Jason Innovations

Hey... where'd Jason and John go???

2011-06-17T16:32:00.000-04:00

We're here... we're alive! We're busy but things are really settling in again. In fact, the babies are about grown up already! Kidding Season is over. Our little babies are about all off of milk, if you can believe it. This season flew and "flung me over the shoulder" and carried me away. It was hectic and exciting and trying but good.

The Memorial Weekend Garden Festival was such an amazing blast, too. John and I really enjoyed ourselves and we hope all who attended did as well.

But what now? My "work" out in the barn is near done for this year. My time in there is trickling down to scarce and I'm not 100% sure which direction to go next, as my schedule begins to clear up.

So first thing's first, I'm working on redoing our website. I've decided it needs to be freshened up and possibly needs a new direction. We appreciate all of you who've been signing our Guest Book and are trying our best to get back to every one's questions, personally. We love that people are engaged and interested in what's going on here.

Next, I'm thinking of creating some more projects for sale for the website store, but streaming it down a bit. Though the website has become seasonal - affected by our work in the barn - I would like to pump new blood into the new site now and update much more frequently. I would add products, but as one-of-a-kinds. I wouldn't replicate or copy items unless I have a mold. So my items will all be unique so it would be nice to go back to where we were in the beginning and add a new item once a week. It keeps it interesting and allows a good reason for you to come back regularly. We'll do that with the launch of the new site - coming soon!

On that note, I TOTALLY APOLOGIZE for waiting soooooo looooong to update. It's been an eternity and I don't want that to happen again.

You may be wondering what I'll actually be making then for the new site. You'll have to wait and see! (Suspense is so... suspenseful!) But it shouldn't be much more of a wait.

I WILL keep you posted. Promise.

Thanks everyone for you patience!

Jason

New site under construction...

2011-04-17T15:45:00.000-04:00

Very shortly, in the month of May, John and I will be launching a brand new FarmerJohnandJason.com. We're very excited and have been working hard at putting this new concept together.

Sometime this month, we may have to shut down the current website for maintanence, when the time draws closer, to install the new and improved site. We'll keep you posted and we can't wait to show you what we have in store!

Thanks for checking in and I'll post soon!

Jase

We're updating the old and adding a new website - very soon!

2011-03-18T15:23:00.000-04:00

Yes, John and I are very excited to announce that in the next two months, we will be reinventing our Farmer John and Jason website. We also will be creating a second, unique one! I'll explain...

First of all, farmerjohnandjason.com is about to become a more beautiful site. It will be enhanced with a much more user friendly interface with professional Flash effects and animations making it very interesting and giving it a far more polished feel.  We will also be "weeding out" and streamlining the site to allow it to have a clearer functionality.

We'll have new products available in our new, improved storefront and we'll have better reliability in keeping things in stock.

We also, of course, will keep those blogs, animal videos and photos, as well as the online games coming, as people have requested.  So farmerjohnandjason.com will be the place for you to go if you are interested in our lives and the animals's lives here at the Beekman.

However, if you are simply gaga over goats (as many people are) and looking for a good resource them, then we are pleased to note that we're going to launch a second and separate site called "Unique Goat Products". That site will be for anyone who owns goats, or is interested in getting some goats, or just loves goats in general and is looking for decorative goat art work or even functional and innovative barn equipment related to helping them raise their own.  This site will provide unique items for your goats and you, their owners.

So with these big changes in the upgrading of one and the creation of another, we're attempting to satisfy both populations of people who've been following our site. This decision seems to make sense - rather than cramming it all into farmerjohnandjason.com like we have before. It should be better and clearer for everyone that way.   :)

So I hope you're as excited about these upcoming changes as we are. I personally can't wait till this project is complete and up and running! Very soon.

But speaking of completed projects, I need to mention that I hope you enjoy the premiere of Season 2 of the Fabulous Beekman Boys this coming Tuesday evening on Planet Green. It'll should be a fun time for all!

Now... I'm heading out to make a new video of the baby goats. Will post it on our homepage once it's edited.

Thanks for reading!

Eureka!

2011-03-07T15:22:00.001-05:00

I figured out a solution to a big dilemna John and I have.

That issue is, that we produce more milk than can be purchased, currently. With the number of milk producers in the barn, presently, and after the milk is fed to the babies, the excess "liquid gold" (milk) is often thrown out! It's a shame and it's obviously not something we want to do, but have had to since the goat's births have not directly coincided with the production of the products that are currently made from the milk.

