About Us

I was raised near Little Birch, West Virginia on our family farm.  Farm life required our family to work with the items we had at hand; Home Depot and Wal-Mart were twinkles in someone else's eyes.  I scavenged materials from abandoned vehicles: old car leaf spring made an excellent hoe, four abandoned wheels made go-cart wheels, and discarded tires were used to hold the corn stalk roof on the cow shed.  My great grandparents were not very comfortable with machinery so there were often horse drawn implements to tinker with.  This early ingenuity led to a varied career in several machine shops, a communications lineman, and a manager in a large western electric utility.  These early influences continue in today's works with re-cycling forgotten objects as key inspirations in my work.

My father's decision to leave the farm and move to the northwest in 1976 was a dramatic change to our family and required me to move in a different direction.  I worked for the cable, phone, and currently work for the power company during my 8-5 week.  Mackie, my wife, encouraged me to explore my creative side, and the results are what you see around you today.  Steel and copper are hand cut, shaped, and formed into most anything my mind can imagine.  No computer-controlled machines were harmed in any of these creations.  Work changes depending on season and feelings.  

Mackie's family were originally farmers also.  She grew up on a large orchard and moved to Oregon at an early age.  She discovered an early talent for pottery and created special items for all sorts of catalog companies, retail stores, and other specialty shops.   

Keeping with my earlier work on the farm, I strive to work with re-cycled materials.  Each piece is typically crafted from 75-90% of recycled and/or found metals.  Waste not want not is a good motto to live by in our society, and I'm trying to do my part to take long forgotten items and create something that will put a smile on someone's face!  In keeping with my earlier teachings, we believe in supporting the good works of our community - within the last six months we have donated significant items to charities that support the Oregon Burn Center, CASA for children, and Fish First.

Please visit the Shop Photos link to see the special items that are being completed per individual's requests and specifications.  Don't forget to check the Show Schedule for the latest information and visit us in person!

Joe and Mackie Clifton

 © 2008 Clifton Metal Works