The TallGrass Forge Blog

We are headed to The Wichita Garden Show.  There’s a lot to do and make, but mainly, we are just excited to be going and experiencing the whole thing.  These photos were taken & sent to us by a visitor at the shop.

Here is a picture or two of some candleholders that I have made. It requires heating the metal and bending it around on the horn of the anvil. Some are about 2 1/2 to 3 ft. tall, and others are smaller.

This is a sculpture I completed some time ago. I am going to release it to a new owner soon, and I just thought I would post a few pictures of it.  Part of this sculpture reminds me of footage that I saw of The Great Depression out here in Central Kansas.  The birds didn’t have anything to use for nests, so they literally picked up pieces of barbed wire to use for nesting materials.  I saw that footage after making this, but it still rings true. Birds are survivors and they do it so gracefully. I draw inspiration from them and their fluid movements…they are also environmental “sign posts” for the balance in our greater environment. This bird is just finding balance.

Here are some pictures from the most recent railing made from found objects that was installed this December. There are found farm implements and the brand from their family farm incorporated into the railing. The woman that I built this for saw some pictures of leaves in a book she looked at, and she picked them out because they looked like tractor seats to her. So, the shape of the leaves in this project reflects her choice.

This photo is definitely not the best, but I plan on posting professional ones soon.  This is the current project that I am working on for another home in Greensburg.  This is just the railing, and within a week, I will complete the installation by adding the cap rail and other finishing touches, as well as the smaller railing.  This piece is also made of found objects from their farm, as well as their family’s brand…and hand-forged leaves and vine details.

Found objects and Hand-forged leaves and vines

Railing Detail

found object and forged iron back side details

This past October, I installed this railing in a home in Greensburg.  It is made out of found objects from their family farm and from another nearby farm, along with hand-forged iron details.  This project took several months to complete.  I hope that it will bring them many years of enjoyment.

This is the current project that I’m working on over the last several months. All of the farm equipment was donated by a generous person with local ties. It’s been an enjoyable process, and as always, I have learned a lot. Each project presents it’s own set of challenges and rewards. It should be finished soon.. It’s really been a good one…doing it “on the fly” and more free-flowing than most architectural pieces I’ve worked on. Thanks to all of those who helped.

Right now, I’m enjoying working on a new project for  a demonstration home here in South Central Kansas.  The staircase railings are being made of found objects and old farm implements that were donated to the organization from a very generous supporter. The whole concept stems from using recycled metal to keep the project in line with rebuilding Green.

Also, this past Monday, May 4th, the CBS Evening News did a piece on Greensburg.  The staircase that I did for an

Photo taken by our good friend, Alison.

energy efficient  home was shown. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4990992n

And lastly, tonight the Greensburg Greentown high school students and I will be on Planet Green.  We made a bench out of found objects from after the tornado, and this was documented by The Discovery Channel.  It will be shown at 9:00 CST on Planet Green, The Discovery Channel’s Home station on the show:  Greensburg.  Here’s a link below. There’s a sneak peek at the house where and a welding shot.  The kids did a good job, and the bench has been completed and presented to the City of Greensburg.  It was a lot of fun to be a part of.   Here’s the link: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/greensburg/sneak-peek-step-future.html

Here’s hoping you all are finding inspiration and doing what you love.