This is the number one question we get asked. "What made you get into brooms?" or my favorite..."Do you really think you can make a living making brooms?" We get asked in different ways, but we know what they are thinking. Broom making is a weird way to make a living. Why would anybody in his right mind want to peddle the lowly broom? Let me explain...
Back in the early 80's, I walked the docks in Seattle and got a job on a fishing vessel named F/V Yardarm Knot. I was told to…
It's fall now, and things are finally calming down around here. Summer is always a crazy time, working on the homestead, and keeping the broom shop alive simultaneously. It can be quite a balancing act, gardening, foraging for broom sticks, preserving food for winter, cutting firewood, and of course, filling orders from our wonderful customers!
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Well, howdy there, folks! If you've got yourself a good natural broomcorn broom from www.americanbroomshop.com, you know it's a trusty companion for sweepin' away life's little messes. But just like any other friend, it needs a bit of tender lovin' care to keep it kickin' for the long haul. So, grab your apron and let's dive into some down-home tips on how to care for your broomcorn broom and keep mold and mildew at bay.
Keep…
Don't get me wrong - I love making brooms. But sometimes a guy just needs to cut loose from the every day, normal, and responsible stuff. So I did, and had enough fun to last me through the work week. The faces of these two men were released into the world using knives and a small piece of sandpaper to clean up the corners. After consulting with experts, I've decided to name the bald one Curly, and the tall one Otis. Curly has a round sweep and Otis is stitched flat. Only question I have now…
Man, it's been a full-on winter since early November. Just got a fresh 4 inches yesterday. Local old-timers say this is the worst Okanogan winter in the past 30 years. Our lowest temperature, just before Christmas, was -27F. Everything froze solid. Our snow pack has lasted 4 1/2 months so far, and cabin fever is really creeping in. Still got plenty of firewood, so I think I'll light up the wood stove later today and hang out in the carving shack. Nothing like whittling next to the…
This is my office today, behind the wheel of our antique kicker broom winder. We completely refurbished this old workhorse from the ground up. Born in the late 1800's, it was a little run down. We added new oak kicker spokes, new oak cross members, and a custom chuck. After all that, it's like driving a sports car, except a little quieter. And this winder doesn't have a motor. It's driven 100% by foot treadle power!
— Kevin Miller
