0311 Designs

Enjoying a fire with the family thanks to American Concrete Design, LLC. Years ago they donated concrete work to a veteran and I was the lucky recipient. I can’t thank Duane enough for this because we use it all the time. Hit them up for beautiful concrete work!

Getting after some barrel orders today with some caffeine from Black 6 Coffee Trading Co. Black 6 is also a veteran, whom I had the pleasure of serving with in Golf Co. 2/5, run nonprofit. Delicious coffee from areas around the globe. Their proceeds are used to provide medical missions in underprivileged countries. Check them out and buy a few bags today!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1wVkDBJcq0
Tomorrow is the first ever Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) Day. PTG is an alternative way of coping with PTSD for those who suffer daily from it. This video, and the work behind creating a PTG day, is from Boulder Crest Foundation. Boulder Crest developed a program called Warrior PATHH which I attended in Florida through GratitudeAmerica, Inc. If you or someone you know is a Veteran or First Responder suffering from PTSD, push them to attend a Warrior PATHH training, it will change their perspective. I am partial to Gratitude America because not only did I attend Warrior PATHH there, I am also now teaching others in coping with their trauma there.

Warrior PATHH is not holding hands and singing songs, it is hard work, but the end result is amazing. It is geared towards vets and first responders and taught by vets and first responders who went through the program themselves. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

If you are looking to donate to a wonderful organization, please consider donating to Gratitude America so we may continue to help our nations heroes.

PTG Awareness Day Today is the day we shift the conversation from disorder to growth.

Had a really fun weekend and interacted with a lot of local businesses here in Farmington. Thelen Cabinet Company put on a bagger building via Invisible Wounds Project for vets and 1st responders. Maverick, Amanda and I built two sets of bag boards. Late Friday night my AC crapped itself, I called Fritz Mechanical LLC and Joe showed up and got it up and running right away, gave us a veteran discount even though I told him I didn’t want it because he showed up at 8:30 on a Friday night. Some great people in this town, I really enjoy being surrounded by people who care about others.

It’s been a minute…….been dealing with some things but I’m back in the shop and it feels great. One of the best parts about being a nonprofit is working with other nonprofits who do amazing things for people. Two such organizations, Soldiers 6 and Heroes Helping Heroes MN have done so much for me. I want to give back to them and their mission so others can reap the benefits that have helped me along the way.

One way I do this is by donating items for their silent auctions, they are always so grateful when I donate to them, but the strange thing is I am still forever grateful for them and how they have helped me with along the path; donating is only a small way I can thank them. That’s the great thing about nonprofits, they are continually helping others and genuinely care about other humans, they spend hours and hours of their days working for others benefit. It’s not a money making machine it’s a community and relationship machine, it works for people not for profit.

Anywho, if you’re interested in this super awesome liquor cabinet hit up Heroes Helping Heroes golf tournament on Wednesday at the The Wilds Golf Club and get in on the silent auction and play a beautiful course.

If you’re not into the typical giant cushion in the middle of the floor for your K9 friend, head to the Soldiers 6 fundraiser on July 29th. The bed is made from a red wine barrel and shows the staining from the wine inside. The cushion is custom made by hand and ordered from India, so fancy, imagine how cool your dog will feel.

That’s all, I’ve been off here a while so sorry for the long post, but really I’m not sorry.

Over the holiday we were able to sell enough to donate a total of $3,000 to a couple organizations. Thank you to everyone who purchased items that helped give money to Soldiers 6 and Heartland Girls' Ranch If you haven't heard of them, check them out they do great things for people who need help processing and living with trauma. I've taken a hiatus from creating since Xmas as I need a break. I'll be back at it again in a couple weeks after taking some time for myself to process my own experiences and hopefully take some big steps in the journey of life after trauma.

Started doing custom knife handles. This one was done out of Buffalo Trace barrel, let me know if you’re interested in one!

Kaya believes she is the quality assurance representative. She likes to inspect each barrel to ensure top quality. She’s negotiating a new contract at the moment so she’s really trying to show her value to the process today.