So... while dumping a five gallon jug into the pig pen, an idea came to me. I have had success this past year making whitewash paint from the milk. (You may see this is Season 2. ) I'd also heard of milk glue before too. These are non edible products from milk. And people are obviously also able to create solid things from milk as well, like 2 pound wheels of edible cheese. Therefore, I believed there must be a way to make non-edible objects from the milk too.

I started researching and I found the answer I was looking for. It was possible to make durable, lasting objects cast from molds for the milk.

But what should I make? Hmmm... Sculptures!

It looks like I'm actually going to be able to cast solid relief sculptures out of goat's milk!

Sounds a bit weird doesn't it? I thought so too, but I was determined and have since been experimenting. And I've found that it's true. Objects can be cast from goat's milk.

Now, I have more research and experimentation to do. The recipe I'd found was not complete, so I'm filling in the holes myself, but it's VERY promising.

So, soon, it looks like I'll be making some relief sculptures for our store from this! (Which we've been wanting to add to our store inventory now anyway.)

And anyway, we can't let that milk go to waste. We owe it to the "Girls". :)

So, keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll, as always, keep you posted.

Thanks!

What are we doing now?

2011-03-02T10:11:00.002-05:00

Just a quick list entry to let you know "what's up" here at farmerjohnandjason.com. Like we've said already, things are busy!

We're very excited and waiting patiently for Season 2 of "The Fabulous Beekman Boys" to air on March 22.

We're only about a third of the way through the birthing season yet but goat's births have slowed for a few days giving us a break. (Gives us a little time to breathe.)

Speaking of breathing better, Justin (my brother) made some installations with the barn's ventilation system. Phew! The air is clear. Also, we debuted his song "Black Capped Chickadee" in our work video. People have really enjoyed it. (The song can be purchased and downloaded here.)

Mom's working around the clock to create the stuffed plush goats for our store. They're coming soon!

Shirley's also working hard on her items. She'll have some new things on here very shortly.

Dad too!

John's got his list of 2010/ 2011 "goats for sale" published on our site for downloading if anyone's interested in buying some.

We're glad that the milk season has officially begun. Brent picked up a batch of milk today for the first time this year and Deb has already taken some for soap production.

I'm planning on releasing photos and video more often now on our site. So you'll have even more reason to come back more often.

We're also doing a bit of a redesign and SEO Optimization on farmerjohnandjason.com to make it a stronger, better and smoother site to navigate. These subtle changes will take place this month.

Lastly, there is a change regarding the story I'm creating about the goats. It's a good change! See, I've just been introduced to a new technology where, instead of creating a simple paper back book - we're going to get with the times and go digital and interactive. It's really cool! I'm so thrilled about it and I think you'll really love it when it's finished. It might be released in chapters. I'll explain more in another entry.

However, just so you know, it will also be released as a book as well, though realistically, may not be out till the end of the year. (Publishing a book is complicated!) :)

So thanks for checking up on us and we'll keep you posted!

We want to show you the creative work of our family members!

2011-02-19T14:25:00.006-05:00

Below are some items to peruse through that we were referred to in the video.

If you would like more information about an item or would like to buy,

simply click on the picture and you will be navigated to the

Farmer John and Jason Storefront

regarding that particular item's description and price.

There you will find more information you are looking for.

Remember, at the store, there are more items that haven't been listed here!

Shirley's "Farmer John" Quilt

Marcia's "Cardinal Red" Braided Rug

Richard's Kitchen/ Dining Table

Richard's Goat Cart Coffee Table

Richard's Silo Door Towel Holder

Rustic Coffee Table

Many interesting items at

Farmer John and Jason's Storefront.

Click here to go there.

And thanks again for your interest!

New Baby Schedule and a Preview of my Upcoming Picture Book!

2011-02-15T11:57:00.000-05:00

Wow. Life has suddenly changed for us in an exciting way! As we’ve already stated on our site and on Facebook, the babies have begun to arrive. John and I went from being in the barn daily a few hours throughout the winter, to now somewhere between 8-9 hours a day. You may be thinking, “Well, your farmers and that’s a normal work schedule.” That would be true, yet all of the new hours are from only eight days of births, which resulted in over 55 goat kids!

This is just the tip of the iceberg, too. See there are still over eighty more mothers to kid yet and each of them have an AVERAGE of two. In other words, LOTS of fluffy, cute faced, long droopy eared (some perky) baby goats are on their way.

And regarding our hours, John and I are currently out there, in the Beekman Barn, eight a day now with just 50 babies. With another 300% still on their way… let’s just say we’ll be putting in a little “over time”.

Last year I was not as involved in the birthing and kidding process. I grew up on a farm and have been living here at the Beekman for quite awhile now, but being this involved is a new experience for me. VERY exciting and fun, I have to say.

