Today we’d like to introduce you to Cameron Plunkett.
Cameron, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always had a love of art and have been creating in one way or another for as long as I can remember. In 2002 I graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a degree in art specializing in graphic design. I worked as a professional graphic designer for ten years but dreamed of striking out on my own as a full time artist and craftsman. I made that leap in 2012 and started Stout Handmade creating custom leather goods.
Things took a turn in 2014 when I discovered the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina and enrolled in a week long introductory blacksmithing course. I was instantly hooked on blacksmithing and within two weeks of completing my course, I had built my first forge and started incorporating hand forged goods into my offerings for my business.
With my new love of blacksmithing, I began taking as many classes as I could. I enrolled in a two week intensive bladesmithing course with the American Bladesmithing Society, and several other specialized blacksmithing classes offered through the J.C.C.F.S. As my knowledge and skill sets evolved, so did my products and offerings for Stout Handmade. I began making custom knives. Hand forged axes, hammers and other tools.
Last year I was given the opportunity to teach a week long bladesmithing course at the John C. Campbell Folk School, where I first learned blacksmithing. It was so great to be able to share my experience and the knowledge I’ve gained through the many amazing instructors I’ve been privileged to learn from over the years. It was so fulfilling to see the look of accomplishment on my students’ faces after they had completed their projects. I am excited to take on more teaching opportunities and begin offering classes locally in my own shop.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Growing as a craftsman requires failure… A lot of failures. Starting it can be devastating to see days worth of work destroyed in the blink of an eye when you lose focus for a split second. You learn to be resilient and accept it as part of the process, take what lessons you can from your mistakes and start again. One of the best parts of teaching my first bladesmithing class was being able to guide my students through their project without making all of the mistakes I learned the hard way and seeing them produce work at a level of craftsmanship that took me much longer to achieve.
Stout Handmade – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Stout Handmade has always been about following my passion for craftsmanship and handmade goods. My offerings are ever evolving, but are primarily heirloom quality hand forged knives and tools. I enjoy making useful items that their owners can take pride in using in their work, whether it is a damascus steel jewelers hammer or hand forged chef’s knife. It is very rewarding to create one-of-a-kind pieces that are not only beautifully crafted, but functional tools that you can be confident will perform well for generations.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career so far was teaching my first class at the John C. Campbell Folk School last year. The folk school has had such a huge impact on my life and career. It was a huge honor for me to be an instructor there. I couldn’t be more proud of my students and the beautiful work they produced.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stouthandmade.com
- Email: stouthandmade@gmail.com
- Instagram: @stouthandmade
- Facebook: @stouthandmade
Image Credit:
Cameron Plunkett
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
