LONOKE COUNTY, Ark. — Meet Casey Marshall, a self-proclaimed hobbyist who turned his passion of creating hand-made, novelty guitars into a business.
Marshall said that his shop started in his guest room, as a side-gig to make some extra cash. Now, you can find his guitars online and at a few stores around the state, including the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Marshall's success comes from humble roots, though. His store, Flying Pigs Guitars, was named after a conversation he had with his wife -- when he said he'd only sell his guitars when pigs fly.
"I am a hobbyist. I'm working full time, ministry full time," he said. "This is my keep-me-sane hobby."
Made from cigar boxes, hubcaps, and old fashion lunch boxes, Marshall's guitars are surely unique. They feature locally sourced materials, and several of his guitars are made from pieces given to him from customers and friends.
"I've had folks give me old fashion lunchboxes before, old fashioned metal tin cans, and cigar boxes," Marshall said.
Marshall also said that he only uses Arkansas hardwoods. In fact, he said everything he uses is from local stores.
"What I think is great about if you buy local, is that you support that craftsman and what they want to do," he said.
It's a labor of love, though, to make these stand-out pieces. Marshall said it takes him one to two weeks to make each guitar.
You can find Flying Pig Guitars on Facebook and Instagram, but the guitars are also sold at the Orchards at Keo in Lonoke and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art store.