A Rainy Day Project with Sean Riley

There’s a certain kind of quiet that comes with a rainy weekend on the farm. The paddocks glisten, the horses and chickens tuck in under cover, and time seems to slow down. For Calvert founder Sean Riley, it’s the kind of weather that nudges you indoors, into the shed, where projects and ideas tend to take shape.

That’s where he found himself one recent Saturday. With the rain tapping steady on the tin roof, Sean noticed a small pile of worn horseshoes stacked in the corner. Each one carried a bit of history. Shoes from horses that had worked the land, carried riders across the property, or spent long days out on the trails. Instead of letting them gather dust, he decided to put them to use.

Armed with his welder, some old steel off-cuts, and a little imagination, Sean began piecing together a horseshoe cap stand. The design came together naturally: strong, practical, and with a rustic charm that only comes from something handmade. By the afternoon, the project was complete. Simple in form, but rich with story.

More than the finished stand, it was the process that mattered. Slowing down. Working with his hands. Letting the rain set the pace while creating something useful and personal. It’s that same philosophy that has shaped Calvert from the beginning: finding beauty in utility, crafting with intention, and breathing new life into the everyday.

Sean’s cap stand now sits by the door, holding the hats and caps that get grabbed on the way out to the paddocks or into town. It’s a small reminder that sometimes the best pieces aren’t bought - they’re built on a quiet weekend, when the weather calls you inside and inspiration comes from what’s already around you.