Browns Co.

Brown's Country Originals is a shop run by Mike and Donna Brown from Pennsylvania.

#1. How did you decide on your shop name?

We are a husband and wife team. I work with wood, chalkware, clay and papier mache. My wife works with dried, fresh and artificial flowers and hypertufa. These creative passions led us in 2008 to start Brown’s Country Originals. The name came from living in the country and our last name.Hypertufa is a lite weight concrete. Besides the paper mache and chalkware we have a line of garden items my wife makes country/primitive hypertufa birdbaths, flower planters and flower pots. I make country/primitive wooden potting benches, planter and garden stakes.

#2. When did you start crafting?

We start crafting when we were very young.

#3. What or who inspires you?

My wife loves gardening, so that is her inspiration. I have 1 hour commute to my day job. That 1 hour commute is when I come up with my ideas. Also, boring meetings get my creative juices flowing.

#4. Do you have a day job?

Yes, I am a Data Warehouse Architect for a large financial company.

#5. What is the item in your shop you enjoyed making the most and why?

I enjoy the making paper mache figures. There is no molds so I can use my full imagination. My wife enjoys making her flower planters and flower pots.

Audrey's Accolades:

This is a wonderful shop! Amazing items, that you just don't find a lot of on etsy. So - I know hwat wood, clay & papier mache are. But what is chalkware? Had to ask!! Here is Mike's answer:

Our Chalkware pieces are individually hand crafted and painted in a tradition once popular in 18th and 19th century Germany. The pieces are molded using antique chocolate molds and a special plaster mix. Each piece receives 4 layers of paint giving it an aged and cracked appearance. It takes approximately 3 weeks to complete a piece.

Wow! That's a lot of work. But the out come is wonderful. My favorite in their shop is of course the snowman!

Happy, handsome, snowman bowl hugger is a one of kind piece made of papier mache. He stands approximately 10 ½ inches tall and is 4 inches wide at the base. His arms extend 6 inches out from his body and there is a 3 inch space between his arms and the table top. He makes a great holiday host for your favorite snacks.