Sweep In 2012 Details Announced

Posted by Shawn on Jan 21, 2012 in Brooms, Featured, News | 0 comments

Third Annual
Ozark Folk Center
Sweep In

You can go ahead and read all of this, or you’re welcome to download the whole thing as a MS Word file or a PDF file.

Besom on vine twisted handle

It’s that time of year again! SweepIn 2012 is fast approaching and I’ve put together a list of available classes and demonstrations and contests.

Before you jump down to the registration form and start filling things out in a mad rush, read this through. There have been some changes, some features from past years have been cancelled, and some additions have been, well, added.

We are again going to be holding this event in the Park behind the administration building at the top of the village under the big top. You can bring your tents if you want to define your space or hold your displays, but we’ll be keeping (most of) the rain away. Most of? Yeah… if the wind blows, a little comes in on the sides.

Everyone is welcome to sell their brooms. This year, because I believe that my attempt at being the middle man was damaging to your sales and my sanity, I’ll be asking you to handle your own sales. Included in your packet will be a Special Performance Agreement that will need to be filled out along with sales tax info. The Folk Center is charging nothing (aside from the registration fee) for your booth and asks just 20% commission.

I’ve worked with the Ozark Folk Center’s Group Sales Manager, Jimmy Edwards, to get some some really good prices for lodging and admittance… read on!

Registration Fees

This year, there will be a required $15 fee for registration for all broom makers attending the event. This can be paid via check in advance, or at check in. The $15 covers admittance to the Crafts Village at the Ozark Folk Center State Park all three days (2 of which are public and one of which is for broom makers only), and one evening concert of your choice during the three day event (Thursday night – if you’ve registered in advance, Friday or Saturday). Regular admission and one concert would normally run $30, and you wouldn’t have Sunday at all. Saved you 50%!

To register in advance, fill out the form and mail it along with your check made out to the Ozark Folk Center to:

SweepIn 2012 – Shawn Hoefer
c/o Ozark Folk Center State Park
1032 Park Avenue
Mountain View, AR 72560

We have several classes and demonstrations and talks and contest lined out, too. The demos and talks are free, but the classes will cost you. Choose your class and pay your instructor when you get to the class. This is separate from the registration fees. Some instructors may also request a materials fee at the time of the class.

Next, I’ve gotten a reduced room rate for broom makers and guests of broom makers at the Ozark Folk Center’s Cabins at Dry Creek. If you book Thursday through Saturday, you pay only $66 plus tax per night for a standard room. Regular weekend rates are $72 plus tax – more than $18 savings! You’ll have to call and book these rooms yourself.

Cabins at Dry Creek
800-264-3655
870-269-3851

Of course, this isn’t the only place in town to stay… You can visit the Mountain View Area Chamber of Commerce website for a complete listing of cabins, lodges, RV parks, motels and hotels in the area. There are also some places for those more adventurous camping types listed there.

http://www.yourplaceinthemountains.com

There are no meal plans being offered this year. However, the Iron Skillet Restaurant is offering a great breakfast buffet on Saturday, really good lunch specials ($5.99) and a complete menu. And, there’s always the Smokehouse for snacks, burgers, hot dogs (the best I’ve EVER had) and more right next to the big top. You can also look up any one of the restaurants we have in town using the Chamber’s website listed above.

Brooms on display at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, AR

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, April 11

Thursday, April 12

5:00 PM – Begin setting things up. We can continue to do this until we’re finished or 10 am on Friday morning – whichever comes first. Join me for a meal at the Iron Skillet at 6:30 PM.

Friday, April 13

8:00 AM – Continue setting things up until 10:00 AM

10:00 AM – We open!

• Accept entries for the Tie Off competition
• Accept entries for the People’s Choice Broom competition
• Meet and Greet!

