Meet Don, The Tin Man, my Grandpa and the most creative, innovative, determined, and incredible person I know. My business, A Star is Born, is an extension of him and his love for all things metal.

My Grandpa Don can build almost anything. A little more than sixty years ago, he and my Grandma Jeanenne saved $4000--bought a lot for $3000--had $1000 leftover--borrowed $13,000 from the bank--enlisted the help of some friends and family and set out to do what he had been told he could not...build a house! In a year's time, he had built his own house while working a full-time job. He had to ask for 2 extensions on his loan and moved in April 1959 without carpet in the living room. Today he still lives in the same house, working daily in his star factory in the basement.

My Grandpa is a visionary, always inventing and always creating. He has a shop in his basement where he creates what seems like almost anything OUT of almost anything. At one time he thought of starting a metal craft shop and calling it the TIN BIN. One of the things he's focused on over the last several years is handcrafted spinners that are made from tin and recycled aluminum cans.

These little gems hang outside and when they catch the sun, they sparkle and when the wind blows hard, they sing. In my Grandpa Don's words, "Watching something spinning is therapeutic. So many things spin, a top, a spinning wheel, a tire on an automobile."

In addition to the spinners, my Grandpa Don has also spent many years creating stars, not from tin but from galvanized sheet metal. He got the idea from my Aunt Mindy. They decided that if they put holiday paper and bows on them, people might buy them—well, they did. The Tin Man was born and they’ve been making and selling stars at a local holiday fair in Utah since.

The time and love for the craft that goes into each star is great. Not only are they hand cut and hand bent, but almost all of the tools used to make them were also made by my Grandpa. The potential he sees in a bucket of scrap metal and old junk is beyond my comprehension. Once again, his innovative spirit just shines.

Not only is he an inventor, he is a life long learner. He was in his late eighties when he learned how to text and now, at almost ninety-one, he is as proficient as a me and even has his own Facebook page. I attribute my success at learning how to make these stars to his technological abilities. What started out as a casual text dialogue about books and grandkids has developed into an in depth learning experience about the importance of sharing your life stories, talents and passions. A Star is Born is the product of this special relationship and I couldn’t be more excited to continue The Tin Man’s legacy.