What are you buying, Who am I, and Why am I on this adventure?
You aren’t just buying a product, you are buying years of hard work, learning, mistakes, blood, sweat, tears, and frustration. Every piece is made with you in mind. These are hand made items that aren’t meant to be flawless, however, flawless is the goal. They have been touched and formed by human hands. Imperfect items are not shipped out, they are considered a loss and scrapped.
As a young boy, probably before I could walk, I spent my time in the shop with my Dad. I watched him have passion project after passion project. He is to this day, a man that is willing to learn and explore different forms of creation. Our house and the houses of family members were and are filled with projects my Dad made as gifts. I too have developed a passion for creation.
Growing up before the lifestyle of constant TV and Cell phones, we made our own fun. And by “Making our own fun” I really mean, MAKING our own fun. I was forever getting into trouble by using tools I wasn’t allowed to use, or more likely not returning the tools to where they are supposed to be. I would use lumber and hardware that was not always on the cheap side. This eventually resulted in my Dad locking up the garage so I didn’t have access. As it turns out, I am creative and like to solve problems. In less than a day, I had figured out how to get into the garage and continue on my adventures, just being more careful to return them to their proper place. Dad always saw the importance of helping me grow and be creative, so instead of a punishment, he used his creative mind and figured out ways to help me understand what I could and could not use. Who knew that furring strips could be so much fun?
Now that I am older, I still love to create, learn, and use expensive tools and hardware. My family love the gifts and my friends are gracious recipients. But the time has come to put my passion to work and allow others to enjoy my creations.
I thank you for being a part of my journey and allowing me to do what I love. I hope in turn, you find just as much love and enjoyment out of these projects as I do. Please feel free to make requests and allow me to make your dream come true.
Sincerely,
Eric
The process starts long before the blank is turned and only finishes after the pen has been packaged and sent. Here is a short video of the turning process.
Every material and kit are considered when making a pen. As fun as it is to be creative and make a blank for a pen that has never been seen before, it does not always work well with the pen kit being used. There is a time for elegance, and a time for out of this world looks. Wood often gives a sleeker classic look while epoxy and acrylics give a more fun bold look. Both result in a smooth long lasting finsh. What is your look going to be? Bold and Fun, or Classic and Sleek?