OCR Text |
Show ST. GEORGE www.thespectrum.com — The Spectrum WELDING e Continued from pg. 10 When Lytle was looking for something to relax himself, Lytle realized welding was something he enjoyed. He had, after all, all those horseshoes. “I started with a bridle rack, he recalled. “Then I started making horseshoe rocking chairs and small animals out of chains. “It's just scrap stuff he said of the pieces of chain he makes his smaller pieces from. “I pick it up here and there. He said there used to be a lot of metal lying everywhere, but now people turn it in for money. Still, Lytle doesn’t lack for material. That’s because he shoes horses himself and is friends with Terry Bowler, a farrier who lives in Winchester Hills. Bowler gives him the old shoes when he puts new ones on area horses. Lytle said he hasn't had any training in art. “I just eyeball things, just what animals look like and create what I think it should look NEIGEPORHOORS For the week of November 14, 2008 — 11 ity scene he places on the hill near his home for the 2008 season. like” he said of his smaller creations. You may not be able to see it as you're whizzing by in your car, but his horse sculpture has eyes fashioned from horseshoes, too. Although he says he’s not a perfectionist, Lytle isn’t hesitant to discard a piece and start over if he’s dis-satisfied with its appearance. “Tf it doesn’t look like what I want, I'll just cut it up’? Lytle said his favorite thing to make is his rocking chairs or loveseats. “Tlikemyhorseshoe chairs and the little stools I make Lytle said. “And I hope to make another horse’ It may be awhile before he gets to those projects, however. “I still like to do it, but right now I lack the time, he said. “I do it more in the wintertime when I can't do much outside” During the next few weeks Lytle will be involved in another project. He will be preparing a metal nativ- SHOP FOR THE “It’s made out ofcolin? he said. “It has camels, sheep, wise men... It’s a framework that I run lights around. Most of the figurines are 8 to 10 feet tall so they can be seen!’ While he made the scene itself, he said that Paul Young, who lives in nearby Bloomington Hills, “has donated a lot of lights over the years.’ Once he has assembled the nativity scene, right after Thanksgiving, Lytle may have time for some more welding, “Tt takes 18 to 20 hours. to make a rocking chair,’ Lytle said. “It takes time to get the horseshoes where I need them, bent into shape. The ‘rocking part takes the longest so it’s comfortable and rocks right. Sometimes I get so frustrated that I have to stop and come back another day. NY: He has no other hobbies, Lytle said. Laura, his wife, disagreed. “He's done a lot of log beds, too.’ One stands in their bed- Bob Hudson / St. George Neighborhoods Andy Lytle shows off a horse made of welded horseshoes outside his home. : room; next to a horseshoe nightstand. The logs for the beds he has made come from his brother-in-law’s acreage on Kolob Mountain. Usually Lytle doesn’t sell his horseshoe scupltures or his log beds. “I mostly give them away or trade them away, he said. Going to Mexico For “babi Because of his heritage and his background, his chain figurines often feature a-rodeo theme. He said he used to rodeo and Laura noted that one of the figurines on their shelf is a barrel racer because she used to enjoy that event. “It's something I can be proud of; he said. I just enjoy making things. It’s something to relieve a little stress.” The Lytles raised three daughters and a son. They have nine grandchildren. No one has caught Andy's welding bug yet although son, Justin, and son-in-law, Jed Howard, have shown some interest. a Medical arene Christmas Sed HOLIDAYS * Gifts With a Message > + > * GIFTS and Fe 20/0 OFF Advent Calendars & Kits Values in Boxed Cards Unique Wall Art Christmas Music -New Releases % 4weeCTIONS ‘CG ery 000008421 C50 WITH THIS AD-THRU 11/29/08 Unelbe & Auntie’ s 2895 Santa Clara Dr, Santa Clara 634-9416 Mon-Sat 10-6 1/2 Prise Consultation with your first Chelation Treatment gi Jensen his " ae \ ) Christian Books a Music “Corner of Sunset & Valley View Dr. St. George » 435.688.2866 « |