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The American Folk Art Museum forged the beginning of us – as Gatski Metal. In their tiny gift shop they have sold an incredible (to us) amount of Gatski fish (among many other pieces). We gained the footing and confidence to continue our artistic pursuits through their support of our work. We are very grateful. I gathered today that the Museum could use some…

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 2nd generation woodworker and currently an Architecture student at Rhode Island School of Design. Our new work is a natural extension of who we are-…

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)… Brainstorm Design Discuss Attempt Design Discuss Revise Design Discuss Attempt New Direction for…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Hi Friends! What’s making you happy today? I’m happy that our little world is green and luscious! It’s the simple things I’m enjoying now-  after having stretched my brain to accomplish one of my goals. 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…

Come visit us at the Artful Garden Sale at the Main Line Art Center in Haverford, PA this Sunday May 2nd from 10:30 to 5:30. We’re bringing our finest metal sculptures, a few tables and some of Kate’s lovely handmade sewn goods. We would so love to see you there!

The beautiful thing about Earth Day is, there is something for everyone. Even if it’s the small things like, “Gee, I recycle.” Or, something more momentous like “I just bought a hybrid.”  Sure, there’s plenty of work to do [but isn’t that always the case?] It’s a holiday- let’s feel good. My contemplations of Earth Day and all things “green” always relate to “a…

Hold on to your seats, I’ve got some pig ponderings. 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…

I love the atmosphere over at Scoutie Girl. It is fun & inspiring. Today is “We Scout Wednesdays”. I thought I would participate. We’re sharing a favorite blog or artist. I choose “Feasting Never Stops.” It’s a blog- but I would call it a work of art.  It provokes a lot of thought in a simple and elegant way. This is Temple Grandin, recently…

For some time now, I’ve hoped that farming would renew itself. That we would slide away from the tired old images of the farmer and what “he” does.  It’s happening. A new farmer is at the door. They understand how to work with the soil, how to make food with incredible flavor, and how to reach their customers. You can find these farmers in…

Recycling is a big part of who we are. It does sound a little old school- but it’s not in practice. There is never a dull moment in the “junk” business. We’re thrilled to be joined in the business by one of our most loyal fans, Conor Quinlan of Mepush Technology Solutions. He and his wife Missy Quinlan are tackling the very worthy cause…

I love a good basic meal; one with a couple ingredients that are easy to fetch from the farm. Up here on Gatski Mountain, there’s abundant milk, butter and of course, sausage.  Sausage & Biscuits is a favorite. I like to serve it with some seasonal greens sauteed in garlic. I understand that Sausage & Biscuits is an old world tradition- I’m hoping I…