End of Trail - Line Shack Benches

Along the original Cowboy trails, Kevin revisits the old west, dropping in on his StickStoneSteel genre to bring to life some old standards.

These Line Shack Benches are reminiscent of what the Cowhands may have built for the months they spent away from the ranch tending to cattle in the high pastures.

Kevin’s great Uncle migrated from Prussia to homesteaded in the Dakota Territory. His sons completed such tasks including the fencing and furnishing of the bunkhouses and what not.

Bow Saws, 1 and 2 man saws, an ax, a forge and hammers were among the tools that made the initial trip along side food staples, cookware and clothing. Then using what wood was left over from building fences and their housing, they put together a few luxuries. Tables and benches which would remain on site long after the cattle tending tour of duty was complete, set up for seasons to follow.

Now Kevin’s tools are electric and more calculating, but he builds in their spirit of making use of what is available. Where the Cowhands most likely used an old horseshoe Kevin uses scrap iron and saw blades.

The benches seen here are made from pine slabs, scrap iron and used saw blades cut and forged to fit the design. They are a bit upscale from what their ancestors looked like, complemented with stain washes and readymade bolts from an old futon frame but they do inspire a campfire cookout.

Come sit a spell. 

These benches will be on site at the "Deep Roots Festival" in Milledgeville,  Georgia on Saturday October 22nd.   

We owe thanks for this opportunity to Jessica Danials, owner operator of A Flair for Hair Salon here in Milledgeville,  whom is hosting the Charity auction at this festival for two local ladies dealing with breast cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

~Cheryl

P.s. These are prototype pieces, 76 inches long, 17 inches in height with a bench width of 15 inches. What would you pay for something like this?

Possible options are cushioned, and different ranges of finishes, you tell us, and we’ll go from there…

Sunburst Table - StickStoneSteel 1st Appearance!

Recently one of our previous clients asked told us about a non-profit charity auction she is holding to benefit for two women; one dealing with breast cancer and the other hodgkin’s lymphoma. She asked Kevin if he would donate some of what she calls his ‘rustic’ hand made furniture for the cause. He happily complied. 

She then asked if he could supply benches and tables for the food court seating of the Deep Roots Festival, Milledgeville, Georgia where her auction will take place.

With less than a month to go, Kevin plunged into his "StickStoneSteel" mode.  Between the Saw Mill fall off and the collection of items collected and obtained over time his palate was already full.

He’d already been playing with forge bending steel for benches for our own deck so Naturally while his mind clicked away at designs for benches made out of fall off wood he came into the house and asked me for whatever poster paint Arthur had left over in the craft cupboard.

Within in minutes, under the carport he had a concrete garden walk paver balancing on a couple bags of concrete and was joyfully painting away like a happy kid. 

With limited colors, he went freewheeling; digging at the bottom of the bottles where the thick colored gook had accumulated. He managed to scrape more than enough yellow for the center.  I watched him artfully dash out orange and red rays from that yellow core.  I am pretty sure he was fighting the urge to unleash a wild splattering of paint at it but refrained.

Hours later, after the paint had dried he brought the stand to the house.  Chain welded together for the tripod legs with a used saw blade to secure the balance. What you can’t see from this picture is an old grinding wheel holding the concert paper in place with a heavy nut and bolt.

Arthur has made a request that Kevin build one like this for his room.  I want one too!   Guess we’ll have to get more poster paint.  :)

~Cheryl

Your 'Going Green' Interests..............

Not that he ever runs out of ideas, but Kevin suggested I find out what ‘Going Green’ followers and enthusiasts have interests in.  Is there a specific project or handmade item you have imagined but not located?

Kevin is always up for a challenge.  He loves playing with new ideas and then giving them 3 dimensional life.

As you can see, he’s got a good supply of wood to play with…..

Send us your thoughts and ideas........

Email us or visit us on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Going-Green/154093554604155

 ~Cheryl

p.s. His latest brainstorm is an eagle made from retired saw blades!