Stelter Co. wall

Here's the completed project for the Stelter Company. Thank you to everyone who helped out on this build. Dan Hunt AIA, Miller's, Tony The Painter, Snyder and especially D. Boone for his many, many hours spent sanding all of those cypress slats. You definitely have some ownership in the benches.

Thank you to everyone at Stelter as well. You all were a pleasure to work with - especially Russ and Mark. True gentlemen.

Cheers,
Boonie

YWRC - "Sit On It!" 2012

Here's a mock-up of the bench we're submitting for this year's Young Women's Resource Center Sit On It! event being held on March 31 here in Des Moines. Thanks to Christina Jarck for allowing us to contribute to the live auction for a fourth consecutive year. See you all there.

Finished table for COSC's EVERGREEN Fundraiser

Here's a pic of the table we're donating to COSC's EVERGREEN Fundraiser event. Details in the prior post. THIS is going to be a killer event - NOT TO BE MISSED! See ya there...

Center on Sustainable Communities EVERGREEN Fundraiser

This table is being donated to the Center on Sustainable Communities EVERGREEN Fundraiser this Wednesday, Nov. 2 at People's Court in Des Moines...Did you know William Elliot Whitmore is playing???...Yeah, it's gonna be a pretty, pretty...pretty sweet event!

Pictured here in its raw steel state, the table will be finished in a RAL #3003 Ruby Red powder coat finish. The square perforated adornments and accompanying hardware get a RAL #9010 Pure White powder coat finish. The table measures 24 1/4"W x 60 3/4"L x 12"H.

For more information on the event checkout COSC. See y'all there...

Mountain & Molehill Preservation Society Fundraiser

Here's a coffee table (21" x 35" reclaimed 2 1/2" thick cedar top, with powder-coated steel frame) we put together for auction at the Mountain & Molehole Preservation Society breast cancer awareness event Saturday, October 15, 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm at Snus Hill in Madrid, IA.

$10 Cover (15 & under accompanied by an adult are free)
LIVE MUSIC BY: Ben2K & Danny Grause
POWDERPUFF & MEN'S FOOTBALL GAMES IN THE MORNING! (see separate event)
SILENT AUCTION & RAFFLE ITEMS
BIG G's Catering (for additional cost - more info to come)

It's a fun-filled night with great music, good food, and lots of laughs all supporting a great cause! Please try to stop out & see what we're all about!

Zart 1312 window adornments

These are the windows behind the bar placement at Zart1312 in Des Moines. We simply found various pieces of steel and stainless drop-off from the shop and started attaching them to the window trim. Galvanized, mild steel, oxidized, HVAC flashing all made the dance on this project. Not too bad looking...

All things considered, in a best case scenario, I'll be able to COMPLETELY pull out of 1312 Locust at the end of next week. After I get a few things tidied up on Maribeth's railing at Zart, I can haul my JoBox back to the shop.

Worst case? I never leave.......and end up tending bar at Americana with Pete and Chief.

2011 DSM Juice Mixies awards

Thanks to my pal, Eric Rowley, for bringing the photo shoot into the shop for a session with one of this year's winners, Canby. Check out all of the winners at Juice or pick up a copy at your local merchant.

16th Annual YWRC "Sit On It!" benefit

This will be the third year I've proudly donated some furniture pieces to the Young Women's Resource Center's annual "Sit On It!" benefit. This year is a little different, as I've collaborated with interior designer, associate and all-around-swell-guy, Daniel Hyland These tables measure 18"h and 12"w fashioned out of 1/4" x 9" mild steel, designed by Daniel. They are shown here prior to being powder-coated.

Please make plans to attend the event on April 16th at the Polk County Convention Complex featuring these tables, and many other items built and donated by other Des Moines artists and builders. Contact Christina Jarck with the YWRC at 244-4901 for more information.

The Lift installation

'Twas a gorgeous day for an installation this afternoon. I'm usually very satisfied with the projects I create. I won't send them out if they aren't, but I'm VERY happy with how this sign came together. I just looks "classy." Clean.

"Thanks to the Academy" goes out to Amedeo Rossi and T.J. Wood. Cheers fellas!!!

The Lift

The original sign for The Lift (see above), on 4th St. in downtown Des Moines, is a little worn out. Here's the work being done on the new one. The background is a 4/4 cypress wood glue-up. The framework, scroll work and lettering is all 1/8" mild steel that was cut on a water jet. The steel is attached with 1/4" x 20 NC studs through the wood. This'll be an improvement for the long haul indeed. Thanks to TJ and 'Deo...