1:30 PM – Classes

• CLASS: Learn to use a kick winder to make a parlor broom with John Simurdak or Wayne Thompson. $25 per person, 4 (two per instructor) people maximum, 1 minimum.
• CLASS: Learn to make a Turkey Wing and Whisk with Little John. $25 per person. 3 people minimum, 8 people maximum.

5:30 PM – TALK: Grow your own broom with Little John. Free.

Saturday, April 14

8:00 AM – Doors will be opened for broom makers

10:00 AM – Classes

• CLASS: Learn to make a Rooster Tail (braided Turkey Wing) broom with Shawn Hoefer. $25 per person. Minimum 2, maximum 8.
• CLASS: Learn to use a kick winder to make a parlor broom with John Simurdak or Wayne Thompson. $25 per person, 4 (two per instructor) people maximum, 1 minimum.
• CLASS: Learn to make a hearth broom with Little John. $25 per person. 3 people minimum, 8 people maximum.

1:30 PM – Classes and Demos

• Dyeing broomcorn (and other things) with Shawn Hoefer and Leesa Thompson. Free.
• Homebuilt, sit-down, belt-driven, squirrel cage winder demonstration with Bill Soetaert. Bill will be using this off and on throughout the SweepIn, but this will give everyone a chance to take a good close look. Free.

3:00 PM – Competitions

• Tie Off: All those that wish to participate, step up! Each contestant will be given 10 ounces of broomcorn, four yards of twine, and a place to hitch the twine to make a Turkey Wing broom. Awards are being offered for the best broom, the fastest broom maker, the most creative, and the slowest broom maker!
• Count the ballots for the People’s Choice awards and announce the winner. Awards are being offered for the best broom, the most creative broom, the largest broom and the smallest.

5:30 PM – Class

• Bio writing for artisans by Jeanette Larson. Mini-biographies are an essential part of a crafters’ kit. They are required with most jury packets, look great on hang tags, and are a nice addition to any gallery display or show booth. Free.

Sunday, April 15

8:00 AM – Doors open for broom makers

• Swap fest! Got some handles or wire or twine or equipment you want to pass on or trade? This is the time and the place!
• Jeanette Larson will be set up in her office to assist those that took the Biography class the night before. She’ll interview you and write it up, or review and beautify what you’ve already written.
• Pack things up and head home! Stay safe, stay in touch, and come back soon!

Web Design Class for Artisans is underway

Posted by Shawn on Jan 13, 2012 in Featured, My Schtuff, News, Observations, websites | 0 comments

Arkansas Craft School

Two weeks ago, I started teaching a small group of people how to get themselves online. My course, offered through the Arkansas Craft School, last 8-weeks. The goal? Have a functional website that the use can maintain at the end of the 8 week course.

We’re quite fortunate to have the use of Ozarka College’s facilities, too!

Week one, I spoke about the software available and dispelled the myth that a lot of money has to be spent to get on the web. Each student receives a notebook, pen, and a thumb drive formatted to work in their machines – I am platform agnostic and can speak pretty fluent Linux, Windows and Macintosh. The drives are loaded with tons of useful freeware, shareware and open source goodness!

Week two, we covered the outline and content requirements. Domain names were chosen and registered, WordPress was installed, and we’re off…

What the…???

Posted by Shawn on Jan 1, 2012 in Featured, Observations | 0 comments

As I slid into bed last night at roughly 12:02 am, I knew, consciously, that it was 2012. That doesn’t mean that I can accept it. 2011 was such a whirlwind, I don’t feel that I’ve really started. The weather’s not helping, either… it’s a comfortable 55 degrees in the sun and clear… a bit breezy. Feels like a comfortable October day.

And so I sit here wondering what happened to 2011 as I should be making plans for 2012. What happened?

For starters, I taught more classes in 2011 than I’ve ever taught before. 2 web design classes, what seems like hundreds of craft classes including broom making, chair making (OK, so they were stools, not chairs…), woodturning (or was that in 2010?), spinning and weaving (might have been in 2010, too), and storytelling.