And what a "job"/ business to be involved in! I mean, not to state the obvious, but these babies are sooooooo cuuuuuute!!!! I think of them like my treasured "customers" since I’m the one who predominantly bottle feeds them. They are such a pleasure to work with! lol. And boss man John makes for a great “partner” in the biz. :)

Now, I’ve started looking at our time issue (or lack thereof) as a creative challenge. It’s a problem that needs a resolution. We have to constantly streamline the efficiency of our new system of working together, so I'm thinking of new “inventions” to help, That way we can feed all the new babies in the same window of time that we’ve been working this past week. It’s possible, I’m certain of it.

On a separate note, since I am not YET in the barn 24/7, I do still have a little down time to eat, sleep and work on my story that I’ve been developing. I wanted to let you know that the puppet show DVD may be postponed till later in the year, due to the severe lack of time right now. However, the story is just about complete so I am taking it’s concept and turning it more immediately into a picture book. It will be available as a set – a book and a stuffed plush stuffed animal based on the character. I'm writing and illustrating it too so I have below some to show you. It'll just give you an idea as to the look of the book, when it's complete.

Enjoy!

Hope you like the style of it. I estimated that there will be over a hundred illustrations when complete. It's the first book I've ever created so it's dear to my heart and I'm having a blast working on it. I'll give you more updates as it moves along.

Also, we'll post more photos of the babies through the next few months as they arrive.

Thanks for reading today!

A lot of new milk means a need for my new invention!

2011-02-01T17:33:00.001-05:00

The snow is piling up outside, as it is for so many in this country. I’m referring to the huge storm that’s trekking across the states and dumping on us all along the way! I’ve heard the news stations refer to it as the storm of the century. They said the US hasn’t seen one so massive since the Fifty’s. It’s yet to be seen how accurate they will be, but it’s already snowing now. John and mine’s morning commute tomorrow, from the house to the barn, is sure to be a treacherous one. They’re predicting up to almost 2 feet to fall in total. But trudge through it in our muck boots we will since, just as there is a lot of snow… there are a lot of babies coming too!

Not today or tomorrow, mind you, but the first due is around the 8^th or 9^th (about a week) and John thinks someone will probably kid THIS weekend. Therefore, everyone here is preparing.

For example, we had a milk meeting down at the Beekman Mercantile yesterday, to discuss and coordinate milk pickups. Considering the sheer volume of milk being produced by the larger number of goats producing it this year, John and I realized this is no easy task. The milk will be used to create the soap and cheese, like last year, but also a new item which will be discussed on Beekman1802.com at some point, as well. There are more buyers this year too. It’s a lot to coordinate to make sure everyone gets what they need.

Now, someone integral to producing the soap mentioned in the meeting the challenge of lifting the 3 gallon metal containers from the barn into their vehicle. (This is how they transport it to the soap facility.) Its one thing to lift one or two pails, but they are heavy when full, and 6 or 8 times at a pickup is rough on anyone’s back.

My eyes lit up. It was a call to a challenge that required one of my inventions to solve! So this morning, I took time away from the story I’m producing (I mentioned it in the last entry) and designed quickly a scale working model of a new aparatus. It easily lifts the full buckets and can be pushed to where the car is parked in the doorway of the barn, and unloaded into the vehicle. It should save more than a few backs in the process.

So this little video I threw together shows a 1/12 scale model of this zany contraption that will be built of wood and have wheels to maneuver.

Enjoy!

A little behind the scenes glimpse at my new project!

2011-01-23T08:18:00.001-05:00

In the last post I talked about my puppet effects production in which I would write little stories about our fun and amazing animals here at the Beekman. I was going to write a childrens book about it, but decided, with my past experience in video production, plays and effects, that I'd instead create a cool and fast paced puppet show series.

I'm about 2/3 of the way finished with the first story and it's story board.

A storyboard is used in TV and mostly film production to visually layout the scenes that will be in the final video or film. It includes a sketch or picture of the anticipated shot and then the dialogue or action written under it. Walt Disney used storyboards all the time when he was writing.
This is what the story board for this project, looks like (at least one section)...

You can see that it's broken up into different scenes.

Here are a few random closeups that include our real life characters:

Shay the goat, Jolene the cat,

and of course, a glimpse at Pokey.

(I didn't put them in order because I don't want to give away the story.

I just wanted to show a few examples.)

(Intro shot of barn.)

(Shay the goat watching Jolene run by.)

(Jolene dangerously jumps and is clinging for dear life to a feeder ledge.)

