wood-of-1kind
Member
If you're looking for some "dirt" in this topic. I suggest you look elsewhere. Oh yah, I 'gots' some skeletons in my closet but there they stay. My confession is that I would much prefer to demonstrate and show how to make a pen as opposed to keeping "secrets" and hoping(?) that someone will purchase my wares. Sharing can be a very positive experience and that's the gist of my tale.
Don't get me wrong, selling and making money is good. Just ask my sweetie[:X] as she finds in her <s>wallet</s> er, heart the ability to forgive me for spending hard earned money on this addictive hobby. Selling is an economic and spiritual uplift.
I recently had an opportunity to attend a major pen show in our city. As it happened, I was the only "custom" pen crafter amongst the displayers. "A fish out of water" so to speak. I had no business being there, to divert money from the prospective Mont Blanc, Lamy and other large pen representatives. Yes I was there to make a few bucks if the opportunity presented and it did. The sum that I took in in not that relevant. It wasn't the economic reward that spurred me to attend. In fact it may have been the opposite. Instead I had a wonderful opportunity to share some wonderful experiences with other small penturners(spinners). Heck I even encouraged them to rent a table with the next upcoming show and pitch their tent and sell beside me. Competition? Aren't you afraid you ask? Heck no, my daily living is not derived from selling pens and if it was there would little food on the table.[:I]
What I got from the show was the opportunity to share the passion with like minded people that wanted to learn how I made my goodies. One gentleman was particularly shocked when I offered and opened my workshop to him. This gent was invited back to my small workshop and allowed to ask questions, try out my tools, pretty much do anything else that he wanted to do on 'his' day. I took no fees and as a bonus 'wifey' provided us with a great lunch. An act of kindness you say? Perhaps, but the way that I see it was an opportunity to give back to the penturning community that has adopted me so well from the start. My community involves my IAP here and all I can conclude is that 'we' can make a difference in sharing our art.
Share you stories and share your experiences. Some of us would like to hear of the good things that are happening around us. Post your positive experiences on this thread or feel free to start your own.
-Peter-
Don't get me wrong, selling and making money is good. Just ask my sweetie[:X] as she finds in her <s>wallet</s> er, heart the ability to forgive me for spending hard earned money on this addictive hobby. Selling is an economic and spiritual uplift.
I recently had an opportunity to attend a major pen show in our city. As it happened, I was the only "custom" pen crafter amongst the displayers. "A fish out of water" so to speak. I had no business being there, to divert money from the prospective Mont Blanc, Lamy and other large pen representatives. Yes I was there to make a few bucks if the opportunity presented and it did. The sum that I took in in not that relevant. It wasn't the economic reward that spurred me to attend. In fact it may have been the opposite. Instead I had a wonderful opportunity to share some wonderful experiences with other small penturners(spinners). Heck I even encouraged them to rent a table with the next upcoming show and pitch their tent and sell beside me. Competition? Aren't you afraid you ask? Heck no, my daily living is not derived from selling pens and if it was there would little food on the table.[:I]
What I got from the show was the opportunity to share the passion with like minded people that wanted to learn how I made my goodies. One gentleman was particularly shocked when I offered and opened my workshop to him. This gent was invited back to my small workshop and allowed to ask questions, try out my tools, pretty much do anything else that he wanted to do on 'his' day. I took no fees and as a bonus 'wifey' provided us with a great lunch. An act of kindness you say? Perhaps, but the way that I see it was an opportunity to give back to the penturning community that has adopted me so well from the start. My community involves my IAP here and all I can conclude is that 'we' can make a difference in sharing our art.
Share you stories and share your experiences. Some of us would like to hear of the good things that are happening around us. Post your positive experiences on this thread or feel free to start your own.
-Peter-
