Meegan Czop of Rebuilding Exchage

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt
Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

Rebuilding Exchange / Crafted in Carhartt

I think there are a lot of women (myself included) who often feel as though they are without a voice; be it in the workplace, the construction site, on the range, in social media, or during everyday life. It can be infuriatingly overwhelming to stand against the dialogue that already dictates those venues and arenas: the ideas that men are better leaders, women can’t perform as well in tough, blue-collar jobs, or even that women are better suited to clerical tasks rather than being out on the field.

Women, let’s stick together and raise our voices simultaneously to create a new discussion. We are capable. We are strong. We can swing a hammer or wield a crowbar. We can be contractors and painters and cattle ranchers and mechanics and engineers. We can do whatever job we want. We can lead, and we can do it well. WE CAN.

That brings me to Meegan Czop and the folks at Rebuilding Exchange. Many women there fill roles that are typically considered a man’s job. Meegan spends time on the ground scavenging through demolition sites for materials that can be resold through the non-profit to the public for re-use. It’s a tough job and she’s often the only woman to step foot in the work zone.

I tagged along on a trip she made to a Chicago warehouse that was ruined by fire a few months ago. With a jump in her step, she explores areas that would make most people nervous. A job that requires an adventurous spirit requires a special person. Meegan is changing the dialogue of what women are capable of with the elbow grease she puts into every day, the hard work she does to preserve and better the community, and the way she defies stereotypes with confidence and competence.

Meegan is wearing: Carhartt Women’s Force Performance Verdon Polo & Series 1889 Slim-Fit Double Front Denim Dungaree

DIY: Wood Chiseling

After watching Aimee Inouye chisel away at the gorgeous bench she was working on last week, I was inspired to give woodworking a try. The first thing I discovered is that the type of wood you use matters. Wood comes in varying hardness and grains. If you’re a beginner looking for the perfect substrate, I’d suggest basswood or butternut. You can find blocks and panels at your local craft store or even larger hardware stores. Now as they say, practice makes perfect. So grab a few scrap blocks to practice with before you attempt the project at hand.
You’ll need a pencil, wood, a chisel set, and a rubber mallet. Take a look at the steps below. I’m drawn to a more handmade aesthetic, so I made my chisel marks pronounced and jagged to give it a personal touch. If that’s not your taste, be a bit tidier with your lines.

How to Chisel / Crafted in Carhartt
Now that you’ve gotten the hang of the basics, you can move on to the real thing. It’s always good to have a plan, so start off with a template of how you’d like the sign to look. Use that template to create a shallowly traced guide into the wood. Once you have your pattern, make deeper cuts. You may want to go over a the letters a few times to make the incisions thicker and deeper into the surface. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. That’s the nature of handmade arts.

How to Chisel / Crafted in Carhartt
How to Chisel / Crafted in Carhartt
How to Chisel / Crafted in Carhartt
How to Chisel / Crafted in Carhartt

How to Chisel / Crafted in Carhartt

My crafting outfit: Carhartt Women’s El Paso Utility Jacket, Clarkston Cami Tank, Sibley Denim Shorts, & Carhartt Legacy 14″ Tool Bag

DIY: American Paper Chains

 

American Paper Chains / Crafted in Carhartt
American Paper Chains / Crafted in Carhartt

 

Fourth of July is this Friday, y’all! If you’re looking for last minute decorations or festive flag-inspired crafts, here’s just the thing. You probably have all of the supplies needed already. The Sibley Denim Shorts are perfect for any fishing or bar-b-queing you may have in-store this holiday weekend. Have fun and stay safe!

Carhartt Force Technology

Carhartt Force / Kate Silvio
Carhartt Force / Kate Silvio
Carhartt Force / Kate Silvio
Carhartt Force / Kate Silvio

Carhartt Force / Kate Silvio

Carhartt // metal shop

Carhartt Force / Kate Silvio

 

Remember Detroit artist, Kate Silvio? Along her path to becoming a craftsperson, she’s picked up many useful trades and skills. Metal fabrication being one of them. Working in the metal shop can be extremely physical labor. After all the welding, cutting, bending, and hammering it’s easy to work up quite a sweat. That’s why Carhartt Force is perfect for a rigorous day on the job. It’s made with FastDry® technology for quick wicking, Stain Breaker™ technology that releases stains, and the fabric fights odors to boot.

Take a look at some of Kate’s work here
Check out what she’s wearing: Carhartt Women’s Force Performance Quarter-Zip Shirt, Original-Fit Canvas Crawford Dungaree, Billing Safety Glasses, and Women’s Soft Hands Gloves.

Edith of Automotive Specialties in Longview, Texas

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Longview TX auto body and Carhartt

Most people are proud that they can change a flat tire on their own, but what about those rare few who can take a car apart and put it back together again? Meet Edith. She works at Automotive Specialties in Longview, Texas. When it comes to Corvettes, they’ve got you covered. As I watched Edith go about her daily routine, I realized that being a mechanic is an art form. It takes knowledge, strength, creativity, and attention to detail. So many skill sets are required and your craft must be finely attuned. I have mad respect for anyone who is capable of fixing and restoring cars, but I’m even more impressed by Edith’s self-assured nature. She works in a man’s world, and yet she blows most of her contemporaries out of the water. She found what she loved and pushed herself to greatness.

Check out Edith’s work gear: Carhartt Women’s Jackson Shirt Jac II, Carhartt Women’s Norfolk Henley, Women’s Orignal-Fit Jasper Jean, & Carhartt Women’s Sandstone Active Jac Quilted Flannel

Winter Storm Ion

Chicago snow and Carhartt

Chicago snow and Carhartt

Chicago snow and Carhartt

Chicago snow and Carhartt

Chicago snow and Carhartt

Chicago snow and Carhartt

Chicago snow and Carhartt

Chicago snow and Carhartt

Chicago snow and Carhartt

Chicago snow and Carhartt

Chicago snow and Carhartt

This Winter Storm Ion has swept the US by force. It seems like you can’t go anywhere without hearing about it. Understandably so, these plunging temperatures are the coldest that most places have experienced in the past 20 years.

I don’t look to anyone else besides Carhartt to keep me warm during the winter. You have to take a look at the new Carhartt Women’s Quick Duck Woodward Jacket. It’s 30% lighter than the traditional sandstone material, but just as durable and warm. It’s coated with Rain Defender™ durable water repellent technology to keep you dry, has tons of pockets, and even has a media port so you have easy access to your phone or ipod. I wore some of my favorite Carhartt snow storm accessories as I took a very chilly walk to capture a few images of the frozen city of Chicago. My camera quit working half-way through because of the negative temperatures.

Take a look at some of my trusted winter gear: Carhartt Women’s Quick Duck Woodward Jacket, Women’s Bayfield Trapper Hat, Carhartt Women’s Socks, & Carhartt Women’s Acrylic Headband