(Jolene gets in trouble with Pokey.)

(Jolene smiling.)

Now this will all be performed with puppets and effects, so I started designing and building those aspects as well. Here is a half completed Pokey puppet that will be used for closeup shots.

She's obviously not done yet. I still have to fine tune her shape. (The puppet looks a little more "mule" like to me right now.) We'll add fur later too.

(Ears up...)

(and the all important - ears down.)

(Eyes open...)

(and eyes shut or blinking.)

There are levers built inside of the puppet head for controling the facial features.

(This foam is what she was created from.)

So I'm having a blast!

My mother, Marcia, who can be seen in the Halloween post on this blog, is a seamstress and a puppeteer who is going to be working to help me with this as well.

The final product will be a preview video on our site, an actual DVD which will be able to be purchased on our site, a coloring book based on the story AND hand made puppets and stuffed animals based on Jolene, Pokey, and Shay.

As future stories are made about different characters in our barn, then those puppets will be made too. Our approach to this production is to make as enjoyable for kids as it is for grownups. That's how Disney made his films and we'd like to emulate that philosophy.

Very exciting and a lot of fun to make and I hope you'll enjoy it when it's done. Our anticipated completion date and release on the website will be mid March.

Busy, busy times now. The babies are on the way in less than a month, the crew is still filming, and now we're working on this project as well.

Hope you enjoyed this entry and stay tuned!

Jase

Great holidays! So what's next?

2011-01-05T09:13:00.000-05:00

What a “winter whirlwind”! The Christmas season of 2010 sure was a blast. Between all the “get-togethers” and festivities and the holiday orders… let’s just say we’ve been, as you probably were too, very busy. But, finally, the shipments have been shipped, the gifts have been opened and the rush of the holiday is over, as we venture into the white, quiet, calm and cozy doldrums of winter.

But, wait a minute… what is that marked on the calendar? Could it be more impending excitement embedded in this peaceful time of the year?

Yes. There is a circled date on the page of the next month. It is February 9^th.

You may have an idea as to why that day is important. It is vitally important to us in that it marks a new flurry of activity here at the Beekman. And it is… Baby Goat Season!

That is the day it all begins when our first two expectant goat mothers give birth. Of course, Mother Nature could decide not to abide by the calendar, but it does give us a target date to make sure to “ready the barn” and prepare our Beekman winter wonderland for countless little hooved ones.

To give you an idea of the magnitude of this upcoming birthing and milk season, John last year was milking 60 goats. This year, he’s going to try 110! His father, Harold, and I will be greatly assisting him much more as a result, which brings me to another bit of important information relating to you. Since we are inevitably going to be so preoccupied with the animals needs, we have reluctantly decided to slow down on production of our standard items in the farmerjohnandjason store for a bit. We simply won’t have the time we did throughout the fall. Not for a little while, anyway.

This is, after all, the section of year when the days start for us at 2:00am and, much later that evening, end at 9:00 pm! Oh, we’ll have some time for sleeping and eating in between, but the point is our schedules will be radically different. Just not much time for sculpting, painting or crocheting.

So, what will farmerjohnandjason.com offer in the next few months through this nursery season?

Well, we’ve been talking with Shirley, John’s sister, who said she’d like to create some new products for the store. Also, our blogging will continue. We'll also have updates on the babies. And, something else will be arriving soon too – involving entertainment for families! See, each of us here at the Beekman are all excited about the interest in the show from parents and kids, all over the country. The animals of course seem to appeal greatly to the youngest viewers. Therefore, I decided to begin developing an entertainment project based on our famous Beekman animals specifically for families. It will involve specially designed puppets, effects and stories about our animals and will amount to a DVD that will be able to be purchased on our farmerjohnandjason.com website. It’s still in progress, so I don’t have many details to share yet, but I’ll keep you posted as it develops and reveal its release date in the near future.

So some exciting change is in the cool, arctic wind. We’ll keep you “in the know” to any new and additional ideas we may get. In the meantime, I truly hope everyone had a magical Holiday and you can enjoy the winter as much as you can, for as brief of a time that it is here. It’ll fly by and before you know it, the springtime flowers and buds will be blooming again!

Till then, bundle up and stay warm!

How did John and I meet?

2010-12-11T11:07:00.000-05:00

Someone important to me asked the other day if I could talk about how John and I met, over 4 years ago. It’s an interesting short story which, I believe, speaks of life’s uncanny mystery.