Although the lion’s share of the credit goes to Becki Dahlstedt and Jeanette, there was a bit of work put in at the Arkansas Craft Gallery and for the Arkansas Craft Guild, too. I don’t know the particulars, but I do know that the guild and the gallery have been hauled back from the brink in a spectacular fashion! Just in time for our 50th anniversary, too!

I also performed in character a bit more frequently than before and added a character and a half to the lineup. Most folks are now familiar with Obadiah T. Fassbinder… er, Dr. Obadiah T. Fassbinder – purveyor, creator, manufacturer, inventor and sole distributor of Obadiah T. Fassbinder’s Scientific Elixir – the modern medical marvel. Now, I also step out on occasion as Smitty, the crusty cowboy cook and poet. William Hope “Coin” Harvey is still in the works. Since he was a real historical figure, I feel that I need to take some real time to research him to portray him accurately although I won’t be shaving my face again…

The wood shop stayed fairly busy.  But it is no longer my focus. Everything out there is made to order instead of being stocked. However, I am happy to say that the space is in no way being wasted. When I’m not filling an order (often with Lena’s assistance) for a crochet hook or tri-loom or drop spindle, Lena’s been out there teaching herself (with a little help) to carve spoons and bowls, and man-o-man are they beautiful!

As if I needed another craft, plans are underway to set up a forge for some simple blacksmithing, too. Got the forge, got the anvil, got the hammers, got a promise of some additional accessories from a friendly over-equipped smith. We’ll see…

We attended more craft shows in 2011. I think I was back up to 3 or 4. Jeanette was with me for at least 2 of  ’em. And the craft shows were better than I had expected. Apparently the economy hasn’t affected lovers of functional art as much as it has some other sectors. Of course, the big bang-up show was in December – the Arkansas Craft Guild’s Christmas Showcase. I picked an absurd number (basically I doubled what we’d need to break even) and told Jeanette if we made that, we could go get her new ram lamb in Georgia.

Can you guess where I went in mid December, and what I transported in the back of the car?

Speaking of travelling, we went to Little Rock for the Christmas Showcase, Hot Springs for another reason (long story… remind me to tell you some time…), Bentonville for Crystal Bridges, and Atlanta (with a stop in Leighton, AL to visit some broom making friends). Seems I spent more time in the vehicle in December of 2011 than I had since we settled in Mountain View.

I am continuing to work on my client websites, too, and have picked up some new ones. Of course, that means that this poor rag of a site is being neglected more than ever… I am trying to get my own store online… in all my spare time.

And I’d be shortchanging myself if I neglected to mention SweepIn 2011! Our annual gather of broom makers entered its second year with the addition of a big top and better weather. We have new broom makers signing up for 2012, too.

Amazing, ain’t it? Here I sat down to map out plan for next year and I’ve gone and written close to 1000 words about 2011… most about December. I think instead of dragging this one out, I’ll take a nap and write about 2012 when I’ve regained enough energy to do so… probably sometime in 2013…

Getting going… Again

Posted by Shawn on Nov 13, 2011 in Observations | 0 comments

One of the questions I am getting asked over and over is “what are you going to do now that the season is over?”

Answer: more of the same!

Although the Ozark Folk Center ended its regular season on October 30, its extended season is now keeping us hopping in the broom shop. Between curious visitors, return visitors, bluegrass festival visitors and the occasional soul that did not know that we were officially closed, we’re keeping busy.

Another day was spent in celebration. We gathered with a lot of the Folk Center staff and friends for an awards presentation. Seems that when the Superintendents met and discussed what was good and right with Arkansas State Parks, the Ozark Folk Center was mentioned more than once… Once, “Bushwhackers and Scallywags: Civil War on the Sylamore” was named Best Special Event. Again, the Folk Center was named Best Region 2 State Park (region 2 has around 9 parks), and Park of the Year (out of 52 state parks)!!!

