[Woodcarver] Living the Carvers Dream

[Steve Lankerd Sr]

Good Morning Bob, or afternoon....

I'd like to write to you about your "dream".....  :)

I too, am originally from Connecticut.  I am now in Alaska and have been
following a dream of my own.  I left Ct back in '76 to visit my cousin and
ended up staying here.  Like you, I had this dream of working with my hands
and creating things. After spending over 20 years working in the timber
industry, the company pulled out of Alaska and I had to think of something
different to help put food on the table.  Since '83 I have been a gunsmith
and maker of handcrafted gifts.... Now, I get to create full time....
The town I live in built a building now called  "The Artist Village"....
This large place houses 6 rooms where 6 people have small shops where they
make things and sell to the tourists.  There is one large room in the center
where 5 or 6 tables are set and people cant rent a table to set up for the
things they want to sell.  This is a lot of fun.... I rent a table, get to
meet and talk to a lot of nice people from all over the world.  I too am
happy if I make a sale and of how much I make is no consequence.
It is, however, a nice added bonus when people buy the more expensive things
and also when you get commissions.

So keep living your dream, keep creating and carving, and don't ever let
anyone tell you that you are crazy for doing that.
Thanks for sharing your story Bob....

Take care and dream on!

Best Regards,

Steve


Steve Lankerd Sr
Metlakatla,  Alaska

http://www.angelfire.com/ak5/northernlights





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Campanaro" <re2camp at aol.com>
To: "Wood Carver Mai llist" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2004 3:57 AM
Subject: [Woodcarver] Living the Carvers Dream


> To make a DONATION to the Mailing List using PayPal OR regular mail, click
this link: http://wwwoodcarver.com/WWWList/WWWList.html
>
> Hi folks,
>
> Just a bit dribble from me:
>
>
> I started carving about 2 years ago and immediately fell in love.   I
> also began to dream...  I began to dream of making a living as a wood
> carver.  Perhaps living in a nice log cabin in Vermont, opening up a
> small shop and becoming sort of my own tourist attraction.  Yeah, 'Hi
> ya'll! Welcome to Carver Bobs!'
>
> Well circumstances have allowed me to move from Connecticut to Vermont
> and to spend most of my time carving.  No, I don't have the log cabin,
> yet!  But I did put up a small screen tent by the roadside in the front
> yard, made myself a couple of signs, and attempted to sell some of my
> carvings.  So now each day, weather permitting, I take my carvings,
> tools, paints, radio, coffee, books, ect. and carry them out to my
> little 'roadside stand' and do my thing.
>
> And guess what?  I'm selling carvings!!  Mostly small santa's and
> snowmen for $10-$20 dollars but WOW!  To have a couple stop by who are
> from Texas and buy $50 of 'my stuff' is an amazing thrill.  Are my
> carvings prize winning quality?  Absolutely not!  From what I seen out
> there they are average at best.  Some I'm very pleased
> with, even surprised at, and others are just Ok.  Well to be honest,
> everyone of them has one or more flaws that I would fix or do
> differently. But...
>
> Today is going to be a beautiful day!  Low 70s and plenty of sunshine.
> I'm about to gather up my tools and head outside to 'set up shop'.  I'll
> probably spend all day out there just carving without anyone stopping at
> all, which is the norm or perhaps I'll make a $3 trinket sale.  But then
> again perhaps today is the day someone will drop by and purchase that
> santa with the $85 price tag on it!
>
> Have I become my own tourist attraction?  Who Cares!!!!!!!!   I'm
> carving and living the carver's dream!
>
>
> Carver Bob
> re2camp at aol.com
> Stowe, VT
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Bob Campanaro
> recamp2 at verizon.net
> Stowe, VT
> --
>
>
> Bob Campanaro
> re2camp at aol.com
> Stowe, VT
> _______________________________________________
> Woodcarver mailing list
> Woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/woodcarver
>
>