Another happy customer, starting to do these full barrel head shelves, looks a lot better. If you are still looking for gifts hit up Farmers Daughter - Farmington, MN I’ve got a bunch of stuff in there, some new items will be added later this evening.

I’ve got some Christmas stuff in Farmers Daughter - Farmington, MN stop in and check out some other great products. I am also taking orders for Christmas items. I’ll get some more pics posted soon

If you have a smoker you’ll want to try these used whiskey barrel chunks for your next smoke. $10 gets you a 5 pound bag, cheaper than most chunks and it all gets donated to great nonprofits! Shoot me a message if you’re interested!

Apologies in advance but it’s Christmas season for me since I need to start making stuff for the holidays. This is a mini barrel tree display complete with remote lighting. Perfect for your front stoop or living room.

I bought a new toy……laser engraver. It has been pretty
fun so far and I think I’ve messed enough pieces up to feel confident sharing/selling pieces now. This piece could hang or I can put a stand on the back to display elsewhere. Let me know if you have an idea you’d like me to start on!

Kaya is being a big helper today, apparently she says it’s time to stop working on this Heaven Hill Distilleries barrel cabinet and take a nap.

We’ve got shirts people! $30 a piece, there’s $10 of profit in there which of course all gets donated to cool charities. Large through XXL (they run a bit smaller) the material is really soft! Shout out to Fat Cat Design for getting these done for me!

Alright it’s been a while, the fair was a success! Thanks to everyone who stopped by, after a hiatus from barreling I’m getting back into it in an exciting way. I found 4 Buffalo Trace barrels today. These are super hard to find, I will be taking orders for cabinets or lazy Susan’s with these barrels. Due to the extreme rarity of BT, cabinets will be $600 and lazy Susan’s will be $225. Get on the list before they are gone!!

Second to last day, come on out and buy some stuff so I don’t have to carry it home, oh and the wife, Amanda Kelting is here today, she can actually converse with people, I usually don’t have much to say.

Taking a break from the booth today and the friendly people at Northern Aloha Ice hooked Kaya up with a snowball, she loved it so much she had to lay down and eat it! Stop by and get some of their stuff it’s great!

Fair hasn’t even opened yet and I’m already eating, making use of this lovely serving tray.

All set up for the Dakota County Fair ! Come out and see me in building 19 next to the beer tent and Godfathers Pizza, oh and buy some stuff so I can donate some money to cool organizations!

New design with coasters, Glencairn glasses and a bottle holder all with a carrying handle. I call it “The Friend Maker”. This item is new for the Dakota County Fair and is a one of one item, I won’t be making another one. Stop out at the fair to snag it before someone else does!

This is what it looks like when I’m prepping for a fair……controlled chaos. Wife loves it……

When did meat, cheese and crackers turn into charcuterie? I call this a mancuterie tray.

Unlike my wife, barrels don’t just roll out of bed looking beautiful, it takes a lot of work to clean them up to an acceptable amount of rusticness (not a real word). These guys and 2 others are off to the Dairy Inn this morning to be used as tables. Come check them out and get some ice cream!

Obligatory Father’s Day post about how much the dad in your life would love my stuff. BBQ Caddy and barrel stave spatula, $75 for the package. Spotted Cow not included, drive to Wisconsin yourself! Get it before I sell out.

Full load this morning from CaliSota Barrel, working on a project for the Dairy Inn. Come check out the finished product on Friday get some ice cream and hit up the food truck they have coming!

Liquor cabinet in the works, Kaya is guarding it while the inside dries out.

Spent the day working in the garage, Kaya also spent the day working, but she decided to work on her napping positions instead of barrels.

I was selected to be a vendor at the Dakota County Fair this summer! If you need me I’ll be in my garage for the next 3 months getting ready….

I’d like to give a shout out to Jason Dinesen at CaliSota Barrelfor all his kindness and support with obtaining barrels since I’ve started this venture. If you are in need of some barrels hit him up, he has a ton to choose from, has very fair prices and on top of that is just a nice dude!