Haiku - booth construction, day 3

Lots and lots of glue-ups...

Royal Mile flags

Flag poles and wall mountings by Factor II Fabrication.

Bombay Bicycle Club - billiard chandelier installation

Earlier today, I finished the fabrication on the Bombay Bicycle Club bike chandeliers. Since the frames were going to stay their original paint jobs, it was going to be a snappy installation. I dropped the frames off with Jeremy this afternoon and came back this evening to find them fully functioning...killer!

A big thanks to everybody who donated the frames. An extra special thanks to Dan Koenig at Ichi Bike for the numerous frames and chains. I'm finishing up a job for Dan this week that will be installed in Ichi Bike's new location in Des Moines' East Village on Walnut right next to Subsect Skateshop. Last, but certainly not least, thanks Gus, Jeremy and Mike for allowing me to do something cool and original for ya'll's new tavern.

Here's to the "cherry on top."

Bombay Bicycle Club - billiard chandelier completed fabrication

The pile of booty before fabrication...

This was the second frame composed mainly of women's cruisers...



This is the last of three frames to be fabricated. A couple of men's mountain bikes, a 10-speed and a woman's mountain bike. Some ghastly ugly ones.




What a terrible name for a bicycle. I have a hunch about the history of this bike. Judging by the color scheme, I'm guessing this was sold at a Wal-Mart store in the early '90s. The kid that rode it sported a Detroit Lions Starter jacket during the cold months and Hypercolor t-shirts and stone-washed jeans when it warmed up. Oh, and those jeans? They were tight-rolled. He was one of the last to let go of that fad. His mix-tape was a soundtrack of who's who of early '90s Top 40. "Whoop, There It Is" definitely made the list. As did the Proclaimers, EMF and Jesus Jones. Did I hear some Bel Biv Devoe in there? Damn skippy, I did.
You know, for all the shit the '80s gets for its over-indulgence and hideous fashion, the hangover that was the early '90s trumps it. Silk shirts. 4 Non Blondes. Polos. Garth Brooks. Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I don't miss the mediocrity that was the '90s at all. And the "Fugitive" here, well, it represents all that was lame about that decade. I pray there's no nostalgic reprise of any of this.

All American BBQ Bash

Labor Day weekend in Ames, Iowa saw the inaugural All American BBQ Bash organized by husband/wife, and Factor II clients, Ryan Newstrom and Sonya Stoltze. Ryan and Sonya were kind enough to ask me to create the trophies for the competition categories including brisket, pork, ribs, chicken, grand reserve and grand champion. For a quick turnaround, I was thrilled with how the plaques and Grand Champion prize turned out. Looking forward to next year. Thanks guys!


Boonie presenting Moe Cason from TLC's show BBQ Pitmasters, with a third place ribbon and cash prize.

Team TippyCanoe BBQ Crew took home the Grand Champion trophy and over $3,000 in cash awards.

The Grand Champions with competition organizers, Ryan Newstrom and his wife, Sonya Stoltze.

The Grand Champion trophy. 1 1/2" angle iron, reclaimed barn wood and a couple of horseshoes.

***Photos by Alica Duncan***

Stainless steel island

This stainless steel island top was just installed last week for some friends in Ames. Actually, Sonya was in my brother's class in elementary school - small world, eh? Dr. Sonya M. Stoltze Newstrom and her husband, Ryan, are the brains and brawn behind the championship barbecue team Big T'z Q Cru based out of Ames, IA. Lots of state championships for somebody this young. Quite a promising future if you ask me! Congrats on the Memorial Day win here in Des Moines at Smokin' In The Junction, too.

Hopefully this new addition to their kitchen will help with their prep for competitions to come. Speaking of additions, you'll see Sonya's baby bump - congrats and good luck!!

Island substructure is two laminated pieces of 3/4" particle board. Stainless is 16 ga., 314 alloy. Measures 64" x 37" x 1 1/2". Thanks to Howe's Welding and Metal Fabrication for the bends/breaks on the stainless.

Kraft Foods/Meredith dinner at Proof Restaurant - DSM, IA

On May 10, earlier this month, Meredith Corporation hosted a party here in Des Moines at Proof Restaurant for Kraft Food's Food & Family magazine. Friend and frequent collaborator, Daniel Hyland, was contracted to design the party's decor. I fabricated a couple of tall square planters, the table chargers and the 30" diameter center piece for the evening's festivities.

Cheers.