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About the nearly empty can: Having a curious turn of mind, I had once ordered a pint of liquid casting plastic, satisfied my curiosity and set it back on the shelf.

The need for Father's day gifts arose in my second grade classroom. Each year I plan to have something different for both Mother's day and Father's day gifts. Mothers are easy, but fathers—well they take a little more thought.

Pinto beans are raised extensively in my area. In fact, wheat and beans are the chief cash crops. Our Chamber of Commerce has, in an optimistic mood, erected signs which say "Welcome to Dove Creek, Colorado, Pinto Bean Center of the World."

It was springtime and most fathers of the community were working the good red earth in preparation for the spring planting of pinto beans. Bean planting was playing a large part in the conversation of my second graders. Father's day and beans were uppermost in my mind when the third ingredient quite naturally fell into place—liquid plastic.

I DECIDED that my Father's day gifts would be key charms made of liquid plastic in which were embedded two pinto beans. I had one metal mold which had come with the plastic. It was the right size, but it would take a long time to make twenty key charms using only one mold! I read the instructions again. They said that glasses make satisfactory molds. Glasses! There was an idea. Still—where would I get glasses small enough to make key charm molds?

I racked my brain for a long time and then I had it! In the storeroom of our church were twenty-four whiskey glasses—long ago used as communion glasses. Someone had said only recently, "Let's throw them out." I hurried to the church and pulled the box down off the shelf. They were still there and they would do!

Naturally the children must help make their Father's day gifts, so with some misgivings I took everything—the liquid plastic, the glasses, the beans—to school. We read the instructions carefully. Small amounts of plastic were mixed by the children and poured into the glasses. This was allowed to set. We then carefully placed two pinto beans in each glass and covered them with more liquid plastic. When school was out the plastic had set so I took everything home again.

The next step was to get the plastic out of the glasses. The instructions had said that they should fall out of the glasses, but they didn't. They clung tenaciously. I read the instructions again. They said to prod gently with a knife. I did—they still clung.

I pushed and prodded and worked until I was exhausted. When my husband came home he said, "Dip them in hot water." We dipped, then we pushed and prodded some more. We turned them upside down and pounded them on the counter. Eventually, after hours of work, they were all out. Two of them were cracked, but I was fortunate in having only twenty fathers. That left me a margin of two. A local contractor agreed to drill the holes for one of the key charms. In the process he broke one. Twenty of the remaining key charms were eventually sent home to twenty fathers. They were pleased and said so.

ABOUT THIS time our church building program loomed large. We needed to raise money—a lot of it—and quickly. As ladies do all over the country, we decided to have a bake sale and bazaar. Again I went to the almost empty can. I read the instructions again and quickly ordered a lubricant for the molds. This time they came out more easily and when bazaar day came I had a neat display card of key charms in which were embedded pinto beans. At the top of the card I had lettered Dove Creek, Colorado, Pinto Bean Center of the World.

Customers were enthusiastic. Their wide grins and hearty compliments told us that we had a good idea. Among the customers was the proprietor of an electric shop. She stood back and scrutinized the card rather critically as we waited. Then she said, "Bring me a card of those key charms. I'd be glad to sell them." Of course we had no more key charms, and by now our can was really empty. We took the order. She assured us that the other merchants would undoubtedly be interested in selling them too, as they were very good advertising for the community.

Two of us took the card with the few remaining key charms and started out. Our first stop was at the office of the Dove Creek Press. The editor thought it a wonderful idea and ordered a card. He said, "Why not insert a small label that says 'Dove Creek, Colorado.'" We grasped this idea enthusiastically, ordered the labels from him, and went on to other merchants. When we had completed the rounds we were in business!

We ordered a gallon of liquid plastic and then took stock of our molds. Four of the original twenty-four were now broken—due to the arduous task of removing the plastic. None were to be purchased this side of Grand Junction—200 miles away.

