, sharing, and the emotional bonds created through craftsmanship. My guest, Vern Horst, highlights how creating isn't just about tools or finished products—it's about connecting with others and ourselves. Whether you're crafting sentimental pens or collaborating on large projects, the message is clear: making fosters community, healing, and personal fulfillment.

In this episode:

• The importance of creativity as a lifelong compulsion and mental necessity
• How gifts like sentimental pens help preserve memories and strengthen bonds
• The impact of making on mental health and emotional well-being
• Unique project ideas, from denim artisan pieces to memorial urns
• Strategies for overcoming creative challenges, including taking breaks and collaborative efforts
• The role of maker communities, spaces, and social media in expanding inspiration
• The value of sharing your work not just as art but as a way to give meaning and memories

Resources & Links:

• Vern Makes
• Heather Segal Designs
• Create and Connect Podcast
• Maker Camp
• Silent Mars
• Deadrise Crafts
• Instagram: Vern Makes
• YouTube: Vern Makes

Connect with Vern Horst:

• Instagram
• TikTok
• YouTube

Additional Notes:

Vern exemplifies how craftsmanship is a pathway to personal expression, mental health, and community engagement. His projects range from sentimental pens that keep loved ones’ memories alive to collaborations pushing technical boundaries. Remember, the act of making is about more than the finished product—it's about the stories, memories, and connections we forge along the way.

This conversation is with Adam D. Coonradt of Uncle Sam Metalworks. From the firehouse to the forge, Adam shows us how discipline, creativity, and a little bit of fire in the belly can shape not just metal—but a meaningful life as a maker, dad, and community member.

If you enjoyed today's episode, head over to Instagram and Facebook to follow @uncle_sam_metalworks to see his latest projects, hammer-ins, and everyday maker moments. And if you're local to the Capital Region in New York, keep an eye out for his work at craft shows and blacksmithing events.

Thanks for listening to Create and Connect. If this episode sparked something in you, share it with a fellow maker, leave a review, and join us next time as we connect with more creators who are building with their hands and their hearts.