Inspiration is a wonderful thing! Well I never did get around to making the apron from the last post. Then the next day "WOW" what a difference a day makes!!
Don't know what caused it but I sure know what's different. Block has now gone from the past week. New ideas and plans for marketing.
Sometimes it's nice to be in that place of quiet, pondering and design.
There must come a time though when all that THINKING TIME, to be productive, must be put in front of the market place to at least see if in fact there is a market for it.
That time occurred for me today and that has set the motivation into motion.
Now I have new plans for new builds and further plans for old builds.
All those stuck out there in "Marketing Quandary Land. "SPEND LESS AND USE YOUR LOAF (HEAD) and MORE."
I have been doing so research and have discovered that the best sort of advertising is not necessarily the most expensive.
Being more hands-on (Doing) and less hands-Off (Others doing).
I look forward to allowing the creativity to flow forth with new projects tomorrow.
So I guess the point of this post is to let "ME" and anyone else reading this that no matter how bleak the future looks in order to see it change you have the hang in there.
Cheers
Steve
Monday, October 10, 2011
Have embarked on some new designs today for Human and Pet Urns.
The realisation of designs in ones head always amazes me when put into a practical application.
Because what always works well in theory rarely works well in the Practical application of the design.
So the thinking mode of the sleeping brain will be employed tonight to grant me the solution to the dilemma that currently faces me.
Will keep you up dated with picture tomorrow.
Cheers
Steve
R & D the Fun Phase.
For those of you that have never taken the bold step of designing your own projects, one of the greatest buzzes I get is the R&D phase. That was the position yesterday and now to nut out the challenges facing me on the road to completing this next project. It was inspired by one of Andrew Crawford's Boxes with double veneer over lay. Normally I run solid timbers edging around most of the boxes I create which presents a whole new set of problems with double veneering.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Cheers
Steve
We don't make mistakes we create Features!
That is a saying I recently heard and could not agree more with the sentiment. Yesterday I was working on what I wanted to be a flagship sample of the work I do with Timber Cremation Urns.
Sadness of great sadnesses The Box I had constructed out of a beautiful Ash Burl Veneer had not clamped as tightly as I had wanted leaving hair line gaps in the joints. I'm not sure oif you are familiar with the use of Wood putties currently on the market but as far a match9ing a very light coloured wood they are less that acceptable.
Balance of Quoting
It should be a straight froward equation Materials + Mark-up + Labour = Price. But I am finding that it's not quite as simple an equation. How much do you want the job? Verses, How much the Client wants the item?
Do you cut corners to cut the cost or do you charge less for your time in order to get the reputation of doing good work?
I don't like being snowed under with work nor do i like having nothing on my plate.
It comes down to me that I work out the correct price as per the first equation then employ my gut feeling and add a little compassion for the occasion and I find that seems to work out just fine.
What you loose on the bandsaw you pick-up on the Jointer as it were.
Cheers
Steve
Do you cut corners to cut the cost or do you charge less for your time in order to get the reputation of doing good work?
I don't like being snowed under with work nor do i like having nothing on my plate.
It comes down to me that I work out the correct price as per the first equation then employ my gut feeling and add a little compassion for the occasion and I find that seems to work out just fine.
What you loose on the bandsaw you pick-up on the Jointer as it were.
Cheers
Steve
Working with Hand Tools
Found this article @ http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/33594/hobbies/why_i_do_my_woodworking_using_hand_tools.html By the name of Ripsaw.
I feel it's worth reprinting here as I am in total agreement with what he has to say. So nice to hear it from someone else though. So many thanks Ripsaw Who and wherever you are.
Most people know little about woodworking using hand tools. This may be completely new to you if you are a modern day woodworker.Some woodworkers avoid old tools at all costs. They think that they are outdated, less accurate and slower than the modern day machines. This simply is not true in most cases. This article will provide you with some facts about using planes and saws in your every day wood working projects.
Hand tools are safer. This is a major reason to consider using them. Woodworking machines with their sharp blades move pretty fast. You can have an accident and lose a finger or hand before you know what happened. You can be as careful as you can be but it only takes one small slip and you are off to the hospital or worse. Working by hand can get you hurt but the injury is normally not as severe. When you are operating the tool you usually have more reaction time to stop before it gets out of hand.
You can use a smaller work area. Table saws and planers take up a lot of room. It physically takes more space to operate your home shop with machines. Starting out by hand you can start in the corner of your garage and be just fine.
Hand tools are in some cases faster than machines. You may find that hard to believe but sometimes it is a lot faster. Sure if you are cutting out one thousand boards for a wood factory you cannot touch that by hand. However for the guy at home doing one single project by the time you set up your machine, adjust the fence and make a test cut you will be done and going on to the next step by using old fashioned tools.
