Recycling Becomes Horseshoe Art Craftsman finds all kinds of ways to use discarded shoes by Nancy Brannon What do you do with all those used horseshoes that accumulate after the farrier has left? George Brewer, co-owner of Southern Serenity Stables in Southaven, Mississippi, has discovered he has a talent for creating art objects out of those used, but not worn out, horseshoes. “I’ve only been doing art since December (2006),” he said. “I’ve been tinkering with it since I was decorating our horse trailer.” He made a few things for the trailer like bridle racks and towel racks, “then my wife, Donna, pushed me to start making things and selling them.” So he followed her advice and found all kinds of ways he could use those discarded shoes, as well as recycle other materials and create unique, useful objects. Donna likes to promote his “bucket lights,” which are clear yellow plastic buckets with a 60W light bulb inside. They make great all-weather outdoor lighting and the yellow-colored buckets don’t attract insects. George and Donna travel to various trail-riding venues where they meet and camp with other trail-riding couples. Donna says, “They are popular with people who are camping out at the trail rides. When you picket the horses, you can hang them over trees to illuminate the area. You can hang them regardless of the weather. We give them as Christmas gifts or as a welcoming gift for a new person who joins the trail riding group.” Donna brags on how inventive George is. “I just play with it,” he replies. It’s a working partnership: Donna gives him the ideas and George “draws it all together.” Donna emphasizes how “we recycle a lot of things. George builds bluebird houses out of vegetable cans,” she said as she showed some of his work. “The wreath on the barn door was made of vines we gathered here.” But George’s horseshoe art is the main attraction. He makes cowboy and cowgirl figures, paper towel and toilet paper holders, mug racks, hat racks, and letters. He made the “Welcome” sign nailed above the barn door. “I have to find ways to recycle those horse shoes,” George said. They built the addition to their barn out of recycled lumber, too. “It is wood from an old railroad depot that was being torn down. Donna repeated, “We recycle everything” - everything from used farm equipment to things, like an old seed hopper, that make good planters. George makes picture frames out of old barn wood; they have made wreaths out of old barbed wire. A wooden tree from an old saddle and an old pony collar are part of the house décor. While George is busy welding or tinkering in his shop, yard work is Donna’s forte. “I love my yard work. I have a stocked pond so I can sit out there with my cane pole.” More information about Southern Serenity Stables and Horseshoe Creations can be found by calling 662-349-9688 or e-mailing southernserenitys@yahoo.com. The Stables is located at 4530 Davis Road in Southaven, Mississippi.