Introducing our new collection of work. We [Ben & Kate] teamed up with our brother-in-law, Matt Jacobs, to create a new collection featuring recycled farm steel and reclaimed wood [barn beams rescued from a local barn]. Matt is a 2^nd generation woodworker and currently an Architecture student at Rhode Island School of Design.

Our new work is a natural extension of who we are- a family rich with creative talent, design instincts and building skill.  It is also a natural extension of our passion for farming. Pairing reclaimed barn beams with recycled farm steel is a fitting way to honor agriculture.

Hop on over to Gatski Metal to check out our new metal sculptures!

1. Barn Loft Table

2. Barn Beam Console Table

3. Beam & Steel End Table

4. Metal & Magnet Strips

5. Circle Table

Ben, our brother-in-law, Matt [shown above] and I are in the process of working to bring you new sculptures for Gatski Metal, furniture and handmade gifts for The Steel Fork shop and our Etsy shop. We give ourselves about 2 weeks to do the following (for each and every new piece)…

1. Brainstorm Design
2. Discuss
3. Attempt Design
4. Discuss
5. Revise Design
6. Discuss
7. Attempt New Direction for Design
8. Discuss
9. Revise Again
10. Wrap it Up

As you might imagine, it can be a very arduous process. It is exciting and excruciating at the same time. We undergo this 3 times each year- in earnest attempt to keep things fresh!

This time around- we are lucky to have Matt, a current Rhode Island School of Design student in architecture helping us out. He comes from a long line of handy people. He is particularly skilled at housebuilding and woodworking.

Next week we will be introducing our fabulous new line up of work [inspired in part by industrial designs]- make sure you’re signed up for our newsletter to get the first look!

* a few more snapshots of works & workers in process

Your fair warning:  I’ve got my shovel out and my astronaut suit on.  I’m exploring the depths and limits of handmade and terroir.  I will be writing a series of posts on knowing where something came from, and it’s story. This one is a little more oriented to my “maker” friends out there.

Welcome to Storyland! Keep your superhero costume in the drawer- it’s not what you’re thinking.

Storyland is what I’m calling our current condition- the potent need for a story, yours-mine-hers. We are swarmed by personal details and in the same moment we crave them. Who are you? Where did you grow up? What do you do for fun? What makes you crazy? What makes you cry? I’m guessing you get the idea. Our glowing screens are buzzing with stories- your neighbors, the high school “friend” you once said “hi” to, the serial online participant. Some of us react to all this saying, “Whoa Nelly, turn that thing off- it’s insanity!”

Here’s what my optimistic self says, “Storyland is a magnificent opportunity.” It’s a glorious chance for makers of handmade goodness and farmers producing organic and natural foods to surge forward.

By offering someone an ounce of your inspirations, your history, your management or creative process- you are opening up big fat wallets [teeney weeney exaggeration]. Persistent story-telling does work; the catch is that it’s slow.

It’s slow because its not always obvious to the consumer. Let’s face it, everything made on earth [even by robots] has a story. Someone somewhere imagined it, managed it or simply pressed a button. Some people have a lot more money to tell their story- contrived or not.

Thankfully, in our present day state of Storyland- Tina [wife, mom, CEO] is making decisions not just on ads but on the story she read in the paper about the local farmer, the hundreds of tweets she received from me, the news you shared with her because she’s your “facebook friend.”

I say, “this is our chance, let’s grab it.” Tell the story about how you tear down fences and rebuild them every night to move your cows to new pastures or how your dad gave you a welder for your birthday when you were 14.

I’m looking forward to the evolution of Storyland. We’re going to tell our story and tell it again and again and again. In the same respect, I think we’re going to be asking alot more questions of what we’re buying. What do you think?

Photograph by cauchisavona.

Also, I need to thank Tara Gentile who is constantly inspiring me – she is wonderful at reminding us to tell “our story.”