It costs less to get started woodworking. Starting out with woodworking machines that are of any quality cost a lot of money. Even though you can spend plenty on high quality planes and saws the fact is you can start with a few tools and get your project done without breaking the bank.
Hand tools make less noise. This is one reason I choose to use to use these tools. There is something to be said about planning a board and hearing the blade smoothing the wood.
Achieve greater precision. Early on when using my table saw it was very easy to cut a little too much off my project. I have thrown away many a good-looking piece of wood because of some small mistake. When I use my hand saw it is much easier to sneak up on my mark and not overdo it.
I choose to use work by hand as much as I can. For myself it is a more sensible way to work with wood. The best system for most would be some sort of combination of the old and the new. Woodworking using hand tools is hard work. The rewards are worth it for me.
I feel it's worth reprinting here as I am in total agreement with what he has to say. So nice to hear it from someone else though. So many thanks Ripsaw Who and wherever you are.
Most people know little about woodworking using hand tools. This may be completely new to you if you are a modern day woodworker.Some woodworkers avoid old tools at all costs. They think that they are outdated, less accurate and slower than the modern day machines. This simply is not true in most cases. This article will provide you with some facts about using planes and saws in your every day wood working projects.
Hand tools are safer. This is a major reason to consider using them. Woodworking machines with their sharp blades move pretty fast. You can have an accident and lose a finger or hand before you know what happened. You can be as careful as you can be but it only takes one small slip and you are off to the hospital or worse. Working by hand can get you hurt but the injury is normally not as severe. When you are operating the tool you usually have more reaction time to stop before it gets out of hand.
You can use a smaller work area. Table saws and planers take up a lot of room. It physically takes more space to operate your home shop with machines. Starting out by hand you can start in the corner of your garage and be just fine.
Hand tools are in some cases faster than machines. You may find that hard to believe but sometimes it is a lot faster. Sure if you are cutting out one thousand boards for a wood factory you cannot touch that by hand. However for the guy at home doing one single project by the time you set up your machine, adjust the fence and make a test cut you will be done and going on to the next step by using old fashioned tools.
It costs less to get started woodworking. Starting out with woodworking machines that are of any quality cost a lot of money. Even though you can spend plenty on high quality planes and saws the fact is you can start with a few tools and get your project done without breaking the bank.
Hand tools make less noise. This is one reason I choose to use to use these tools. There is something to be said about planning a board and hearing the blade smoothing the wood.
Achieve greater precision. Early on when using my table saw it was very easy to cut a little too much off my project. I have thrown away many a good-looking piece of wood because of some small mistake. When I use my hand saw it is much easier to sneak up on my mark and not overdo it.
I choose to use work by hand as much as I can. For myself it is a more sensible way to work with wood. The best system for most would be some sort of combination of the old and the new. Woodworking using hand tools is hard work. The rewards are worth it for me.
Did Your Pet earn an Urn?
If loyalty, Comfort and unconditional Love are not enough perhaps a pet can never earn an Urn.
Although, if you feel that some or all of these things count then an Urn has been earned.
What sort of Urn should you get?
Before saying it's just an Urn, was your Pet just a Pet?
If they were more, then don't they deserve more that just an Urn?
We at specialize in beautiful handmade Pet and Animal Urns. Following the success of our range of Cremation Urns for People made by Fine Boxes located in S.E. Queensland. A need has arisen within the community for a range of well made and tastefully designed Urns for pets and animals.
As a result Pet Urns Australia came into being, all Urns are made with the same care and attention to detail as has been our practice in the past with Human Cremation Urns.
So if you are in the unfortunate position of having to endure the loss of a close animal that was a good friend and companion why not contact us and arrange for a memorial Urn to be made to honour the friendship and times that you had together. All Urns are shipped free of charge no matter where you are.
If you have suffered a loss our sympathies are with you and trust the healing of the sadness had begun.
Steve H.
www.fineboxes.com.au
Although, if you feel that some or all of these things count then an Urn has been earned.
What sort of Urn should you get?
Before saying it's just an Urn, was your Pet just a Pet?
If they were more, then don't they deserve more that just an Urn?
We at specialize in beautiful handmade Pet and Animal Urns. Following the success of our range of Cremation Urns for People made by Fine Boxes located in S.E. Queensland. A need has arisen within the community for a range of well made and tastefully designed Urns for pets and animals.
As a result Pet Urns Australia came into being, all Urns are made with the same care and attention to detail as has been our practice in the past with Human Cremation Urns.
So if you are in the unfortunate position of having to endure the loss of a close animal that was a good friend and companion why not contact us and arrange for a memorial Urn to be made to honour the friendship and times that you had together. All Urns are shipped free of charge no matter where you are.
If you have suffered a loss our sympathies are with you and trust the healing of the sadness had begun.
Steve H.
www.fineboxes.com.au
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