In this episode of The Trades Show, host Briana Ottoboni sits down with Marcia Trattner, blacksmith, sculptor, and founder of She-Weld, inside her Brooklyn, NY workshop.

Their conversation explores Marcia’s 35-year journey with metal — from her early days in biology and fine art to discovering blacksmithing as both a trade and an artistic language. She shares how sculpture, teaching, collaboration, and even repairing historic pieces for the Martha Graham Company all weave together in her creative life.

We dive into:

• The moment blacksmithing found her and how working with metal feels like drawing in three dimensions.
• Balancing personal creative projects with commissions, teaching, and running a studio.
• The history of her Brooklyn blacksmith shop and her Catskills backup space as anchors for her practice.
• Why hammer-ins, mentorship, and community are vital for blacksmithing’s future.
• Her advice to aspiring makers: don’t wait for perfect conditions — just start.

Whether you’re a blacksmith, metalsmith, sculptor, or a craft-curious listener, this episode offers insight into the flow of making, the realities of sustaining an artisan practice, and the joy of letting craft find you.

The Trades Show is a show about modern craftwork — a conversation series with artisans and a return to what makes us human: the ability to create with our hands.

🔥 Where to find Marcia Trattner:

Website: https://www.she-weld.com

Instagram: @she_weld

⚒️ Where to find The Trades Show:

Instagram: @tradesshow

TikTok: @tradesshow

YouTube: @tradesshow

Substack: Trade Secrets

Website: thetradesshow.co

✨ Where to find your host, Briana:

Instagram: @brianaaugustina

Substack: https://brianaaugustina.substack.com/

Website: brianaaugustina.com

🎬 In this episode

0:00 Introduction to The Trades Show01:38 Meet Marsha Trattner: Blacksmith and Founder of She Weld04:32 Marsha's Journey: From Biology to Blacksmithing07:48 The Art and Science of Metalwork12:50 Balancing Creative and Commercial Projects24:25 The Evolution of Blacksmithing29:33 Advice for Aspiring Blacksmiths36:12 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Trades Show, host Briana Ottoboni sits down with Cynthia Alberto — a weaver, multidisciplinary artist, and founder of Weaving Hand — inside the Fridman Gallery in New York City.

Cynthia shares her remarkable journey from a career in computer science at Merrill Lynch to becoming a full-time artist with her work now featured at MoMA. Along the way, she opens up about how weaving became both her livelihood and her lifeline — a way to heal, build community, and preserve her Filipino heritage through textile traditions.

Together, they explore:

• The role of weaving circles and craft communities in a disconnected world
• How immigrant roots and cultural identity are expressed through textiles
• The founding of Weaving Hand and its impact on education and healing
• Weaving as both fine art and a deeply personal form of resilience
• The cultural and environmental significance of textiles in everyday life
• Reviving traditional crafts and sustainable approaches to making
• Practical advice for aspiring weavers, artisans, and creative entrepreneurs

Whether you’re an artisan, aspiring maker, or someone who simply values handmade work, this conversation is a powerful reminder of how craft connects us to identity, community, and the fine art world.

🎙 The Trades Show is a podcast and video series about modern craftwork — a return to what makes us human: the ability to make with our hands.

🧵 Where to find Cynthia Alberto:

Weaving Hand’s Instagram: @weavinghand

Cynthia’s Instagram: @cynthiaalbertostudio

⚒️ Where to find The Trades Show:

Instagram: @tradesshow

TikTok: @tradesshow

YouTube: @tradesshow

Substack: Trade Secrets

Website: thetradesshow.co

✨ Where to find your host, Briana:

Instagram: @brianaaugustina

Substack: https://brianaaugustina.substack.com/

Website: brianaaugustina.com

🎬 In this episode

00:00 The Importance of Community00:47 Welcome to The Trades Show01:43 Meet Cynthia Alberto: Weaver and Multidisciplinary Artist03:12 Cynthia's Journey from Computer Science to Art07:55 Transition to Weaving and Textile Design10:22 Founding Weaving Hand and Community Impact14:03 Weaving as a Form of Healing18:43 The Cultural and Environmental Significance of Textiles26:15 Reviving Traditional Crafts and Techniques34:42 Advice for Aspiring Weavers and Artists39:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts