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Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

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Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#1

Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

Raymond Overman in SC

>At a recent local craft fair I was given the opportunity to set up a tent right outside the front door for nothing since the boothes at the show were filled. It was a last minute thing and I gathered my pens, a few bowls, platters, and vases and drove a total of five miles from the house to set up.

I didn't quite have enough large items to fill the empty spaces and offered my father the opportunity to sell a few of his pieces at my impromptu booth with the understanding that his pieces were his revenue and mine were mine.

One of the pieces dad provided was a small 6" diameter Cherry plate that had moderate figure but wasn't spectacular by any degree. A pillar candle in the middle of it would have been one of my best guesses for usage and it was priced accordingly.

After about 30 minutes of being set up, I had a question about this piece and how much. I told the guy the price my dad set and he bought it.

As he walked away, I heard the guy tell his buddy that it would be perfect for his cat as a food dish. My father wasn't impressed at the guys vision of pet fine dining when I reported back. Of course my comment was that he paid the asking price.

Of course this goes hand in hand with the comment of, "What do you use this for?" whilst pointing to a beautiful figured bowl that took 4 to 6 hours of your life to turn and as long to finish. I'm glad I don't do segmented turning with thousands of pieces and hundreds of hours. I'd have to spend my earnings on bail for aggravated assault charges.

Merry Christmas and here's to customers with vision .

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#2

Well, maybe . . .

Fred in NC

>It was a refined cat and art connoiseur. The cat is probably delighted !

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#3

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

Don Evans, Raleigh, NC

>You never know, he could have paid you the highest complement there is. It's amazing what people will spend on their pets. Food for example is 15 billion per year in USA.

There are a lot of pets that live better than a lot of children.

Don

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#4

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

Alan Tolchinsky

>Raymond, First if it was me I wouldn't have told your Dad the comment made if it would have been hurtful. But second, most people take better care of their pets than they do themselves or family members. So it's not a negative comment at all. Great post and funny to boot with your last comments on aggravated assault. Alan in Md.

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#5

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

Dave MacLuskie

>On a lighter note, I'm now inclined to ask turners at shows if their platters can be used for skeet, just to see their reactions!

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#6

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

Bill Grumbine, Kutztown PA

>Raymond, I am a crass capitalist. Once they pay for it, they can do whatever they want with it. However, I am in agreement with many of the comments already made. Our worthless fleabag non-mousecatching cats don't get that kind of treatment, but I know many people who treat their cats like they are furry little gods.

Bill

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#7

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

Fog Tanner

>I have made over a hundred pieces for charitable sales. I gave them a price range for sale, not wanting them overpriced nor undervalued. The only compensation received was the satisfaction and the thought that the pieces would be passed down to another generation. The pieces that I have sold or exchanged for other items (club machinist who doesn't turn much) carry with them the same wish. But, once they give me the money (or faceplate) they assume sole ownership and it is theirs to do as they wish.

I view them the same as the racing aircraft If have built for other people in the past. Forty hours of my life into a plane that has the inevitable fate of hitting the ground at a high rate of speed. I received the satisfaction of building the plane, partially because the other guy couldn't but mainly the satisfaction that comes from the building.

Woodturning is much the same for me. The end sale is not the goal, it is the journey in getting there. Each piece is its own little adventure and its own set of personal rewards. No amount of money can compensate for those. There is the wish that the purchaser is assuming the role of caretaker until the next generation. But, should they position themselves as an owner and leave the item to the elements and early demise, the only pain I have is the death of an object which has taken on a life of its own.

Obviously not the views of a production turner. I make pieces which I give to people whom I know will take care of them, I make pieces which I sell to people where that is an unknown. Either way I received the pleasure of the journey.

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#8

I've seen...

Shawn - in ID

>some of the magnificent skill it takes to produce some artwork in third-world countries that those poor people get virtually nothing for - then those items sit on a shelf as a souvenir. Be proud that the work 1) got a fair sum of money for the work and 2) that it is being used for more than eye-candy.

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#9

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

Raymond Overman in SC

>My father took the comment with no problem once I handed him the money he asked for it. It was just a slight dig. No feelings were hurt in the turning of this profit.

Another guy at the same show asked me if I was selling firewood. My answer was yes, but it's damn expensive to heat your house. I'm of the opinion that once I turn it, finish it, and take a picture for my website or Woodcentral, it's ready for whatever fate is dealt to it. Show me the money and you can do whatever you like.

My father on the other hand, has dozens of bowls and other small turnings that he just can't quite bring himself to sell. Not that they're spectacular artistic pieces that he couldn't bear to part with, they're just his and that's ok too.

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#10

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

Raymond Overman in SC

>Don,

You wouldn't happen to know a turner in Mt. Olive, NC named John Evans do you? He's a friend of mine and is the one that got me and my father started in this turning mess to begin with.

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#11

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Raymond, enough people have asked me if my hollow forms are candle holders that I have decided they are. When people ask what they are, that is now what I tell them. They're $200-500 candle holders.

That 18" maple burl platter with gold leaf I posted the other day - one of my coworkers walked into my office gallery and said "Now that would make a nice clock!" I said "For a thousand dollars you can make it anything you so desire"

A nice clock...I had a comment about his daughter in mind but I kept it to myself.

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#12

Exactly!!

Mike Rubes, Apex, NC

>Hi Fog,

I think this part of your post, for me, sums up my turnings exactly:

"The end sale is not the goal, it is the journey in getting there.

For me, that's exactly right. I often get questions about selling my stuff, and I do sell a few, but frankly for quite a bit less than I infer stuff around here gets sold for :) Most of it I give away as gifts or just to friends.

The creation process is what I value.

Thanks for your note.

Mike

A chilly 22 this morning in Apex, NC!

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#13

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

Raymond Overman in SC

>I hear you brother. Preach on!

Is that the price tag on that beauty? What a bargain!

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

#14

Re: Them's Fightin' Words (a little long)

Duane C.Leach

>Ah Yes The stories I could tell about art shows. At A big art show I was in a few years ago A woman came in and looked at some ornaments. When she saw a few made from banksi seed pod she asked what they were and where it came from. When I told her they came from down under she all but called me a lier. She became arguementative,and insulting, insisting they couldn't have come from Australia. She finly allowed me to speck so I asked how she new the banksia seed pods were not from Australia. She replyed that she had just returned from her first trip there and she never saw any while there so I must be lying. She even used her cell phone to call some relitive living there to prove I was lying.When she hung up the phone she was all apologetic and bought two ornaments.

It just goes to show that their is allways someone ells who knows they know more than they realy do.And are willing to let their mouth out run their brain.

Been there and done that to many times.

Duane