Before many days I had a chance to go to Grand Junction. I walked up to a counter and quite boldly asked for 100 whiskey glasses. The clerk gave me a look which put me back in my place. I hastened to explain what I wanted the glasses for. I demonstrated that I had actually molded the key charms in the glasses. Her look became more tolerant and she even bought a key charm.

The rest of that summer was full of key charms and pinto beans. After we delivered a card to the editor, he very graciously printed the following editorial in his weekly paper, which brought us more orders:

"There have been many contributions in the way of ideas for publicizing Dove Creek as the pinto bean center of the world. Not too much has been done along this line as yet. Recently, however, one of the local church groups came up with the idea of putting a pinto bean into a plastic key chain along with an identifying slip of paper with Dove Creek, Colorado on it. These key chains are on sale at the Laird Electric and the Dove Creek Press. No doubt these souvenir items will be sold in more of the stores as production of the items will permit. They seem to be meeting with enthusiastic approval by all who have seen them and they do make excellent souvenir gifts. They retail at the low price of twenty-five cents."

BESIDES BEING the pinto bean center of the world, this area is famous for its uranium mines. We had thought of embedding uranium, but the full possibilities had not dawned on us.

The representative of a large mine supply company saw our card of key charms in a local store. He immediately asked the clerk to have us make 500 for him. They were to contain uranium and his label. He stopped at the Press office and ordered his 500 labels.

When this order was relayed to us we were amazed. We rushed to the Press office to be sure that the labels weren't too large, and to increase the order as we had learned from hard experience that many might be broken. This man sent us a small package of uranium ore. It was heavily insured as it was very high grade ore. His instructions were that we were to return every unused particle. This we did, even including the broken key charms. It was beautiful ore—waxy and golden yellow.

About this time I learned something else about pinto beans. A bean farmer in the community brought me a bean which he had kept for several years. It showed a perfect Spencerian F in its markings. I embedded this for him and started looking for letters. I was amazed at the number of letters which we were able to find. I wrote an article for the paper, telling of the presence of letters in the beans. When it was printed more orders came in.

THE PROJECT had now grown too big for one person to handle in spare time, and as all profits for a year were dedicated to our church building fund, work parties of church members were called. Several persons would sand the backs of the key charms. One person drilled holes (we had by now acquired an electric drill). Still others would be cutting labels and inserting key chains which we now purchased by the thousand.

After a few weeks the largest local store told us that they were no longer interested in selling the key charms. We were very disappointed until they explained. They were interested in key charms with their own label and they would give them away, not sell them. The original order was for 200. When they were delivered, we were told to make it 1,000. These key charms contained uranium ore from their own mines. This store has since moved to another town in the uranium area, but they have remained our best customer and now have a standing order for 100 a week.

About Christmas time we hit upon another idea. We had a number of shipping tags printed which were attached to the key charms. These found their way to many far away places, bearing season's greetings from Dove Creek.

When the pledge year was up I took the enterprise over again. It is strictly a spare time hobby as I am a busy housewife and school teacher. Many times I find that I am actually using more than spare time in filling an order by a certain time.

Just recently I made an order of key charms containing uranium ore. This was for the Chamber of Commerce and they were presented to a group of dignitaries including representatives from many of the leading newspapers, and radio and television personnel who were traveling with the uranium ore producers on a tour of the uranium area.

I HAVE made several thousand key charms in the last three years. I find this a very satisfactory hobby. Much hand work is necessary as each label must be placed carefully and the material to be embedded must also be placed carefully so that it is neither too near the edge, nor, behind the label. However, much of the work can be done while I am sitting down resting.

Our first labels were white. They are still preferred by my largest buyer. I have used pink, green, and blue labels and they make very attractive charms along with yellow ore or brown pinto beans. The cost of printing is rather high and I do not have labels made for small orders. Some who want only a few furnish their own labels.

During the first summer that we made key charms, my daughter sent a letter on which she had attached a small seal of the college she was attending. I carefully removed the seal and embedded it in plastic. She showed it to her college friends and this resulted in a nice order from the college. In the same way I obtained an order from another college which a friend was attending. The possibilities for things to embed are almost endless.