A few years prior, Dad, and my two brothers, Josh and Justin (who you will see in episode 1 of upcoming Season 2), worked together in Paden Builders – our family’s contracting and construction company. One of their clients happened to be two men who lived together, nearby where we lived, on the hill in Schoharie. In fact, their house could be considered to be in the same neighborhood.

As a gay man, it was interesting to know that there was a couple living so close in the country. Josh, Justin and Dad, over the course of a few weeks, continued and completed their job of constructing a barn for this man called John.

Anyway, years went by and I hadn’t heard anything about the couple after, until one night when I was on the computer. I’d been dabbling in online dating through Yahoo Personals, when all of the sudden, I came across a man called John who lived in Schoharie who was newly single. I contacted him to say hello. He asked me who I was. I’d put two and two together at that point and said I was, believe it or not, a neighbor. In fact, (and this is a blend of funny and creepy, which we both smile about now) I said I could see his house from my kitchen window. Well apparently, this John jumped up and looked out his back windows to see who the heck and from what distant house might be staring back!

We chatted a few times then, but I knew that his breakup was still fresh, and he’d need more time before jumping into any kind of relationship with me. So we were friends, who talked occasionally for almost ½ a year after.

Then, one day, while I was outside working on a Halloween project for a production I was in charge of, John stopped by. He’d seen me working in front of the garage while he’d driven by. See, he’d been living in Sharon Springs with his family at that point while he and his partner worked out an amiable situation where John’s many goats could remain at the old farm. He’d been driving back and forth twice a day to feed, water and milk, going past my house at those times.

He stopped and talked for a bit, finally seeing each other’s faces in person for the first time. He left but then soon returned a week later. Before we knew it, by January 1^st, he’d begun coming by the house every day for lunch and staying till he had to milk again that night. It helped him cut down on the drive time, but of course, more importantly, something was slowly building.

This went on for another four months, till the 1^st of April. On April 1^st, of all days – the day of pranks - was also the day that John and I solidified our relationship and became an official couple. And we’ve been happily ever since.

Now interestingly, it was also the day that Josh and Brent responded to his letter and accepted John’s idea of living at the Beekman in the small house as caretaker, with all his goats.

So, a notoriously silly day on the calendar (April Fools) turned out to be a radical twist in our four lives now here at the Beekman. It is funny… just how mysterious life is. Can’t help but wonder if it was, somehow, all meant to be.

Thanks, Teri, for asking!

Today feels right to blog again...

2010-11-30T07:59:00.000-05:00

I think I may have mentioned this in one of my old blogs, but most mornings now, after John and I come in from the barn (which doesn't take much time these days, now that the goats are winding down for the season in milk production), I sit for a bit and meditate.
See, Michael Whaling created this most magnificent piece of art that will hopefully be a part of this gorgeous property from now till the end of time. It's his stone wall. I've shown it to you in previous older posts, but video doesn't do it justice.
This wall is now an important part of my life. After spending my first waking moments with the animals and making sure they are hayed and watered with John, I'm ready to spend a moment with one of our barn animals in particular - Bubby, one of our amazing cats.
You can't compare animals to animals like you can't people. Everyone's so beautifully different and important, there's simply no need to want to try. So Bubby and the wall share my special morning time.
Michael brilliantly built into this stone structure, which surrounds Josh's wonderful garden, with a seat. Two actually. One on the side nearest our house, near our entrance, and one beautifully centered in the corner. Not sure why, but that one draws me in most often.
This morning, I situated myself on the seat with Bubby. I almost didn't feel the need to ponder this morning, but as John and I approached the house, he reminded me of what a nice morning it was weather wise. He was right. Prior, stepping out of the barn revealed an amazing 1/4 moon and a single star (which I actually think is one of the planets) and a rose hinted light cloud cover. The sun was getting ready to rise and the temperature was nice for this time of year. Perfect. How could I resist.
I called to Bubby, who had followed us from the barn to the house and he bounded over to follow me to our seat in the corner. We sat for a few moments and I got inspiration to write.
Since I've been spending this quality time with Bubby and the garden and the wall and the sky, I've noticed I've felt lighter... happier... smiling and laughing a lot. It's just such a good feeling. I think Bubby's been happier too. lol.
It's nice. It's simple. It's good. And you know what? I think life is too. Complications seem to be smoke and mirrors to me lately. There's something deeply good going on underneith it all. Secretly and beautifully hidden. I can't help but feel like I'm kind of waking up to it myself. I think we all are. And I can't help but smile about it.

This is a photo of Bubby. He's so striking here. I took this before the wall was finished. Interestingly, he's sitting right next to our favorite seat, before we really started sitting there regularly. (Maybe life whispers.)

Thanks.

