Rick began making crafts out of duct tape in 2005 after being inspired by a youth who had made a trench coat out of tape. He learned how to combine strips of duct tape into a durable fabric and began to run with the idea. He began small, creating wallets at first, working up to large tote bags and purses. While he never felt the need to make clothing out of tape, Rick liked finding new ways to use the tape to build useful items around the house.
As one might expect, building things causes things to pile up. The guest bedroom became overloaded with fantastic creations, and friends and family stopped answering our calls, so we began to sell creations at local craft fairs.
At the peak, we were doing some twenty fairs a year. Today, we tend to be more selective of the craft fairs we attend, staying within fifteen to thirty miles from home. We’ve learned that schools are our best venues, because young people tend to appreciate the craft and the medium more than older people do.
In 2022, Rick also began making chain mail items. Now, we’re beginning to focus more on the Creative side of Creative Ductapestry!
If you live in the area around northeastern Connecticut, you might spot us at local craft fairs. Rick tries to always have a work space set up where people can watch him work, and he’s always happy to answer questions and negotiate custom requests, so don’t be afraid to ask!