Matthieu Cheminée is a jeweler, teacher, author, and photographer who has been visiting West Africa and researching the jewelry trade there for almost 30 years.
Tim McCreight is a jeweler, teacher, author, and publisher who has written and produced dozens of books and videos covering all aspects of modern metalsmithing.
Beyond being impressed with the talent and ingenuity of the craftsmen they came to know, both men were struck by the imbalance of resources affecting the jewelers they met. The Toolbox Initiative was formed as a way to assist the metalsmithing community in West Africa and to recognize them for their kindness and generosity.