Kindness of strangers...

Many thanks to "Anonymous" in Tucson, AZ for sending the stickers. I particularly like the purple sheep straying from the flock. The little hatched chick ain't too bad either...

Cheers. Hope the monsoon season has treated you well....

Windmill

Installed this afternoon...just in time.

Better pics and video of the mill in action to come...

Thank you so much, Paula...That this functions on more than one level is fabulous. Thank you again for the inspiration.

Cheers....

Send me your stickers!

I like to tag. My body is adorned with tattoos. My clothing with stenciled art. Many of my larger tools and cabinets are slapped with stickers. I need more...of everything I've listed. You can help - send me stickers. Anything: bands, automotive, food, sports but especially SLAYER stickers. I'll return the favor by dropping a few FIIF stickers in the mail back to ya. International? Even better.

Factor II Fabrication
5268 NW 2nd Ave.
Des Moines IA 50313
USA

Cheers,
Boonie

Randomness and poor grammar

So, I received the following email today. Somehow, my spam folder didn't catch it. I ALMOST believed it had it not been for the poor grammar and misconstrued syntax....yeah, almost.

Dear Sirs:
I got your name and address from Internet and knew you are one of the largest companies in your country, which is within the scope of our business. Take this opportunity, we introduce my company, as one of the biggest manufactures ofwelding wire in Hebei province, our mainly products include CO2 gas-shielded welding wires, submerged arc welding wires, argon arc welding wires and welding electrode flux. We export large quantity to Europe, Middle East, South Africa and the countries of America, Russia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Philippines. It has won trust from customers. Deal to high quality and reasonable price, we shall be pleased to provide you our best prices and deliveries. Should you have interest of items mentioned above? Kindly let us know by return mail. For getting all the detailed information, you are invited to visit our web site。Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards.
Savannah

Bombay Bicycle Club - light fixtures for the chandeliers

Simple things...

Some days, it's just looking at a board that has so much inner beauty you can't see until it's been planed that puts a smile on your face. Here's a piece of reclaimed pine that did just that today after one pass under the knives.

"...it's the small things in life"

Nightmares...

Someday, if any of my children want this bed, I'll happily build it for them. Maybe you have a twisted, macabre mind too and think this might suit your kids. Hit me up...we can make it happen.

*UPDATE*

If somebody is REALLY interested in this bed, I'll build it for them at cost just so I can see it come alive...Seriously...It has to be a child's bed or single mattress...I doubt it would be more than $200...

A House Is Never Done...

Yes, my posts have been few and far between. Yes, I've been busy building for clients. And yes, I'll be sure to get some photos of some current projects up soon. But, a few things have been consuming my time these days. Namely, Bethany (credit goes to her for the pics in this post) and I purchased a house in Des Moines in March. For the last couple of months, it's been a whirlwind of painting, plumbing, carpentry, masonry, electrical, more carpentry, MORE painting, bleeding, sweating, shivering, frustration, glee, demolition, flooring and some more painting just for good measure. Homeowners, you know what I'm talking about.

It never ends.

Especially today.

As we found out on Sunday, a queen size mattress was not going to fit up our existing stair structure due to a restrictive balustrade. I was damn determined to get that box spring up to the second floor today. That's where the demolition came in. I don't have any "before" pictures other than the old white oak balusters and railing that first lived there when the house was built. I guess frustration gave way to demolition at this point. Needless to say, I'll be fabricating a new detachable railing system in the very near future...

Additionally, I've taken a job as a line cook here in Des Moines at a place called Alba Restaurant in the East Village of downtown Des Moines. It's proved both challenging and rewarding all at the same time. It's creating and building on an entirely different level of food service I've yet to experience. Needless to say, I'm learning so much everyday...

Keep the inquiries and jobs coming...I'll be posting some of the work I've done for Daniel Hyland Interior Design in the coming weeks. He's become a dear, dear friend and a inspirational interior designer Des Moines sorely needs. Please check out his site and tell him I sent you. (He works both coasts and everywhere in between.)

So, until then, I'm gonna finishing drinking this beer, shower and hit the hay...

Inaugural BlueCat Motors Illegal Pinewood Derby Race = FUN!!!!

It cannot be overstated how awesome this event was. Okay, I guess it can. But for a bunch of gearheads left to freeze in our shops during a long, cold winter, this was a great way to spend WAY too much time on a car shaped in pine. Again, big thanks go to Blue Cat Motors in St. Paul for the facilities...AND...the Minnesota chapter of The Lucky Bastards C.C. for the coolers of beer! Couldn't have made the cars go without fuel! Pictured above is Blue Cat co-owner Ryan Scott weighing in cars.




Here's a post-race shot of my cars. Yes, I was fortunate enough to take home two trophies. First place in the Vintage class and second in the Stock class. "Shotgun" Shelley Barnes, Jordan Dickinson and Jesse Dickinson are pictured in this photo.




Race action in progress...I don't remember the tracks being aluminum when I was younger. The right-hand lanes were definitely faster.




...And here's your author. Give a grown man an overwhelming sense of pride and a few beers and he WILL start acting like he's 10-years-old again.

Thanks to everyone who took these photos. Send me your name if you want credited for snapping them...

Sandblasted wood

I picked up a few pieces of wood from powder coating today that were sand blasted last night. Surprisingly, there is no trace of any of the blasting media imbedded in any of the cracks or crevices. Thanks, Pauly, for turning these around in quick fashion! This particular board is going to end up as a lengthy coffee table...almost 10'.

This is some mad talent

Here's a link a friend of mine passed on featuring the metal skills of a gal by the name of Cal Lane. This blows my mind with how intricate she is with a torch. I don't envy her monthly oxy-acetylene bill...

I need some room...

...so I'm offering these Adirondack chairs at $325/pr. Only one pair for sale, the ones taking up room in the shop right now.

heartwelds@gmail.com if you have questions...

Skull cutting board - Mr. Bourdain

Yesterday, I had the honor of meeting a culinary figure I have a lot of respect and admiration for...Anthony Bourdain. After a pleasant and entertaining evening of oratory onstage, we were able to meet Mr. Bourdain for a brief period to have him sign some books and one of my Cochon cutting boards; personalized "For Boonie and Bethany." He was very humble and accepted the above gift I fashioned for him this week. It's a butcher block construction of his chef's skull/"Cook Free Or Die" logo. The darkened areas were wood-burned and a magnet was inlaid under the mouth to hold a knife. I told him he was welcome to it if he'd use it and that I wouldn't be offended if he didn't accept it. He dug it, and said it was "small enough that it would fit in his luggage." Cool.

Thanks go to D. Boone and Patti for the sweet b-day present. Thanks also go out to Dr. Bill McCallum and Kevin Dennis with Ames Lab at I.S.U. for the uber strong magnet.

Swine board

It's a maple pig with walnut racing stripes. Bethany is going to shoot some professional photos of it tomorrow.

Pardon the interruption...it's for charity

My sideburns are up for auction on eBay. Click here to check it out and bid. All proceeds will benefit the Food Bank of Iowa.