2021-08-20 00:09:23
There’s a certain feeling you get from a handcrafted item, of holding something carefully created by skillful hands—an item made by one person for another. Crafters, builders, makers—their work tells stories about a place as much as the place influences their work. Consider how the unique mix of Arizona’s climate and soil creates the perfect environment for small-batch wine and varieties of lavender. Or the way many native animals and plants (like Arizona’s iconic saguaro) inspire and adorn a number of products and art. Get a glimpse into some of the state’s many talented makers, craftsmen and culinary artisans, and be sure to shop their wares to take a piece of Arizona home with you. IVA (HONWYNUM) HONYESTEWA OF ISKASOKPU GALLERY In a small room that connects Iskasokpu Gallery to the home of Iva—Hopi name Honwynum, which means “Female Bear Walking”—Honyestewa, floor-to-ceiling shelves line the walls, and a window looks out over an Arizona canyon striated in color. She weaves two traditional Hopi baskets, the coil (poota) and the sifter (tutsaya) using yucca gathered from Hopi tribal lands. “The preparation takes a couple weeks to gather your yucca,” says Honyestewa, “to clean it, to split it, to dye it.” She uses natural plant-based dyes to create the bold, bright colors for which she is known. For Honyestewa, basketweaving is both a spiritual endeavor and a communal activity. When she weaves alone, it’s meditation. When she weaves with others, it’s a time to talk and laugh. Her creation, the pootsaya, emerged in 2014, during her artist residency at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, and it’s the first of its kind in the world. Now, Honyestewa and her niece Reba Ann Lomayestewa, whom Honyestewa taught how to weave the pootsaya, are the only basketweavers making it. ATSUO SAKURAI OF ARIZONA SAKE Yokohama native Atsuo Sakurai settled in Holbrook and began making his native country’s most well-known beverage—sake, or Japanese rice wine—out of a garage. Not only has he seen huge success (chefs, restaurateurs and distributors snatch up Sakurai’s sake as fast as he can bottle it), but he’s received some of the highest honors in the Japanese sake world. His product, Arizona Sake, was awarded the title “World’s Best Sake Made Outside Japan” at Tokyo’s Sake Competition. Sakurai makes his junmai ginjo sake in small batches using traditional ingredients of rice, yeast, water—specifically, Arizona water—and a (good) fungus called koji. He attributes the flavor of his sake to the fact it’s unfiltered and unpasteurized, giving it a pure taste, and the region’s cold, dry temperatures help with the fermentation process. In the garage, the tanks are filled with fermenting sake, giving off a fruity aroma reminiscent of apples and bananas. After three weeks of fermenting and filtration, the sake is bottled, labeled and ready to savor. STEPHEN PAUL OF HAMILTON DISTILLERS One evening in 2006, Stephen Paul and his wife Elaine were barbecuing over mesquite wood scraps from the couples’ custom furniture company, Arroyo Design, and drinking their beverage of choice—Scotch. Then Elaine asked a question: “What if you could malt barley over a mesquite fire instead of a peat fire like they do in Scotland?” Stephen Paul got to thinking. What if you could? Little did they know, this single question laid the foundation for what would become Hamilton Distillers, a boutique whiskey distillery in Tucson named one of the best whiskey distilleries in America by Esquire magazine. Today, Hamilton Distillers is beloved for its three regional whiskeys—Dorado, Clear and Classic—each under the label Whiskey Del Bac. Drinkers can expect to taste notes of caramel, vanilla and occasionally butterscotch in the mesquite-smoked varieties and black cherry in the aged whiskeys. Sample all three on a 1.5-hour tour of the distillery, followed by a guided tasting experience. DON GUERRA OF BARRIO BREAD On any given day, devoted locals fill the tiny space of Barrio Bread, eager to buy fresh artisanal loaves known for their signature, multi-textured feel and taste: crispy on the outside and chewy and airy on the inside. To create his beloved bread, owner and Arizona native Don Guerra employs a French-style technique that relies on the starter levain, or French sourdough, as the foundation of the bread. Guerra also sources organic, mostly locally grown heritage grains in