By TRIAL and error I have finally worked out the following procedure. It differs somewhat from the instructions sent out with the plastic, but works better for me.

First I wash the glasses in hot soapy water to remove the plastic spilled on the glasses and left around the rim of the charms. I use a small scouring pad on a stick. The glasses are then dried and greased lightly with the mold lubricant. I then take a tissue and wipe each glass thoroughly. If too much lubricant is left in the glass, the plastic will be cloudy. I then mix the plastic according to directions, and pour one-fourth teaspoon or plastic into each glass. The plastic is then placed in the direct sunlight in the warmest place in the house until set. During this time I usually trim the labels and select the beans or small pieces of uranium ore, whichever are to be used.

When I first started making key charms I lost many of them because of air bubbles which remained in the set plastic. I found that these bubbles came out of the beans or the uranium after they were placed in the plastic and did not rise to the top. I now attempt to get all the air out before I place the beans or uranium in the mold. To do this I place all the beans or small pieces of uranium which I plan to use immediately, in one of the discarded whiskey glasses. I cover them with liquid plastic and stir them occasionally until no more air bubbles rise to the top. Of course this must be done in the period of time before this plastic sets. When there seems to be no more air, and I am ready to pour the last layer, I place the beans or uranium on a waxed paper to drain off the excess plastic which may have become discolored.

When I am ready to place the labels I coat each one with plastic and stick it to the end of my finger so that I can place it carefully just above the center of the set plastic. I push it down firmly so that it will stick. If it is not stuck down it will float and get out of place. When all the labels are placed I pour one-half teaspoon of plastic in each glass. I then drop in the bean or the piece of uranium and push it in place with a small stick. Neither the beans nor the uranium will float, so when they are once placed they will stay unless the glass is tipped before the plastic is set. If that happens, I must take the stick again and push them back in place. While I am placing the beans or uranium just where I want them, I again go over the labels to press out any air bubbles that may be trapped underneath. I watch carefully for air bubbles for several minutes, and coax any that I see to the surface. If I see that the bean or the uranium piece is not entirely covered by the plastic I add a little more plastic until it is completely covered.

NOW THAT I have the last layer in, I again place the tray in the direct sunlight in the warmest place in the house. I usually leave it for twenty-four hours although the plastic is set long before that. When the charms are thoroughly dry—not a bit sticky, I slide all the glasses into a pan of hot water. It may be very hot—almost boiling. After about twenty minutes I pour off the hot water and gradually cover them with cold water from the tap. In just a few minutes most of the charms will come out with just a little push. The stubborn ones are put through the same treatment again. When I used oven heat a large number of the charms would crack around the embedded material.

After the glasses have been used a number of times, pieces of glass will occasionally pull away with the plastic. Those glasses must be discarded as molds. I use them in removing the air bubbles.

I now use the electric sander on the drill for sanding the backs of the charms. For a long time I consistently sanded my fingers along with the charms. I now place them in a little depression in a lump of plastic clay to sand them. This is much faster and safer than the old way.

After all are sanded, they are drilled. I start on the rounded side—place the bit firmly but do not press down. Too much pressure breaks the charms. They are then washed to remove the loose particles of plastic, dried, and the backs polished with a slightly oily cloth. The key chains are inserted and fastened. If shipping tags are to be attached the right sides of the tags and charms are placed together and the chain inserted.

THE CHARMS sell for $2 per dozen or $15 for 100. They retail for twenty-five cents each.

I deliver the charms in manila envelopes with the invoice attached to the outside.

I have purchased all my plastic by mail from a supply firm specializing in it. The key chains are about $10 per thousand plus postage. I purchase them from a company in New York City. The uranium ore is furnished me by the companies who order the charms—and beans, of course, are plentiful here in Dove Creek, Colorado—Pinto Bean Center of the World.