2010-11-27T07:13:00.000-05:00

It’s been a bit since I’ve been on and I apologize to anyone who might have been wondering where the heck I went. I think in my last post I mentioned how I was working hard to keep up to the exciting orders that were wonderfully coming in. It was great trying to keep up, and I’m not sure I did an entirely perfect job at it since my posting suffered a bit.

But, alas, I am back after having learned a truly valuable lesson - the importance of communication. I learned that no matter how busy this life gets, it’s important to stop, take a moment from the hussle and check in with your friends and family – which thankfully now includes you.

So what’s going on? Well, this was an amazingly meaningful holiday (Thanksgiving) to have experienced. Funny how in the past I was always so caught up in the excitement over the food and how stuffed I would make myself by night’s end that I somehow may have missed a point. This year was a bit different.

I decided to live up to the name of the day and stuff myself rather with appreciation… for everything… and everyone I’ve had the privilege to know and get to know in my life. And of course, that still includes you!

Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

I’d like to be clear here that I’m not referring directly, though I feel great gratitude for it as well, to your purchasing our products. That is wonderful and a very kind gesture and I really enjoy knowing that there is interest in this aspect of our lives.

But I’m talking about something a little deeper (which I believe is where I will be dipping from now on in these posts – another little something I’d learned from this epiphany). I guess I’m referring to a new connection I feel with you all - which I’m thankful for. Superficially, you know about me, just a little bit from my brief cameo in Season 1, my relation with John and maybe a bit more from what I’ve written in some posts, here. But how can you really know someone with such limited information. In reality, we don’t… or do we?

Sometimes, even without knowing, we do… intuitively.

We’re all a lot more alike than we think. We are, after all, people. We’re much more similar than different. We all have struggles and we all have loves. Sometimes I wonder if the struggling is really about that ever search for that love. I’m not only referring to romantic love, which is the most obvious form, but the more pervasive, subtle love and acceptance we all crave to feel – for others and even for ourselves.

Now, for entertainment purposes, some of John’s and my challenges are televised. Interesting situation to be in. And it’s a good thing. I am so thankful for the opportunity to reach out to you in this special way. It’s all about feeling connected. Sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we do. Now I feel it. The show may have been one of the tools for that, but I feel this desire to reach out has been growing in me even prior. And for that I am ever thankful.

So, thank you for reading and making an effort to connect to me. Through the holidays, try and connect a little bit further with friends and family. You may already know this, as I discovered on Thursday, that you’ll start appreciating the day, each other, and yourself all the more for it.

I’ll explore this more in future posts, but more importantly, I’ll stay in contact more often… because it makes me happy. I hope it does the same for you. Thanks again.

Playing catchup...

2010-11-05T17:06:00.001-04:00

Look! It's a herd of mini Pokeys (in various phases of completion) reading my blog!

OK, I've obviously had too much coffee...

But I'm charged up to work hard at completing the many orders that have come in recently. Things have been busy! Usually, I try to post a new blog every four days, but have since gotten a little behind. (By the way, THANK YOU everyone for your orders.)

I'd normally be creating a video blog at this point, but honestly, it's been a rush to produce those mini Polka Spots', painted glassware, candle holders and goat bells, that I haven't had the time to record a decent video.

The good news is that the business is doing well! We're happy that so many of you are interested in our products. Makes us feel good.

Being that the store is so new, we're still fine tuning details and ironing out systems to make the shopping experience the best it can be. It's a fun juggling act that I enjoy. And, since I make items on demand, it's an exciting race to get the orders made and shipped in a timely fashion. If there is a bit of a delay, just realize that your items were made fresh - just for you. :)

I'm just about finished with our current orders, so I'll be able to focus on new Christmas items next. At that point, my goal is to post a new item every two days.

Thanks everyone!

Jason

Spooktacular Party...

2010-10-29T13:52:00.000-04:00

My family and I create Holiday productions and events - Christmas, Easter, and, of course, Halloween! Normally, we would have put together a creepy attraction for this Autumn season open to the public. However, due to time constraints, we couldn't this year.

So, we threw a party instead...

First Poem

2010-10-23T09:49:00.000-04:00

Look what we had seen when the morning sun rose...

The wall cover blended now with Jolene's toes...

Blanketing all of our Halloween fun...

As though winter and Autumn, now were one...

and then gone.

Animal Shelter Fundraiser...

2010-10-18T07:53:00.000-04:00

We had a great time at the Saturday's dog costume contest for the Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley. Take a look!

(And thanks for the great picture, Gloria.)

Columbus Day and the frost...

2010-10-13T13:47:00.000-04:00

Thank you and the beautiful sun rise...

