The Whiteside County Fair opened on Tuesday, August 18, 2025, with overcast skies that turned into a downpour and tornado watch by evening. Earlier, at the west end of the Blue Building, a garden of handcrafted steel rebar flowers, snails, butterflys, and dragonflys brightened the day.
Sloane Wolfe, left, and Houston Sulouff “make original whimsical art perfect for any season,” using durable steel rebar. These are brilliantly-colored, spray painted garden stakes. Stems and some pieces are left natural to develop a rusty patina.
Sulouff explained the center medallions are purchased “from the East Coast from an old brochure that still has samples from a book.” This gives the blossoms a vintage appeal in a modern form.
The team is from Sterling, IL, and have worked at custom iron work for four years. People often told Sloane, “You’re so creative!” so this became the brand name. In high school she made a metal tree, then a flower, and “it keeps growing from there.”
They share the steps in the fabricating process. “In the winter we make snowmen and Christmas trees. During January and February, we work on new ideas and [build a] stockpile. Color requests change all the time, constantly,” she added.
The best customer response, Wolfe remembered, was selling 120 of their 122 pieces at one event. Creative Wolfe brought 100 pieces to the fair, but they likely will take home few of them.
Plant something whimsical in your garden that doesn’t need tending and will remain in full bloom next summer. Call 240-818-2633 if you desire a special piece of “rebart.”