[Woodcarver] Question of the day.

[Donna Menke]

Joe- until recently income and outgo were about even (I took a lot of classes, bought a lot of tools, wood, and books- so it was a non-issue what to do with the money generated. 

Now income outstrips outgo, (teaching classes, selling blanks, and the book, but is still isn't anything to worry about. We have always just thrown everything into the pot and taken out as needed, so other than the bookkeeping there is nothing to count.
I like my hobbies to pay for themselves- and with the exception of harp playing they have always at least broken even. If you have listened to my harp playing you know it will never generate income.LOL
I try to price my wares just a little over cost plus $10/hour- like my blanks for $2.50 with 2 pages of instructions and pin- no room there for real profit. But I like to think that I am providing a service for people who want to make my projects and cannot cut their own blanks.
Not entirely selfless- but not greedy either. The videos will not cost as much as most people charge because like everything I do it is all in house- done without outside help or cost. It may not be as professional looking, but it will get the info across.
Donna Menke
http://www.woodworks-by-donna.com 
Author: The Ultimate Band Saw Box Book



----- Original Message ----

> From: Joe Dillett <jdillett at thecarvingshop.net>

> To: [Woodcarver] <woodcarver at carverscompanion.com>

> Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 8:48:12 AM

> Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Question of the day.

> 

> Friends in Carving: Please support our List - visit the Carvers' Campanion Shop 

> at http://cafepress.com/woodcarving

> 

> 

> Hi Donna,

> 

> Your videos sound like an exciting venture. I hope they sell like hot cakes.

> 

> This brings up an interesting question about money made from carving and carving 

> related activities.

> 

> 1) How many of us try to generate a steady flow of income from your carving and 

> carving related activities? This would include everything from a few dollars up. 

> Yes or no is ok but expand your answer if you like.

> 

> 2) Next question, related to our struggling economy, do you put that money 

> generated from carving back into caving related purchases or use it to live on?

> 

> Joe Dillett

> The Carving Shop

> 645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3

> Somonauk, IL. 60552

> 

> (815) 498-9290 phone

> (815) 498-9249 fax

> http://www.thecarvingshop.net [business web site]

> http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]

> http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett

> ******************************************************************

> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donna Menke" 

> To: "[Woodcarver]" 

> Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 8:00 AM

> Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Even at this unnatural hour ...

> 

> 

> > Friends in Carving: Please support our List - visit the Carvers' Campanion 

> Shop at http://cafepress.com/woodcarving

> > 

> > 

> > 

> > Marcia-

> > Looking at your Maine Coon cat blog was interesting- reminded me of my Emily 

> dachshund blog. I added another blog to my little collection- the portrait one. 

> These things are addictive- like you mentioned that you may do another one too. 

> It seems strange to carve without documentation any more.

> > I've taken another step in that direction in that now I am doing videos. Hubby 

> and I have been working for months to accumulate the equipment and knowledge so 

> that I can make process videos to sell at shows and seminars. It has been a 

> struggle but we finally got it all together and finished a trial- my trips of 

> last year for the kids and myself. One more bug to work out-menus- and then I'll 

> do the big hummingbird video. Did a trial intro and discovered all the things I 

> shouldn't do- like roll my eyes- not funny.

> > I also completed yesterday the 7-page booklet for carving the Peeking Mouse 

> for my classes and blanks. It is also planned for an upcoming issue of Carving 

> Magazine.

> > 

> > And- I'm sanding on a 3" Celtic Triad in figured maple- talk about a trial. It 

> will be gorgeous- but the sanding is tedious in the extreme. Kinda like 

> texturing a cat- eh!

> > Donna Menke

> > http://www.woodworks-by-donna.com

> > Author: The Ultimate Band Saw Box Book

> > 

> > 

> > 

> > ----- Original Message ----

> >> From: Marcia Berkall 

> >> To: [Woodcarver] 

> >> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 11:11:50 AM

> >> Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Even at this unnatural hour ...

> >> 

> >> Friends in Carving: Please support our List - visit the Carvers' Campanion 

> Shop

> >> at http://cafepress.com/woodcarving

> >> 

> >> 

> >> LOL  I just have to chuckle when "fearless leader" hits

> >> the wrong button :)  There are times when I might have caught you on

> >> the other end of the day...carving into the wee hours of the

> >> morning.

> >> 

> >> I'm up to my eyeballs in work.  I'm still working on the life size

> >> Maine Coon Cat carving.  This has been a real stretch for me.

> >> (I love commissions for that reason.)  Never have I done so much

> >> texturing!  I hope to have that finished in the next few days, then

> >> turn my attention to painting it.   I got side tracked from

> >> this carving for a while due to my husband's surgery back in October and

> >> then the holiday stuff.  Fortunately this client has a

> >> "whenever it's ready" mentality about it, for which I am

> >> eternally grateful!  I set up a blog for her to watch the progress,

> >> slow as it is.

> >> http://cahvah.wordpress.com/home/maine-coon-cat-carvingin-progress/ I'll

> >> probably be uploading a new picture in the next day or

> >> two.

> >> 

> >> I have also completed another veteran's cane and am working on a wood

> >> spirit with a 250-year-old slab of wood that was raised from the bottom

> >> of the Penobscot River.  It's part of a wood recovery program and

> >> this carving will become part of the heritage foundation

> >> collection.  The theme has to be either Native American or logging

> >> related.  I'm discovering some solutions for working with this old

> >> brittle wood and am documenting the progress for,hopefully,a future

> >> Carving Magazine Article.

> >> 

> >> I'm also about to start teaching another Adult Ed 6-week Right Brain

> >> Drawing class next week.

> >> 

> >> As for strop compounds, I haven't tried the green compound. I've pretty

> >> much stuck with the silicon carbide in oil suspension that one of my

> >> favorite knife makers uses.  I guess I'm of the opinion that

> >> whatever works for you is the best one.  That one doesn't work well

> >> on the buffing wheel, so I might give the green compound a try for

> >> that.

> >> 

> >> Thanks, Matt, for getting this started!

> >> 

> >> Marcia (aka Mush)

> >> South China, Maine

> >> 

> >> See Marcia's wood carvings

> >> at:

> >> 

> >> http://whittlinsnwood.com

> >> Blog: http://cahvah.wordpress.com/

> >> *****

> >> Affordable Web Page

> >> Design:

> >> http://artwebmaine.com

> >> *****

> >> 

> >> Get 20% Off CoffeeCup Web Design Software

> >> Use this code when you checkout: 226STS

> >> www.getcoffeecup.com

> > 

> > 

> > 

> > 

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