Greg Kraft, inspired by the beauty of nature began carving wood. He was self-taught with the help of library books. On a whim he and his brother signed up for the St. Paul Winter Carnival ice carving competition in 1998. They won first prize in the single block amateur category. A team was formed that carved in the multi-block ice carving competitions for the next 10 years. All the while working a full-time career as a prison therapist. Opportunities in community education opened a new world. Knife making, silversmithing, carving wood, bone, horn, stone, antler, leather work, and scrimshaw were learned. Greg became a blacksmith. He earned14 ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair for knife and tool making, basketry, bead work, wood carving and pen turning. After retiring from State service, Greg completed courses at Vesper Sculpture College in NE Minneapolis, where he learned to weld and teach community education classes in welding sculpture. Since 2015 he enjoyed teaching sculpture and carving classes in a variety of folk schools and community education organizations.