Post by Mark on Feb 16, 2010 22:25:56 GMT -6
I'd seen the other forum dry-up, and thought it was the weather, or work, or the holidays, or the economy or whatever. But, when it went on, I figured I'd check the "Other" Conference which I did not ever pay any attention to.
I appreciate the hint left recently, and look forward to re-upping with some of the most creative and talented people I've ever "met". Plus, you guys have made me laugh, chuckle and marvel over the previous year of my reading about your exploits, trials and errors, and dog-gone-it - I missed ya. I also attribute much of what I know about lathe art today, vs a year ago, to your coaching, so thank you.
As for me, I am a hobby woodworker, who likes to "unwind" in the shop to get away from the conflicts of the day. I am a Manufacturing Process Engineer by day, and have inherited my father's interest and desire to at least attempt to do anything myself before paying to have it done for me. To this day, he is still much more successful at it than I. My spare time is spent in day-dreaming of all the things I'd like to do, which marks me as an itinerant procrastinator. I do also get out on the local salt water in my hand-built kayak once in awhile, and do spend time in my shop tinkering or creating in some fashion as often as the mood strikes me.
Have cobbled together a "shop" in my garage, and the LOML still bugs me about getting my tools out of the way so she can park her automobile in there instead.
My participation is presently centered around lathe work, which I find fascinating. Never had one on my equip list, but won one as a door prize, and you got it, I became hooked. It still gets more use than any other piece of equipment in my "shop". I have dreams of remodeling the bathroom and kitchen with self-built cabinetry, but it's a ways off - the lathe just keeps enticing me to make round things. It may seem narrowly focused, but I've learned alot about wood by concentrating on lathe oriented art.
I decided about a year ago, that I might as well try to sell some of this stuff I was making, as I'm a wreck when it comes to household clutter. Have sold a few pieces, but I'll never expect to give up my day-job. I think the economy is hurtin' all of us right now, but wooden art keeps indefinitely. I plan on trying a couple of the local farmers markets this summer, and see how that goes. My longest distance "sale" was of a bottle stopper, made of African Blackwood, to a chap in Budapest Hungary, so I guess technically speaking, my art is now internationally recognized (at least by one person...).
I'm livin' in the Pacific Northwest, so have quite a different variety of local materials than I read in your posts, which keeps it interesting for me.
Thanks, and will chime in when I've got a question or wish to share. I may read more than I write, but that doesn't mean I'm not payin' attention.
Mark, aka FreeMark
Washington State
I appreciate the hint left recently, and look forward to re-upping with some of the most creative and talented people I've ever "met". Plus, you guys have made me laugh, chuckle and marvel over the previous year of my reading about your exploits, trials and errors, and dog-gone-it - I missed ya. I also attribute much of what I know about lathe art today, vs a year ago, to your coaching, so thank you.
As for me, I am a hobby woodworker, who likes to "unwind" in the shop to get away from the conflicts of the day. I am a Manufacturing Process Engineer by day, and have inherited my father's interest and desire to at least attempt to do anything myself before paying to have it done for me. To this day, he is still much more successful at it than I. My spare time is spent in day-dreaming of all the things I'd like to do, which marks me as an itinerant procrastinator. I do also get out on the local salt water in my hand-built kayak once in awhile, and do spend time in my shop tinkering or creating in some fashion as often as the mood strikes me.
Have cobbled together a "shop" in my garage, and the LOML still bugs me about getting my tools out of the way so she can park her automobile in there instead.
My participation is presently centered around lathe work, which I find fascinating. Never had one on my equip list, but won one as a door prize, and you got it, I became hooked. It still gets more use than any other piece of equipment in my "shop". I have dreams of remodeling the bathroom and kitchen with self-built cabinetry, but it's a ways off - the lathe just keeps enticing me to make round things. It may seem narrowly focused, but I've learned alot about wood by concentrating on lathe oriented art.
I decided about a year ago, that I might as well try to sell some of this stuff I was making, as I'm a wreck when it comes to household clutter. Have sold a few pieces, but I'll never expect to give up my day-job. I think the economy is hurtin' all of us right now, but wooden art keeps indefinitely. I plan on trying a couple of the local farmers markets this summer, and see how that goes. My longest distance "sale" was of a bottle stopper, made of African Blackwood, to a chap in Budapest Hungary, so I guess technically speaking, my art is now internationally recognized (at least by one person...).
I'm livin' in the Pacific Northwest, so have quite a different variety of local materials than I read in your posts, which keeps it interesting for me.
Thanks, and will chime in when I've got a question or wish to share. I may read more than I write, but that doesn't mean I'm not payin' attention.
Mark, aka FreeMark
Washington State