all of the 3,700 loaves he makes weekly. And his oven, like the grains in the bread, is rooted in artisanal tradition—a gigantic Italian deck oven imported from Verona, Italy. On the Barrio menu, you’ll see a loaf called Desert Durum—nutty in flavor, crunchy in texture. And stenciled on the top of the dough? The signature saguaro—an image now synonymous with not only the Barrio brand but Arizona itself. Buy a loaf of your own at Barrio Bread’s storefront in Tucson at Broadway Village. TERRY VESCI OF PINE CREEK LAVENDER FARM Nestled in the mountains of north-central Arizona sits Pine Creek Canyon Lavender Farm in Pine. It’s here that owner Terry Vesci, a lawyer turned farmer, and her husband Rick, hand-harvest 5,000 lavender plants on a homestead settled by pioneers in the late 1800s. The aromatic Grosso variety shows up in Terry’s artisanal products, such as soaps and lotions, and she uses Royal Velvet and Provence varieties in her culinary goodies like tea, cocoa, lavender salt and lavender-lemon pepper. Step inside the hand-hewn log shed that doubles as the farm’s gift shop to browse the shelves stocked with all-natural products made from the bounty of Terry’s and Rick’s lavender fields. While you’re there, don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers. WENDELL CROW OF CROW’S DAIRY High school sweethearts Wendell and Rhonda Crow were cattle dairy farmers in Tolleson, Arizona. But about 10 years ago, they “converted” to goats and never looked back. Their 5-acre Grade A farmstead in Buckeye is home to 300 Anglo-Nubian goats whose milk produces enough artisan cheese to service 110 restaurants and a handful of retail outlets, including dozens of farmers’ markets, around Arizona. Find Crow’s Dairy products at area farmers’ markets such as Uptown Farmers Market in Central Phoenix, Momma’s Organic Market in Peoria and Tempe Farmers Market, as well as on the menus of Arizona eateries such as FnB in Scottsdale and Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley. ERIC WATSON OF WATSON’S HAT SHOP In Arizona, we know about cowboy culture, and no piece completes the look more than the iconic cowboy hat. Many in search of that perfect accessory find their way to Watson’s Hat Shop in Cave Creek, where master hatter Eric Watson crafts wearable works of art. As a young craftsman, Watson reveled in the details and the history of the craft, so much so that he purchased antique machinery (some dating from the 1800s) on which to make and restore hats. A 1900s-era crown iron machine purrs and clicks as it molds beaver felt onto a hat block. The 1926 blocking table hisses as steam shapes hat brims. Shelves of centuries-old wood hat blocks stretch from floor to ceiling. And amid the symphony of sounds, Watson, his wife Emily and apprentice Alex Cabrera stitch thread, stretch felt, size heads and sew ribbons. Even if you’re not in the market for a custom, handmade hat, you’re sure to find Watson’s detailed 64-step process fascinating. SHOP SMALL FRANCES From locally made cocktail mixers to Arizona-inspired t-shirts to cheeky greeting cards, this shop in Phoenix features the wares of independent artists, crafters and businesses. PHOENIX GENERAL Whether you’re looking for design-forward home goods, eco-friendly skincare products or hand-harvested botanicals to transform your shower into a spa-like experience, this hot shop has got the goods. EL BE GOODS Sustainable, ethically made clothing—plus on-trend jewelry, stylish sunglasses, desert-inspired bath products, handwoven sandals and cheeky greeting cards—can be found at this boutique in Tucson. FLAGSTAFF GENERAL STORE You never know what you’ll find at this funky shop, which sells local art, handmade jewelry, vintage décor and refurbished furniture. From antique skis to soy candles to chalk paint, it’s all fair game. CLEAR CREEK TRADING COMPANY Authentic American Indian crafted artifacts are the draw at this Sedona shop, featuring the works from more than 30 tribes. Peruse everything from baskets to beadwork and leathers to feathers. FARM TOUR Learn how extra virgin olive oil is made on the Olive Oil 101 Educational Tour at Queen Creek Olive Mill. This 45-minute guided experience includes cooking ideas and tasting tips, as well as a visit to the on-site gourmet marketplace. READ EXTENDED INTERVIEWS AND WATCH THE VIDEOS AT VISITARIZONA.COM/MEET-THE-MAKER.
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