Have you ever been blown away by something you thought you knew so well?  Well, I was left in the dust by… the craft show.

I was raised by a full time craftswoman. My mother sold her Rag Rugs exclusively at craft shows- no wholesale, no consignment, no home sales and no online sales. A handful of Craft shows each year- you either brought home the cash or… you didn’t. Here’s how it went..

You leave home before dawn; your less than reliable vehicle is packed solid, you lug everything you need to construct a  “shop” on uneven ground in a space the length of my arm [ok, a wee bit bigger], you work feverishly to create a magnetizing display, you guzzle some coffee and wait nervously. You hope the people come rushing in thru the gates, you hope they have money, you hope they like your kind of stuff and you hope it doesn’t rain or the wind doesn’t rip down your cattywompus tent.

Wait, what’s that?  What? It’s not the 80’s anymore. Ordinary people care about handmade stuff? What? I don’t have to dress up like a colonial servant at your craft show. What are you talking about?

All this to say, there is a new craft show in town. Let’s give it up for the craft show.  The new guy [gal] is hip, fresh and very savvy.  I have been put in my place; I never thought a craft show would be considered even remotely, “cool.”

It may be the same dance- you are probably still working like mad to create an amazing, display within a few hours and your booth might get blown away in  gale storm winds- but the whole thing has a new, fresh vibe. It’s got a catchy and a little edgy name like  Art Star Craft Bazaar or Renegade Craft Fair or Meet Your Maker.

You may still be praying that the next person to walk by stops in and gets the cash out- but you know you’ve got options. You can check your email, maybe something sold in your Etsy shop [a "place" that really knocks my socks off] or you can brainstorm for your next blog post. If they do stop in, you can tell them about your website or let them know you would happy to add them to your email mailing list.

I’m sure you’ll have your share of snide comments by the end of the weekend- but I’m guessing there’s going to be bucket loads of wow, “this stuff is really cool,” “that is so awesome that you make this,” and on and on. Handmade is definitely catching on.

After ALOT of time in my younger years wandering aimlessly thru endless earthtone craftiness – I confess I’ve always been a bit skeptical. I guess that’s how it is when you grow up in something- you become blind to it’s beauty. I’m coming around.

Its dawning on me that the craft show is a legacy. It’s the ye olde medieval market, evolved.  The craft show is our filling a deep need to buy our stuff from real people with real hands.

Long live the craft show!

Photos by Hello Craft & Renegade Craft Fair [of Empire Press]

Life’s little pauses are beautiful.  Sometimes, they catch us by surprise. One caught me by surprise for the month of May. Despite a small burst of renewed vigor- my little corner of the blog world remained quiet. Alas, I have returned. I have a fresh vision and so much to share.

First off, I’ve been wanting to share with you the Victory Garden of Tomorrow- ever since I spied them over at Good Measure. It is described as an art project posing as a propaganda campaign for new, American homefront values- inspired by the sustainability movement. Find Joe Wirtheim’s terrific posters here.

The lovely Grace of Design*Sponge introduced me [and countless others] to the fabulous illustrator Claudia Pearson. As you might expect, my eye was drawn to her “Buy Local” Prints. The themes are all things local to the New York area. Love this concept, I am a fan.

A wee bit more of an update on us…

Truth be told- there were a few reasons for my hiatus. We’ve been pounding out Gatski Metal sculptures to be shipped to art & craft galleries across the country. We had a very busy spring. In a little cottage industry like ours, it’s “all hands on deck” when we’re rolling.

Now that the Spring orders have been shipped- we’re looking forward to designing and building new Gatski sculptures and goods. All New great stuff coming soon! Our Summer photo shoot is less than 4 weeks away.

It’s May.  There is a fervor around the countryside- fields are plowed, harrowed, seeded; rounds are made checking on hay crops. It’s the time of year to, “Go- full throttle.” The longest day of the year is nearing. You’re thinking if I’m going to do it, I’d better do it now.

