Winder folks unwind in the mud

   “Mud, mud, glorious mud, nothing quite like it for cooling the blood.” 

   When Flanders and Swann wrote those Hippopotamus Song lyrics back in the 50’s, they were meant to be silly. But at Mudpatch Creations in Winder, these words mean serious business.

   “It’s an escape, like a mini-vacation,” said Malinda Edington who pops in once a week to play in the mud.

   “I have a bank vice-president who says she couldn’t function at her job if she didn’t get her mud fix once a week,’ said owner, John Howe. “A local law firm and the Chamber of Commerce send their employees here so they can de-stress.”

   Howe, a former Air Force pilot and business consultant was looking for something relaxing to do for retirement. He and his wife Norma, a former teacher, just happened to fall in the mud when they met an artist who wanted to sell a barn full of clay molds. Howe researched the business angle and realized that playing in the mud would be a clean break from the corporate and classroom hassles they were leaving behind.

   Housed in an old cotton warehouse, Mudpatch offers over 4000 molds to paint. And if you still can’t find anything you like, John will create it for you.

   “A lady came in looking for an olive jar. She showed me a picture of what she wanted. I showed her the jars I had, then gave her a choice of handles and put it together. She said it was perfect.”

   The custom made pieces Howe ships all over the world include personal communion sets that he sends to a church in Alaska. 

   But for the Howes, the most fun is watching local folks discover how glorious playing in the mud can be. No talent is needed. John and Norma are still learning new techniques and artist Gizela Flesher is available for inspiration and instruction.

   Atha Road Elementary School art teacher Stacey Jackson took her art club to the Mudpatch.

   “The only hard part was all the choices,” said Jackson.

   “There are no guidelines and it gives you a great opportunity to explore your creativity,” said Steven Wooddell, age 11.

   And creativity at the Mudpatch has no limits. At a baby shower guests made a tea set—same colors but different designs—while the mom-to-be created the teapot.

   After a birthday party a mother said she’d never seen a group of kids so relaxed.

   Possibly because when Howe looked for a relaxed retirement, he meant relaxed for everybody and everything, including expenses. You only pay for the mold you choose. No registration fee. No supplies fee. No sitting fee. 

   “I didn’t want people looking at their watch between brushstrokes, rushing to get out of here before they had to pay for more time.”

   Sounds pretty cooled-blooded to me.

   For more information on playing in the mud, including summer camp for kids, call 770-867-9593.

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