Finding Happiness in the hand made.
I studied Computer Science and Math at the university of Arizona, but after academia those subjects never resonated with me in practice. It was always the amazing facets and culture of the bicycle that I kept finding myself coming back to. It's efficient, sustainable, healthy, and most of all fun!
For 8 years I was car free and boy was it great. The only thing that prompted me to purchase a motorized vehicle was my drive to make rad stuff out of salvaged steel. It became impractical to carry hundreds of pounds of steel by bike, so I caved and bought a small old tacoma. I still do the majority of my commuting by bike and try to make interactions with my bicycle a daily occurrence.
After 9 years participating in the BICAS collective (a community tools bicycle education center) I realize that I have found my calling in Bicycle Advocacy and recycling. I have worked to provide folks with sustainable skills and sustainable transportation since 2007.
A key element to my goal of recycling and sustainability is repurposing. I strive to take what little waste our recycling center produces and upcycle it into Art and Functional objects. A great example is my Salmon(pictured above) made entirely out of scrap found around our shop. This kind of salvaged material upcycling is my passion! I have had the opportunity at BICAS to work with some of the best metal artists that I have ever seen. Because of these inspiring individuals I have been able to hone my welding and creative skills in a positive nurturing and motivating environment that I have rarely found in any other aspect of my life.
Now after years of hard work I have found enough freedom in my schedule to start creating almost daily. Because of this freedom Rusty Pedal was born. This has been a dream of mine since I first started welding 9 years ago, and I am so excited to finally be able to share my creations with the fantastic folks in the etsy community!!!
