Life sure gets interesting....

[Schroedc]

Been MIA for quite a while. Between heath issues with my wife and I both, A couple deaths in the family and the associated estate clean up, selling the shop, packing everything into my garage and now starting to think about moving (We need to start thinking single level) its been a crazy couple years.

Working on the last commission job I owe a corporate customer so I can retire from them this weekend and I started to realize I have more crap than I'll be able to use in 4 lifetimes. Does anyone really need 200 Cocobolo pen blanks?

Sooner or later I'll have to start liquidating, fire pitting, and generally getting thi gs to a manageable pile.

Hopefully I can actually spend time on the machines now and start making things for fun again!

 

[daniscool]

Good luck in your further life!

 

[Mike1950]

Been MIA for quite a while. Between heath issues with my wife and I both, A couple deaths in the family and the associated estate clean up, selling the shop, packing everything into my garage and now starting to think about moving (We need to start thinking single level) its been a crazy couple years.



Working on the last commission job I owe a corporate customer so I can retire from them this weekend and I started to realize I have more crap than I'll be able to use in 4 lifetimes. Does anyone really need 200 Cocobolo pen blanks



Sooner or later I'll have to start liquidating, fire pitting, and generally getting thi gs to a manageable p



Hopefully I can actually spend time on the machines now and start making things for fun ag

This decade has been same for us, health taking care of mom, her estate and 2 others. I think it is just that time of life. Take care

 

[Nature Man]

Been MIA for quite a while. Between heath issues with my wife and I both, A couple deaths in the family and the associated estate clean up, selling the shop, packing everything into my garage and now starting to think about moving (We need to start thinking single level) its been a crazy couple years.

Working on the last commission job I owe a corporate customer so I can retire from them this weekend and I started to realize I have more crap than I'll be able to use in 4 lifetimes. Does anyone really need 200 Cocobolo pen blanks?

Sooner or later I'll have to start liquidating, fire pitting, and generally getting thi gs to a manageable pile.

Hopefully I can actually spend time on the machines now and start making things for fun again!

Realities... I reflect on my 600 Live Oak pen blanks, and I don't even turn pens! Hope you can ease into a time where woodworking becomes a hobby again, and your health holds up so that you can enjoy it! Chuck

 

[DLJeffs]

Maybe we need to start a thread "Other things you can make with pen blanks"

 

[Cloud of Sawdust Farms]

Does anyone really need 200 Cocobolo pen blanks?

[Narrator:] No sooner were those words spoken, than every head turned to look in the general direction of @Mike Hill . . .

 

[Schroedc]

Maybe we need to start a thread "Other things you can make with pen blanks"

A conservative estimate even after the last round of fire is I have somewhere between 8,000-10,000 pen blanks still.

Other than some high end, one off stuff, I don't know that I really want turn many pens anymore. Almost 15 years of turning pens for a living and I'm ready to be done with them. I'm fiinshing 300 pens for a corporate customer right now for my last ever delivery to them...... I went back and added up the quantities invoiced to them and I'm at almost 11,000 items over that time to just that one customer....

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

I haven't tried to sell my hobby stuff. My wife has, from time to time, and done a decent job of it several times. But I think, I would find it tedious to work at my hobby.

 

[Gdurfey]

Glad to see you back Colin. Just thought about you the other day due to a post or comment.

 

[Mike Hill]

[Narrator:] No sooner were those words spoken, than every head turned to look in the general direction of @Mike Hill . . .

I gave a bunch away a couple of years ago. So probably down to 300 or so. But lots of primos in that bunch.

 

[DLJeffs]

I haven't tried to sell my hobby stuff. My wife has, from time to time, and done a decent job of it several times. But I think, I would find it tedious to work at my hobby.

Completely agree. That's why I never tried to be a fishing guide or go into production fly tying. Nothing ruins a good thing more than turning it into work.

 

[Mike1950]

I guess i look at it differently. Both my major hobbies turned into biz. Lights if for no other reasons getting rid of a couple..... 1000 extras. I only have 84 I need on walls and ceiling. Building things out of wood caused me to buy in bulk to reduce costs which turned into a biz so I could buy more wood.
My real biz plaster was no different, I loved the work and when it changed to just chasing work and manpower, trying to be largest and best , it was my destiny. I loved it. The again I am beyond slightly crazed. Gramps told me at 8, Mike you will never have trouble finding a job, you like to work.
My philosophy, if most people worked half as hard as they played, life would be easier. Or difference between work and play is state of mind... I cut 15,000 + knife blanks last year.... we are turning our ship again and embracing the change. Sorry for the rant.