Metalsmith, Ceramic Artist, Furniture Maker

For 30 years, Jack Brubaker has been molding metal into bold curves and delicate spirals, influenced by his love of both Art Nouveau and the Southern Indiana woods. On this morning at his workshop in Bloomington, Indiana, Jack squishes metal for a stair railing and recreates the feel of an old rural fence grown wild.

With the basis of the tree hammered into shape, Jack begins creating the flow of a bird’s swing into flight. He cuts out and shapes the wings, grinding away the rough edges and finally attaching them to the bird’s body. The railing depicts an old fence with two crows chasing a red-tailed hawk--a common scene in the Indiana woodlands.

Nancy Goodheart Matthews' ceramic work bears the influence of an eclectic life growing up in the Virgin Islands and traveling extensively throughout Europe and Mexico. In her home state of Florida, her work decorates outdoor pools and exterior walls, adding a bit of charm to courtyards and other secret spaces. On the show, watch as Nancy works on adding dimension to a column that, with her decorative pieces, will tell an ancient love story from Florida's Calusa Indians.

John DeGirolamo has been making fine furniture for 12 years, but he has been intrigued with wood since he was a small boy in his grandfather's shop. Today John puts his own spin on an American outdoor classic--the Adirondack chair. Watch as he creates the Modirondack, his fun modern curvy version of an old standby.