Keeping Tidy With Sunhouse Craft
“Look, it’s spring. And last year’s loose dust has turned into this soft willingness.
The wind-flowers have come up trembling, slowly the brackens are up-lifting their curvaceous and pale bodies. The thrushes have come home, none less than filled with mystery, sorrow, happiness, music, ambition. And I am walking out into all of this with nowhere to go and no task undertaken but to turn the pages of this beautiful world over and over, in the world of my mind.
Therefore, dark past,
I’m about to do it.
I’m about to forgive you
for everything.
‘A SETTLEMENT’ BY MARY OLIVER, 1935-2019”
Beautiful cleaning supplies are SO underrated.
Why did I wait so long to have gorgeous brooms and brushes and dustpans! Sunhouse Craft creates utility items that are beautiful enough to leave out in the open for all to enjoy and admire- on hooks in the entryway or on an open shelf in the kitchen — I mean, these handmade beauties are works of art. (do not tuck them away in a closet or in a drawer)
One thing I have learned is that when your cleaning supplies look THIS good, it gives you that motivation that you need to tidy the things on that chore list.
Cynthia and Doug are making the most incredible things designed and made in the rolling hills near Berea, Kentucky that help you make your home even more beautiful!
(And when they share Rumi and other beautiful words on the homepage of their website….gah! I just knew we would be great friends!)
“I’ve said before that every craftsman searches for what’s not there to practice his craft.
A builder looks for the rotten hole where the roof caved in.
A water carrier picks the empty pot.
A carpenter stops at the house with no door.
Workers rush toward some hint of emptiness, which they then start to fill.”
ABOUT THE CRAFT
Home goods inspired by the timeless traditions of Appalachian crafts. Designed and made in the rolling hills of Berea Kentucky, wooden wares are hand made, often hewn with axe and knife. Brooms are hand woven, with a non-electric process, and time and attention is paid to the details of each piece. Wood is sustainably sourced and harvested from nearby, and locally farmed, and natural fibers inform the design process.
ABOUT THE STUDIO
Sunhouse Craft was started by designer/maker Cynthia Main As a place to combine her background as a fabricator with a strong desire to find sustainable and harmonious ways of working. Each piece is made by hand in their Kentucky studio, weaving together crafting traditions of Appalachia, natural materials, and timeless design. The end result are tools that bring back a sense of everyday magic into our daily work and chores.
MEET THE MAKERS
Cynthia Main
Land connected craft lover and sometimes farmer, old tool restorer, plant enthusiast and magic food lover. I make most of your brooms and hand carved wooden wares.
Doug Stubbs
Outdoor enthusiast and archeology seeker, with a great eye for detail, Doug makes most of the cutting boards and flatware leaving the shop.
Sunhouse Craft sent me a few items for this feature and I am so grateful!
leather dustpan:
Handmade and designed by Cynthia, cut by c.r. campbell leatherworks, advised by Casey Gunschel with leather from Thoroughbred leather in Louisville. You can pick from natural or black. This is a naturally finished product, and some surface variation is to be expected.
Nesting broom:
This is part of a nesting set that was designed by Casey Gunschel. It’s soooo beautiful!
These two together are truly the perfect cleaning companions, whether you’re getting rid of a mess or just tidying up and makes it easy to sweep from above and reach in stubborn corners. So ideal for workstations, countertops, home offices, craft stations, kitchen tables after a food styling shoot, and the living environment of two spotted pups! HA!
Tampico Turkey Wing:
Tampico, or the fibers from a certain species of agave makes a lovely soft bristled brush. Tied with hemp cord for a sturdy, but delicate sweep, and a leather hang tie. This is a softer sweep than the broomcorn brushes. Available in single color, two tone, or tri-color- you pick the shades in the two tone and tri color (just add it to the notes and Cynthia will see it!)
Check the gift sets if you want to order this with a dustpan too! I think these would make the most perfect gifts for everyone on your list-especially those people who have everything!
I have found that this turkey wing broom is an exceptionally effective sweeper. It’s very durable and will get at those hard to reach places in the home. I love using this one behind our steam heaters and the baseboards.
It’s also great for use outdoors and the perfect tool for sweeping out your car or tent, and for removing lint from clothes.
Be sure to check out their sale items too. Items will be deleted as they sell out.
Everything is made by hand so there is a 3-4 week lead time and I promise you it will be well worth the wait!!