The other side of this energy that spins thru our May days- is feeling overwhelmed. It’s easy to get stuck.  I’ve been a little stuck- not so inspired. I’m going to tell myself that its not the time of year to get inspired. It’s go time.  There are times to sit and ponder [the deep of January], times to dream and savor [cool october days] and times to get busy [May? perhaps].

I’m a big fan of, “going with it.” Go with what feels right. Now is the time of year to hold steady and keep up. At least thats what I’m telling myself. Right now- we’re overbooked with orders for Gatski Metal sculptures [hip hip hooray]. We’re enjoying extended visits from New Zealand family and last and definitely least- fighting off spring colds.

I’m now officially unstuck- thanks to writing this for Scoutie Girl’s We Scout Wednesday.

There are some fantastic photos on early 1900’s farming by the Library of Congress. That’s where the above photo came from.

I had a little goal to write a story for Etsy’s blog, The Storque. It happened. What a fun endeavor. The original story was written about the, “making of a tractor hood table.” I took over 400 photos [I am not a photographer] to come up with what you see below. I tweaked the story a bit [to make it more appealing to a wider audience]- but I thought I would share with you the original snapshots.

1. a tractor hood from Allis Chalmers 180
2. measuring hood to determine height of table
3. the metal is dirty, dented, faded and worn from youth & employees behind the wheel of the tractor
4. the recycled pipe that supports the top of the table is cut with a hacksaw
5. the tractor hood is cut to size with a plasma cutter
6. a piece of flat sheet steel is welded to the bottom
7. smoke pours out of the hole where the radiator would have been
8. a piece of new American made 10 guage steel was welded to form the top and the edges are ground smooth with a hand held grinder
9. the final step is to weld the bottom and the top of the table together

My contemplations of Earth Day and all things “green” always relate to “a place.” Where did it come from?  Who made it? What was used to make it?  There is so much beauty in knowing where things came from and who made them.

To that end, we’re occasionally going to share pics of “our place.” Our place is a rural hill-top in Pennsylvania. At the top is our house [we built in 4 stages] in recently logged woods and adjacent to the Gatski family farm. You get to the top by traveling a 1/2 mile long driveway. It is a peaceful place, with nearly no neighbors in sight. Aside from our creative pursuits – the animals [and a couple children] keep us well occupied. Also, nestled quietly here are Ben’s dream to milk more cows (and make cheese) and Kate’s dreams to write well about “food & place.” Happy Earth Day!

notes on pics:  that is an older photo of Ben & I [we bought a 1947 Plymouth at a local farm sale not long after meeting]- our humble home- the long driveway [and field roads- it's amazing how far you can get around here without going on a public road], one of our Berkshire pigs and our new calf Racer.

As the warmth of spring reaches deep into the ground and air; grasses grow and insects emerge. There is food everywhere; for a pig, that is.  A little time spent watching a pig [or an animal for that matter] gives one a feel for their instincts. Pigs have snouts and they want to use them.

They put them down and sniff, root and dig with them. Most remarkable is the rooting and digging, the turning over of the soil. They will create large, crater like depressions in the soil- large expansive areas of dug up dirt. They are looking for tasty treats to eat- bugs, acorns and other tree fruits.

This pig is a Duroc cross- we typically raise all Berkshire pigs.  This one slipped into our last batch- a lovely looking pig but an anomaly up here on Gatski Mt. We established our home and shop on woodlot adjacent to the family farm. It had been recently logged. It is ideal for our pigs.

There is something utterly captivating about watching animals do what they’re instinctively meant to do. Probably because we all know that instincts lead to the richest things in life. For these pigs- its scarfing down nuts from the trees, absorbing the sunshine on their backs, and letting the warm rain wash over them.

This is terroir. As you know I’m looking forward to exploring terroir here on my blog. This morning, I realized how important the role of instincts are in making something rich, flavorful and beautiful. How do you let your instincts guide you?