2010-10-09T10:46:00.002-04:00

Hi all!

Thanks for your ideas and I wanted to respond quickly to your great comments:
Cleveland Bucky - I just purchased ornaments to paint on last night. Thanks!
Amy - I just posted another video blog here and am about to add a new Video Page with our new Halloween video that I just completed! Can't wait to post it in the next day.
Angela, as seen in this video blog, I think a Pokey sculpture is a great idea. So I'm working on it now and looking for a mirror for John's image too.
And thanks Teri for your comment! I appreciate it.

You guys are the best.

So here's the new video blog entry.

Another way of creating a blog... video!

2010-10-05T22:55:00.000-04:00

This doesn't mean that I won't be writing anymore. It's just something I'm trying, to keep the site interesting. This way, you get to see of what I'm talking about.

Hope you like it! Let me know if you do or don't.

Thanks!

Farmer John and Jason's Storefront is off and running!

2010-10-03T18:00:00.000-04:00

What a terrific day! With weeks of preparation work and no room for social life between; with paint stained hands and sculpt-cramped fingers; with a household of products to be made and two people filled full of hope - it happened. John and I launched our Web site's store today.

Thanks to you, it was a success.

I'm not talking about whether or not you purchased something. I'm referring to the fact that you were kind and interested enough to be there through the process. In knowing that you're reading this blog, it helps provide us the energy and enthusiasm required to work harder and achieve our goal.

This has been an emotionally rewarding experience and I appreciate all of you readers, patrons, blog followers... our friends. Thanks again.

Driven Rain. Driven Jason.

2010-10-01T06:40:00.005-04:00

Wow! That rain is really belting down on the roof this morning. Even while I'm on my treadmill now (I'll explain in a second) I can still hear it rap against the shingles of our home. The forcasters were calling for it and did we ever get it. Driving back late last night from Albany in the rain, with my mother, was interesting. Heck, it was dangerous! Not only was visibility strained and were the deep puddles tempting my car to hydroplane, but the rain also knocked many leaves down onto the wet roads. Not good. Slick.

But, thankfully, my mother and I both made it home safely, as well as the items to be painted that we'd just purchased. From the sounds of it outside, it'll be a good day to stay in, light an autumn scented candle and put a big push on to complete more items for Sunday's opening of the store.

Oh, not sure if you knew yet, but that is the official date of our online opening:
Sunday, October 3rd at 12:00 noon.

I'll list tomorrow some more of the items you can expect to find. But right now I want to list an item you won't find at the store... "What?" you may be saying. Well this does relate, being that it is the first 3D Custom Sculpted Photo Frame (I've gotta think of a shorter name) I'd ever made. Since I want to leave the Farm Frame, I'm currently finishing up as surprise for Sunday, I want to show you a finished example of my first.

This is my father, Richard, and the beautiful photo that my uncle took of him on a walk in Massena, NY:

It's a clear photo, but I zoomed in so much, it's a little blurry. Anyway...

This is a 3D Custom Sculpted Photo Frame based on his photo:

You can see the 5 x 7 photo inside the frame and the outside imagery is matched and hand sculpted, cast and then painted. In this shot, the frame is resting (a little lopsided) on a table, but it has a hanger and usually is mounted on the wall upright.

It's one of my favorite projects - though a little time consuming to make.

And the Beekman's first in a series, that I started to show you, will be finished by this Sunday! But in order for my little invention to be complete by that time, I've got to get off this invention that I'm currently walking on and have been for the last 1/2 hour - my Computer Treadmill Unit. (I told you I'd get back to this.)

My Computer Treadmill Unit is not much of an original idea since they sell professional ones online for hundreds to thousands of dollars made of steel. I made my own homely version (and it DOES look homely) for nothing. P.S. - I don't recommend people building their own out of the cheap materials I used (and I mean cheap) because we're talking about cardboard and duct tape! Seriously.

I'd take a photo, but I'm truly humiliated by the way this contraption looks. It got filmed last season in the show, but they cut the footage - possibly due to my newbie nervousness, but probably because this cardboard/duct tape/ treadmill Beast was lingering in the corner.

In all fairness to the Computer Treadmill Beast, it's a wreck to look at, but this thing has changed my life! When ever I'm feeling tired or blue or uncreative, (as many artists often do) I hop on my Computer Treadmill Unit for a half hour, check my emails, blog, or update the website as I walk and, before I know it, I'm feeling excellent! It charges me up while staying productive! By the way, the Treadmill Beast has helped me loose weight too. Another perk. Love my Beast!