And that’s not counting the weekend trip to Eureka Springs for their Folk Festival. Great crowd and good music there, too.

And there’s the upcoming Christmas Showcase in Little Rock. We’re trying to get ready for that, too.

Not to mention websites to be designed, crochet hooks to be turned and carved, looms being ordered…

I also spent a week with AEHC members and taught 13 of them to make brooms, and 4 of them to make stools with woven seats.

I don’t know about you, but my season is no where near being over…

Studio Tour memories can last a lifetime

Posted by Shawn on Sep 19, 2011 in Featured, News | 0 comments

People come to our studios from all over during studio tour. They come for different reasons. Some come out of raw curiousity… They see the sheep, the llama, the horse, the goats, the studios and leave. It takes about that long, too. Some come, we think, just to be polite. Their visits are usually even shorter. Some come because they are really interested in the way we live and want to hear the stories or want tips on their own farm. Some come for the crafts – mostly Jeanette’s and that’s OK.

We hope they all leave with happy memories.

I’ll admit I was worried this year. It was a roughy one… While cleaning and preparing for the tour, Jeanette managed to get spider bit and we spent one night in the ER. I managed to exacerbate my sinus problem with lots of dust while cleaning and fought off a world class sinus / tension headache that kept me up til around 4 AM.

You’ll understand my relief, then, when I got an email last night with this link:

Loving Retirement

Jeanette and I were talking the other day about why crafters do what they do… Affirmation and validation are a big part of the equation. That’s what a link like this is all about.

Thanks!

Custom orders revisited

Posted by Shawn on Sep 1, 2011 in Brooms | 0 comments

I never did hear from the young lady that wanted to see the blue and purple rooster tail brooms. That’s OK. They’re here waiting and, hey, I can make more.

But wait! There’s more!

A couple came in about 1 1/2 weeks ago and bought a hearth broom that I’d made incorporating an embroidery-style stitch into the sweep. It was a simple, 2-toned leaf. The plaiting was done with variegated brown twine over natural reed. The stitching was with natural jute so as not to conflict with the leaf. The handle was lacquered sassafras. It was a nice broom if I must say do myself, but fancy stitched brooms are very time consuming and don’t sell real well for the price I have to ask. That means I hadn’t intended on reproducing it. That means I had never taken a photo.

Then, while I was gallivanting all over for Jeanette and Lena was watching the shop, the couple came back. They liked the first one enough, they wanted one just like it for their friend.

Remember, this is a broom I had made 6 months ago and did not photograph. Bad Shawn! Bad!

Here is the well photographed (as well as it’s gonna get with an iPhone in a shop lit by fluorescent lights) second broom ready to go.

While making these, I got another email:
“Hi Shawn,

We bought three of your brooms at the folk center last September. We like
them so much we would like to buy another.
Do you have an online gallery of those you have for sale, or is there a
way to see the offerings.
We would like to get a full sized floor broom to use on hardwood floors.”

I do indeed have a gallery.

These fine folk looked at 2 brooms and asked if I could combine them…

Here ya go:

Custom orders are us

Posted by Shawn on Aug 19, 2011 in Brooms | 1 comment

Two days ago, a customer in my Broom Shop expressed a very strong interest in seeing a Rooster Tail Broom tied with either bright blue or bright purple. I said she should come back in about an hour. 30 minutes later, she was back. I apologized for not being done. She said “don’t worry about it. I wanted to stop in and tell you not to make it as I can’t stay. My daughter’s sick.” I responded by saying “take my card and look to my website in a couple of days. I’ll put pictures of the brooms I made for you there. Now go home, and I hope your daughter gets to feeling better.”

Do you see what’s missing? I didn’t ask for a name.

So, if it was you, here are the brooms. If you’re reading this and it wasn’t you, that’s fine, too. I can make one for you, too.

But do tell me your name.