Behind the Scenes.. with All Things Handmade

If we could surround ourselves with all things from nature… trees, plants, flowers, sand, water, dirt, all the time, we would. We are both outdoor people. We dream of the property we will one day own. Land. The home where we bring the outside, natural, organic, homemade, handmade, raw .. all of it, inside. A porch with big couch swings and potted plants. A place to enjoy after a hard working, high impact, making a difference work day. A place to relax with a glass of our own wine. Like everyone, we’ve got dreams… for now, check out @hometownwinecompany on Pinterest, ‘Honey, I’m Home!’ Board, for some of our inspiration!

One of our favorite weekend activities is going to the nursery and picking out plants, flowers and herbs. We love gardening. We love the ability to grow produce and incorporate it into our favorite dishes. There is a passion, science and skill behind gardening and farming. We believe it’s a skill that should be taught to the next generation. The ability to be self-sufficient is essential to our future. And we think… the ability to stay grounded.

Winemaking and the process of bringing the grapes to bottle, is a long process. While we work on the wine and wait to enjoy (and share!) each drop of deliciousness, we continue to create. Create our passion with purpose.

We decided to start small with our handmade creations out of cement. We’re taking our love for nature and bringing it to you to enjoy. We currently have 3 Cement Pots in our Shop – Sommelier Pot, Block Pot and Little Brix Pot. Take a look! We’re excited to be working on our next item – coasters, ‘Wine Spill’. More, Coming Soon!

We take you behind the scenes…

1. Making Cement

We use a simple 3-to-1 ratio of cement to sand. We mix until smooth to pour into each of our molds.

2. Prepping Molds

We pour each mold to the top and tap the sides to ensure air pockets are removed.

3. Drying and Waiting

Depending on the weather, it requires a 24 hour drying time.

4. Removing Cement from Molds

Removing the items from the molds can be tricky. Many times and depending on the size of the mold, it requires 4 hands.

5. Sanding

Sanding and buffing is essential to each items’ smooth finished appearance. We are able to remove all the blemishes and rough edges. But, just remember, no two items are alike. They each have their own character and personality.

6. Curing (and we’re aren’t talking about meat!)

The cement items require a 4 day curing in water to ensure the item’s strength and durability.

7. More Drying and Waiting

In the meantime, we’re creating more! We have each set by day on a timer to remove from curing once complete. Once the 4 days are done, the cement items are removed, washed and set to dry.

8. Paint and Seal!

Pick a color, any color! Colors include: Merlot, Wild Berry, Tangelo, Honeycomb, Pesto, Emerald, Deep River, Navy, Rock Crystal, Rose and Natural Cement. The best part is saved for last. Once the order is made and color chosen, it is painted and sealed for ship out!

Have we inspired you to stop by our Shop on your way out and order one (or three, wink!)? Hope to see you back soon.

#locatedhere

Brian and Sara