But that's what my life is all about now - using my creativity to make constant improvements - to myself and the products that I make. Sometimes they are little outlandish. Most of the time they work!

On that note, it's already 6:15am and I've gotta get to work creatin' some more products for you.

Thanks for readin'!

Art on a misty morning at the Beekman.

2010-09-28T10:03:00.000-04:00

Last night, I stayed up watching Disney's Wall-E through the corner of my eye while painting my first goat portrait on a glass vase I'd purchased. I love playing imaginative movies in the background while I'm working on projects. Well, that or 80's music - which I do right now. Both keep my creative vigor rolling.

I'm pretty pleased with how the vase turned out for a first attempt, especially after John exclaimed, "It looks just like her!" (Her being Chrissy - one of his girls.) My heart did a victory leap. This was what I was hoping for. (I should have a "Farmer John Approved" label on the packaging of each project that passes.)

Take a look:

John suggested I add her name to the vase too. I thought that was a good idea. These glass object paintings will be one-of-a-kind products meaning they won't be mass produced. They're just individually made and signed.

My other current project, the 3D Custom Frame and Photo, is coming along, too. It'll take a bit longer though. In fact, I needed to get a few additional reference photos out in the pasture this morning after I'd finished my chores with John. And, wow, was it a beautiful misty morning! Just look:

Meanwhile, I've added some of the sculpted elements (the goat in the forefront and the start of the hay pile on the bottom) in Super Sculpey. Once it's finished (it'll be a day or two), I'll bake the completed sculpture, make a mold of it prior to painting and then cast it. Not sure what material to use yet though for casting. I've got a few options.

This project is still in the early stages and you won't see the aluminum foil when it's complete:

And we're still developing the storefront. I hope (and don't quote me here) that it could be up sometime this weekend. That would be nice, but we still have a few hoops to jump through. Also, can't have a store without inventory! SO... I'd better get back to work!

Thanks for reading!

Working on our website's first Art Product...

2010-09-26T06:07:00.002-04:00

Well, it's about 5:45 am (yes, farmers do get up early) on a Sunday (yikes). Today, I woke up a little earlier (about 4:30) out of excitement over this website. We've received a good response already and it's charged me up.

But the website is still missing a big component - the Store. That is my next project. I'd like to have it up and running this week, but in order to accomplish that... I need inventory. That means I've gotta stop blogging and start sculpting.

This is my first project! It is going to be a "3D Custom Sculpted Photo Frame" for a particular picture I'd taken of Poke-A-Spots and the goats outside the back of the barn.

This is what the photo looks like:

I particularly liked the soft hues of the sky against the barn, but mostly felt it was a striking shot of Pokey guarding her herd. It almost seemed like the goats were nervously looking out from the security of the barn, waiting for the "coast was clear" signal from our popular llama (who by the way, has her own Facebook page).

It's a nice image on it's own, but I have other plans for it.

So I enlarged the photo and had it professionally printed and mounted on backing, behind glass. Now, it's ready for the next step - the sculpting of the frame over top of the matte to match and extend the photo.

Not sure what I mean? Don't worry. I'll show you as I progress with the project.

This process is one of my "inventions" and will be the first of a product line I'll be creating for this website. I have an example of a finished "3D Custom Sculpted Photo Frame" that I will post in my next entry.

Till then, I'll be working hard at this and the "Store" page. Wish me luck!

Ahhh... the wonderful world of blogging.

2010-09-23T11:56:00.001-04:00

Well, here we are. John and I decided about a week ago that we'd like to have a writing outlet to express his ideas regarding the animals here at the Beekman and for myself to blog about all of the opportunities for creative development relating to life with those animals here on the farm. A farm, after all, is not only breeding ground for baby animals... it is also for physical labor - labor that needs to be done daily... twice! And since "necessity is the mother of invention", the farm turns out to be a breeding ground for innovation too!

And that's where I come in. I'm an "Idea Man" and my goal is to not only help my partner by haying, watering, and sweeping after his herd, but to simplify and streamline his workflow too.

So this website will be the place to read about what I'm working on now. It's been a "Multi Bottle Feeder" for the goat kids, an "Egg Condo" for the Beekman hens, a "3 in 1 Hay Feeder" for our buck boys, and even John's "8 Milking Goat Stanchion" that I created for him just recently. (Photos of all of these are at the bottom of my intro page.)

But my upcoming projects will not be work related. The barn is, for now, in great shape. So my energies are being shifted to more art related farm products. I will explain more deeply about this in my next post.

I am extremely excited to be here blogging with you at this stage in my life. I look forward to when next we meet!