Funky Rock Designs Makes Art Out of Rocks
Stacy B. Williams
Special Contributor
Photos courtesy of Funky Rock Designs
For those who long to be outdoors surrounded by nature all the time, one solution is to bring nature inside. For our Slippery Rock Gazette readers, this often means household stoneware and interior design in marble and granite.
The idea behind Funky Rock Designs is to bring a little bit of nature indoors in a unique form of functional art.
Funky Rock Designs’ chief artisan, Jeff Henderson, is a modest craftsman with a keen eye and an affection for function.
He has spent the last eleven years in New England, and has always felt at home near the coast.
His artistic inspiration comes principally from nature. Rock collecting has been a family tradition for Henderson.
He credits his grandmother, who was an artist, as an influence in the creative path he has taken.
“One of my favorite memories is looking for lucky stones on the shores of Lake Erie with my grandmother,” said Jeff.
Today he is grateful to continue the tradition, and build on his rock collection, with his son.
After the initial spotting of a good stone, Jeff examines it for cracks which can make it almost impossible to use.
While he admits he will usually pocket any kind of stone, he does seek out rocks with unique characteristics.
Each distinct mineral design on a stone is attributed to the pounding surf which determines its shape and texture.
“Mother Nature is the real artist,” Jeff says, “Most times the stones let you know what they want to be.”
Although some of the pieces require small cuts for holes, he aims to showcase his medium in its original form.
Most Funky Rock pieces are completely natural and unaltered. Sometimes a sealer is added to certain river rocks that look better wet.
Granite is his favorite stone to work with, and luckily it is abundant in New Hampshire which is known as the Granite State.
Henderson still hand-picks each stone and he collects them from all over the New England coast.
A local sand and gravel pit offers natural glacially tumbled stones to the Funky Rock selection.
The Hendersons also have permission to collect stones on some private beaches.
Ten years ago, Henderson started making household items with his extensive stone collection.
He made pieces for friends and family and often set up booths at local arts and craft shows.
When his pieces began to sell quickly, he decided to dive into the business full-time.
“I started out in my garage,” he said, “But I grew out of it pretty quickly.”
As the demand for Funky Rock Designs increased, the business expanded with additional employees, a larger space and new inventory.
Funky Rock Designs is now housed in a 2,000 square-foot historic mill building in downtown Dover, New Hampshire just 12 miles inland from the Portsmouth shoreline.
The warehouse is part administrative offices and part workshop. Four full-time employees help Henderson with drilling and assembling the rock designs.
The company has been running a wholesale model for almost five years now. Funky Rock Designs can now be found in shops and galleries in almost every state. In fact, the company currently has about 450 wholesale clients across the US and Canada.
While many of Henderson’s designs are especially popular in small coastal communities, his pieces are functional for all types of design styles.
The diversity and practicality of these pieces are essential to the success of Funky Rock Designs. Whether you are looking for a lamp, table art, kitchen hardware or a drawer pull, Henderson makes it all. The stacked stone lamps are a favorite among many galleries that market Funky Rock Designs. The key hiding stones and candle holders are also popular with customers. Not surprisingly though, Henderson admits that even after two years on the market, their best-seller is still the beverage dispenser (or booze dispenser, as it is more commonly referred to online). This product is truly representative of Funky Rock Designs’ combination of practicality and innovation.
“I really just stumbled upon the idea for the beverage dispenser one night,” Henderson said.
It started with a multiple-stone six-bottle wine rack which he admits was fairly heavy and costly. One gallery owner suggested trying a single-stone holder with multiple holes as a less elaborate alternative, and Henderson decided to work on it.
“I left a bottle in the single wine rack project over night,” he said, “and when I came in the next day, I thought, I wonder if I can make that come out like a tap.”
And so the beverage dispenser was born. This item is so popular because it is so unique, in addition to being user friendly. It is a must-have for home bars and a special feature for a party or wedding. Henderson confides that it is also one of his favorite designs, along with the stacked stone lamps. He also loves to make stone vases and has several in his home. In addition to the inventory of Funky Rock Designs’ stock, Henderson also honors special requests from customers.
“I like taking custom orders because it keeps the creative juices flowing,” he says. “Usually someone has a rock that means something to them and they want to make something out of it.”
There are sometimes several custom projects under way at any given time in the Funky Rock Designs workshop. Some examples of Henderson’s recent custom requests are water features, bird baths and garden decorations.
Most of the company’s sales come from retail store purchases, but Funky Rock Designs can also be ordered online. Funky Rock Designs are also available through an online market called 50roots. This company, launched last year, strives to provide consumers a place to find unique and innovative American-made products with great stories, and Henderson’s creations certainly fit the bill.
Henderson projects more expansion for Funky Rock Designs within the coming years in terms of new markets and a greater reach to retail stores and galleries. Every year the aim is to have at least one new product to add to the line. Henderson usually attends at least three wholesale craft shows each year with his Funky Rock Designs, including the American Made Show and Americasmart in Atlanta, which is coming up next month.
With all the work that comes with a growing business, it’s a wonder Henderson has time to relax. Luckily for him and his business, he finds serenity in walking along the New England coast looking for rocks.
To see more Funky Rock Designs, visit their website at www.funkyrockdesigns.com.