Edwin is hitting the road!

It's a busy and exciting time here for all of us at Red Earth Trading Co! Our team just came back from Africa, we are working on a new website and we are excited about all of our new products!  I am gearing up to hit the road and bring Red Earth Trading Co. to a home or church near you! I'm very excited to get out there and help spread our message of hope.

So, if you have been interested in hosting a house party, no matter where you are in the US, here is your chance! For more information, visit the website.

I hope to be seeing you all very soon,

Edwin 

Team RETCo. 

Paper Craft

Our last stop before heading back to the states was at Paper Craft. That's where we get our recycled glass neckaces. We have also carried journals that they make with handmade paper.

Demonstrating the paper making process

We got a tour of the workshop, starting with how they make their paper.  It's quite the process and it really makes me want to make my own! After each sheet is blended, soaked, and set, it is set outside to dry on the lawn.

Finished paper drying out

All of the recycled glass products are made behind the building. Bottles are crushed and the glass powder is put into different molds. Those molds are put into the fire pit and the powder is transformed into beads and pendants.

Finished recycled glass pieces

It was a great day at Paper Craft! Two really creative ways of using and reusing our resources are being mastered there. 


Enjoy your weekend!


-Kerbi
Team RETCo.

Village Art

When we finally got to Uganda (after that long bus ride), we headed to Kaihura. That's the village where Global Support Mission got its start with Faith and Bringing Hope to the Family.

 

Our most recent order on the chalk board

Working hard

One of the auxiliary programs is called Village Art which provides jobs to women in the village who can sew and weave.

Faith (third from left) and all of the ladies

RETCo. works with Village Art quite a bit! We get all of our cloth totes and drawstring bags (that come free with each RETCo. purchase) from them.

We also just created a quilt with them. Here's a sneak peak...

Have a great Monday!

-Kerbi
Team RETCo.

The ExChange Fall Tour

When I first met with Travis before I started working with Red Earth Trading Co., the main thing we talked about was his idea to take Red Earth on the road. Well, the time has come!  The ExChange is our Fall tour program that will send a team of 3 people all across the US. I am really excited about bringing my expertise to something that I really believe in. So, let us know if you want to host one of our Red Earth Trading Co. parties no matter where you are in the US! 


Edwin 
Team RETCo.

Video: The time our bus broke down.

It's a 12 hour bus ride from Nairobi to Kampala. Our bus broke down for a few hours in the middle of the journey to keep things interesting! Here's a little record of our trip...



-Kerbi
Team RETCo.

Video: Tribal Eye

Here's some video from our two visits with Raymond at Tribal Eye. We loved his workshop, products, and watching metal casting!



Have you guys checked out The ExChange? We announced our first ever tour today. Apply!

-Kerbi
Team RETCo.

Douglas, Looms, and Kikoys

One of the coolest moments I had on the trip was when we went to visit a man named Douglas.

Earlier in the week, we had found a kikoy, woven blanket, that we really liked. We took it to Douglas, who makes kikoys on a loom. We showed him the blanket to see if he could make anything similar, and he said, "I made this!" Talk about tracking products to the source! We knew immediately that we wanted to work with him.

Douglas working the loom

Not only does Douglas practice the extremely old craft of weaving on a loom, he builds looms himself! Just look at the machine- it looks extremely complicated.

The complicated loom

Each thread has to be put on by hand to set up for every kikoy. Douglas said it takes 2-3 days to prepare the loom for a new pattern.

Douglas demonstrating to the RETCo. team

While we were at the workshop, Douglas walked us through the entire process of weaving on a loom. It really gave us a whole new respect for woven products. There is a lot of hard work that goes into it.

Travis attempting to weave

Douglas explained the loom so well that Travis wanted to try it! He actually did a pretty good job.

Of course we ordered kikoys from Douglas and I am really excited to put them online! I think they will be an awesome addition- a great way to start expanding our Home Goods offerings.

Have a great week! We are back in the office and hitting the ground running on some big changes!

-Kerbi
Team RETCo.

Antique glass is back! Meet JaneRose.

 JaneRose, wearing a finished necklace

One of our top sellers last year was our Antique Glass Bead necklace. We sold out of them so quickly! One of the goals of this trip was to find someone that makes them and build a lasting relationship. Lucky for us, we met JaneRose. Not only does she make great necklaces, but she's as sweet as can be.

 

JaneRose getting interviewed next to our finished order

We made a big order with her that I'm sure will sell out as quickly as the last one! They should be up on the store soon after we get back- with all new color offerings!

We are so happy we met JaneRose so we can bring these gems back to RETCo. And we won't have to wait another year if we run out again!

-Kerbi

Team RETCo.

Tribal Eye

 Raymond happily working

We saw a brass cuff in the market that immediately caught our eye. The man that made it, Raymond, specializes in creating jewelry out of brass, copper and aluminum. He and his employees, collectively called Tribal Eye, cast the metal themselves, melting it down from things like padlocks.

 We watched them cast aluminum

Their workshop is located about half an hour outside of Nairobi, in a place called Karen, and it was one of the trip favorites. It was in a fairly rural location, with lots of land and chickens surrounding it. The lighting inside was really inviting and made for an inspirational workspace.

Raymond and his employees make some really impressive metal pieces. We made a big order that we  are really excited to have in the Red Earth collection- it's going to add a lot of character to our store.

Another cool thing to know about Tribal Eye is that as the business grows, Raymond plans on training up local youth to learn the craft.

RETCo. hanging with Tribal Eye

We had a lot of fun building this new relationship and look forward to what's in store for the future.

-Kerbi
Team RETCo.

Video: Uhuru Park

After a long work day with a lot of walking, we decided to take it easy at the park near our hotel. It was full of natural beauty and had a great view of the Nairobi skyline. We even got a nice surprise- it had four legs and two humps on its back. A great way to end the day!



-Kerbi
Team RETCo.

Video: Gabriel's Metal Works

Gabriel and his father make jewelry out of aluminum and brass. We spent some time watching them hammer, saw, and etch necklaces and earrings that we ordered- including some brand new designs.

-Kerbi

Team RETCo.