I did a one day Austerlitz Historical Society event a couple of miles up the road from where I live this past Sunday. Sunny and cool, and excellent day for an outdoor event. They provided a tent so I didn't even get sunburned...
Like last year, I went to make finger tops for the children that showed up for the event... By the end, I had come up with a style I'll use in the future.
Nancy (SWMBO) was a great help and we put out a table of some of my work... LOTS of lookers and a bunch of questions.
I only have two rules about making tops: 1) If I'm willing to stand here and MAKE the top, you have to be willing to stand there and watch while I do it (except bathroom emergencies). 2) Tops are free to children who wait and watch, $1,000,000.00 to adults.
As a warm up, I turned a little footed bark edge goblet and a guy bought it before it was finished.
I gave out quite a few tops in a variety of hardwoods and answered a bunch of questions.
The high point, a woman from NYC came up, picked up my best, bark free cherry burl salad bowl and asked if I'd take a check. Didn't even flinch at the "high" price I had on it... It really was an heirloom quality piece of wood and I did a pretty good job of turning it.
The low point, one guy and his wife watched for quite a while, I got to a moment when there was an "extra" top sitting on the table, the guy reaches out to shake my hand, says "Thank You" and I can feel the folded up money in my hand... I tried to give it back, but he just kept walking (I didn't realize that he had taken the top). So, later, I unfold this little wad $3.00 I felt like the Matradee at McDonald's, working for minimum wage.
There was also a newbie turner who had LOTS of questions, including "Do you teach classes?" I already had an email when I got home and he's coming over for a one on one on Monday.
All In All, an unexpected GREAT day.
Like last year, I went to make finger tops for the children that showed up for the event... By the end, I had come up with a style I'll use in the future.
Nancy (SWMBO) was a great help and we put out a table of some of my work... LOTS of lookers and a bunch of questions.
I only have two rules about making tops: 1) If I'm willing to stand here and MAKE the top, you have to be willing to stand there and watch while I do it (except bathroom emergencies). 2) Tops are free to children who wait and watch, $1,000,000.00 to adults.
As a warm up, I turned a little footed bark edge goblet and a guy bought it before it was finished.
I gave out quite a few tops in a variety of hardwoods and answered a bunch of questions.
The high point, a woman from NYC came up, picked up my best, bark free cherry burl salad bowl and asked if I'd take a check. Didn't even flinch at the "high" price I had on it... It really was an heirloom quality piece of wood and I did a pretty good job of turning it.
The low point, one guy and his wife watched for quite a while, I got to a moment when there was an "extra" top sitting on the table, the guy reaches out to shake my hand, says "Thank You" and I can feel the folded up money in my hand... I tried to give it back, but he just kept walking (I didn't realize that he had taken the top). So, later, I unfold this little wad $3.00 I felt like the Matradee at McDonald's, working for minimum wage.
There was also a newbie turner who had LOTS of questions, including "Do you teach classes?" I already had an email when I got home and he's coming over for a one on one on Monday.
All In All, an unexpected GREAT day.
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