Z is for Zeitgeist Factory | Using concrete in unexpected ways.

When my girls were young, I had them make a mold of their hands and feet in the sand and then poured Plaster of Paris into the opening to create a keepsake. It’s one of those quick, easy crafts you can find on mom blogs, and in crafting books. It aligned well with my love of memory keeping. Making the mold in the sand gave the finished product a nice texture. I hung the castings on my wall where they stayed for many years. Sadly, the hanger on the back of one of them broke and it fell to the ground breaking into pieces. I took the other one down because it felt strange to leave only one child’s prints on my wall.

The made in Maine product in this post reminds me of those castings. Zeitgeist Factory makes a line of housewares made from concrete. I love the uniqueness of their products. They are simple and industrial. I think they would make a great contrast to the items with which they are paired such as a colorful handcrafted soap on their soap dish. Or, maybe some wildflowers spilling from their vases.

My understanding is that concrete is not always the most environmentally friendly of products mainly because of the sheer scale of the industry. So, I did some further research and a couple of things swayed me on this locally made product.

The description of the product line, from the Maine Made, Winter 2016 Product Guide, states:

“These one of a kind goods are produced utilizing eco-friendly materials such as concrete, recycled marble dust, rubber, cork & stainless steel. Most of our products are fabricated with locally sourced recycled content”.

Zeitgeist incorporates recycled granite dust into their cement products. This granite dust is a waste product of the granite counter top industry so utilizing it in new products helps to keep it out of the waste stream.

As soon as I saw their products, I was in love with their business card holder. The description of this product from their website, reads…

CONCRETE BUSINESS CARD HOLDER: GRAY OR WHITE

The Zeitgeist Factory Card Holder is handcrafted from our proprietary blend of cement and recycled stone dust which is a by product of the countertop industry. It is designed to hold cards vertically or horizontally. Each concrete peg fits snugly to the business card holder via silicone o-rings.

Now I have the perfect place to store my business cards. I don’t actually have any yet, but it is on my to-do list. For a long time, I’ve been wanting to get some basic business cards with all my social media and blog information, so when people ask about my blog I’d be able to hand them something concrete (pun intended). Now that I own the holder, I have a great excuse to move ordering business cards higher up on my priority list.

In addition to the Zeitgeist Factory line of concrete housewares, they have a sister company, Culinarium which makes a line of cement kitchen products. Both companies are under the umbrella of Port Living Co. which also does private label products. Zeitgeist Factory has a perfect five-star rating on their Etsy Shop.

Have you ever seen a cement product that was unique or creative?

things to know
Company Name Zeitgeist Factory
Location Scarborough, Maine
Website Zeitgeist Factory
Favorite ♥ Creative use of concrete.

WIM Signature

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30 thoughts on “Z is for Zeitgeist Factory | Using concrete in unexpected ways.”

  2. leannelc says:
    Reply

    I’m not sure I’m a big fan of the concrete look (I’d want to paint it!) I can’t believe we’ve made it to the end of the Challenge – where has April gone! I’m quite relieved to go back to my three posts a week from next week. It’s been lovely meeting you through the challenge – I have a little video on mine today if you want to catch up with me (and my Aussie accent) in person!
    Leanne | cresting the hill

    Liked by 1 person

    • Weekends in Maine says:
      Reply

      I didn’t use to be a fan but now I like the look in moderation. I think it can add a unique design touch. Congrats on finishing the A to Z. Loved your video and looking forward to your non challenge posts too.

      Like

    • Weekends in Maine says:
      Reply

      Thank you and congrats to you as well! Yes, I think it’s not necessarily a look for everyone although I like it as an accent like with this business card holder. I also like some of the concrete counters I’ve been seeing in design magazines.

      Like

  4. wendy of the rock says:
    Reply

    I love those concrete products. They make me want to touch. Ans having your details on a business card is, indeed, very handy, as long as you have more confience than I do about handing them out.
    Congrats on making it through the challenge.
    I don’t know about you, but for me, it has been a bit of a struggle at times.
    Thanks for visiting me along the way.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Sandra Ulbrich Almazan says:
    Reply

    Hi Karen,

    Congrats on not only finishing the A-Z Challenge but also winning eBooks of my fantasy Season Avatars series! Please e-mail me at ulbrichalmazanATsbcglobalDOTnet to tell me which format you’d prefer. My eBooks are available in MOBI, PDF, and EPUB.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Denise says:
    Reply

    I have one concrete statue remaining in my yard. Last year her head fell off but I set it back on. Winters are rough on concrete in Michigan, whether on a roadway or in a yard decoration. Congrats on finishing the challenge.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Louise says:
    Reply

    And done! Congrats on finishing the A to Z challenge! As for concrete – I haven’t really given it much thought from an artistic angle before – but I DO think this is a great prompt to get business cards. I made some for my blog two(ish) years ago when I went to a blog conference. They’ve been pretty useful and were certainly a good investment.

    I’ve learnt so much from your A to Z – thanks for the education and fully enjoyable reading.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Trudy says:
    Reply

    I went to the factory website and they have quite an interesting selection! I’ve seen beautiful concrete showers and countertops, and I’ve seen concrete yard ornaments, but nothing as unique and creative as what the Zeitgeist Factory offers.

    Trudy @ Reel Focus
    Food in Film: Zagnut

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Courtney - Maui Jungalow says:
    Reply

    Unusual looking business card holder. It looks very solid. Is it intended for one to drill a hole in one’s desk to put the concrete peg in it? Or just as a stand alone item? I guess I’m puzzled by the design, since it’s so different from other holders I’m used to seeing. Congrats on getting to Z!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Weekends in Maine says:
      Reply

      It’s a stand alone item. The cards sit in the front of it. I wish I’d had time to get my business cards done before the post because I think it would have been a little easier to see. I’ll have to update it once I get them done. Congrats to you as well.

      Like

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