The tools of the trade

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jerreht Harris | Senior Airman Oriana Beard, American Forces Network Kunsan broadcast journalist, works in a moss stitch while knitting a sweater in the AFN Kunsan radio station, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 8, 2020. Beard practices multiple forms of creative expression, knitting is her way of relaxing after a long day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jerreht Harris)  

SOUTH KOREA

04.06.2020

Story by Airman 1st Class Jerreht Harris  

AFN Kunsan

Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea -
Craftsmanship is something that must be practiced regularly, always progressing and never allowed to stagnate. The craftsman is always trying to improve their craft no matter how proficient they are.
Not only is it a productive hobby, it’s helping people forget about the stress of recent world events due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and giving them back some level of control over their lives.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael O’Harrow is a craftsman by trade with the 8th Maintenance Group at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea but in his spare time he pursues a different craft he’s been practicing for years; leatherworking. As a skill that is becoming less common in the modern age of synthetic materials, O’Harrow has taught himself nearly everything he knows about leatherworking.
“I’ve had mentors come and go and I’ve mentored people when they express an interest in leatherworking,” said O’Harrow. “There’s something special about working with a material that has been used for centuries and getting to pass on my knowledge is gratifying, keeping the craft alive is something that’s really important to me.”
Craft work isn’t always something inherently labor intensive like leatherworking, Senior Airman Oriana Beard, American Forces Network Kunsan broadcast journalist, has been knitting since she could hold the needles and it has become more than just a way to pass the time for her. Back home she would knit with her mother who also has a love of arts and crafts and they would use their time spent working on various projects as time spent together.
“My mom is really into knitting, in fact my whole family is into some sort of art and or craft,” said Beard. “I like to draw and paint whenever I can, or when I feel inspired. Now with the quarantine keeping everyone inside more than usual, I’ve had to branch out with my hobbies and crafts to keep from getting tired of one thing.”
With so many questions and so few answers to something as unprecedented as the virus we’re dealing with now, it’s easy to get lost in negative thoughts and fear, so it’s important to have something you can turn to as a solid foundation. Keeping busy and entertained while being productive can make even the toughest times a little easier to deal with.
“It’s hard enough to find a good time to be able to talk to my family back home with the time difference, now I have to worry about the quarantine,” said O’Harrow. “My wife asked me to make her a new carrying bag, so that’s kept me busy indoors and it’s something I know she will appreciate and enjoy so it makes me feel a little closer to home as well.”

• Date Taken: 04.06.2020
• Date Posted: 06.30.2020 03:25
• Story ID: 367070
• Location: KR