Ahead of Schedule..........

It is November 30 and the weather is beautiful in Southwest Missouri. We normally wait until the cold blustery days of Winter to begin building our inventory of papercrete containers for the Spring/Summer show season but the demand for our containers has been great all Fall. I was suffering with a sore back so Peggy began to sell on the craft show circuit and has been well received. Increased sales has caused us to concentrate on working ahead of our usual schedule to maintain an inventory.

Show exposure with a unique craft item results in lots of invitations to additional events. Our 2014 event schedule is filling rapidly. Between the new events and finding groups to host our papercrete classes it seems that the coming season will be hectic yet fun. We had a goal of completing 1000 pieces to be ready for the '13 season. That goal was met and we expect to double that for '14.

Things We Like........

It was the middle of February and the weather was unsettled as they say in the Ozarks. Peggy and I had driven to the Portland area on a buying trip and had not experienced any bad weather or driving conditions on the way West. Portland was experiencing a week of rain yet well above freezing so it was tolerable. On our way out I had asked if there was anyplace special we should see since we had the weekend to kill before business on Monday morning. Peggy’s only request was to see the ocean.

Oregon 26, the road between the Portland area and the coast would turn out to be a smorgasbord of weather and driving conditions. It was touch and go as we experienced rain, sleet, snow, hail, and road conditions to match. Slow and steady we made our way to Seaside, Oregon the end of the Lewis and Clark trail. It was traveler’s luck that as we approached the last few miles to the coast the skies opened the sun bore down and we had a wonderful day exploring the quaint town of Seaside and then traveled South to Cannon Beach State Park. The scene was almost surreal as I captured a picture of my lovely bride doing the Hillbilly Strut down the beach with shoes in hand.

Absolutely fascinating is what I call the interaction of flora and fauna in nature. Sixty plus years has not dampened my desire to see just how ingrained we are with everything that surrounds us. I remember once hearing a quote that said, “man owes his existence to six inches of topsoil and the fact that it rains”. That illustrates the fact that we survive in an environment that is both fragile and resilient, It also provides those who seek to understand its’ mysteries a world of entertainment.

Thousands and thousands of symbiotic relationships occur in nature every day. It does not matter if it is hot or cold, wet or dry, dark or light, nature continues on. The environment is open seven days a week twenty fours a day. Feel free to go out and see what interaction you might find.

Weekend Fun..............

Growing season is almost over so it is time to transition into some weekend fun! Vending events will be in order until the holiday season! We will have the opportunity to offer folks something beyond the standard flower pots plus introduce customers to "Fairy Gardening & Miniature Landscapes". Watch our Schedule Page to see the events we will be participating in as they are confirmed!

Cat Tested & Approved............

" I love this one"

" Maybe"

 "A little tight"

"Works for me"

"Catnap Time"

After our pots are removed from the molds, allowed to dry, sanded and finished, we set them out on pallets to weather and season a little before we take them to sell. About dusk each evening all the farm cats gather and for some reason move from pot to pot and put their seal of approval on our work. I do not know what their fascination with the pots might be but it has been an almost nightly job for them as long as there are pots on the mat to test. 

This all began when my wife determined to make a papercrete bird bath. We have the top of an old BBQ grill that is used as a mold to make a large shallow bowl. A bowl was made with no drain holes and after it was dry was filled with water. The papercrete composition being somewhat porous did not hold water long. It soon became a favorite place for the cats to curl up in. Now it's "First Come-First Served".....

August Rebound.......

The Spring/Summer festivals, vending events, and conventions had completely eliminated our papercrete pot inventory. We had scheduled the month of August to relax and gather ourselves for the Fall season. Our usual venue is to change hats and vend for another company through the Fall and into the Winter months but due to an unscheduled back injury we had to change our normal routine. Peggy and I spent the first three weeks of the month building an inventory to allow us to vend at a few select craft shows this Fall. 

When I was young I abused my joints and muscles and they accepted it begrudgingly! Now that I'm 65 years old the same abuse results in a serious revolt by said muscles and joints and they issue a reminder at every opportunity! All that said, I'm enjoying my days more and more. I can sit in the shade, play in the mud, listen to all the sounds of nature, and turn today's trash into tomorrow's treasures!!

Newest Design in Papercrete.......

First we build them!

Then we fill them up!

Found a clam shell bowl that we thought suitable for a mold and was pleased with the results.

New Items in Papercrete.........

We have add several new shapes and colors to our inventory. Molds that were gathered in the past are now being put to use. Unusual shapes and colors are always in demand and it is our aim to serve our customers. This ten sided container is the result of using a wooden tub built like an old wooden barrel. The mold has to be soaked in water every few days to keep it from "fallin' to staves" when the wood dries out and shrinks allowing the metal bands that hold it together to become loose.

An enlarged version of our regular rectangle trough is becoming very popular with our customers. They have been purchased almost as fast as they dry and get displayed at the farmer's market. We make these troughs in natural grey, buff, and terra cotta in color. The mold was made from old pallet wood and a piece of wooden siding. Looks like I will need to make an additional mold or two of the same size to keep ahead of customer demand.