My First Sale on Etsy!!!

Yipee!!!  or How Sad?

For 20 years I’ve been woodworking. Though I had been commissioned to make a few pieces many years ago, they were mostly for family or friends of the family. It didn’t take long trying to read their minds, then create their vision that I knew it wasn’t for me. What I like most about playing in the shop is the freedom of being able to let my creativity drive me.

Only recently I have entertained selling any of my work. The thought was only prompted because there was a piece made by a famous wood turner that I wanted to buy. I showed my wife a bowl from Bob Stocksdale on ebay. Her response was that we already had “too many turned bowls in the house!”

With at least another 30 rough turned bowls, platters and hollow turnings in the garage, not to mention two wood geared clocks and plans for several segmented turnings in the works it dawned on me that I had to do something.

It was serendipitous when I heard Rick Edelman on the radio talking about www.etsy.com. A website dedicated to sellers of handcrafted artwork etc…

What the heck, I figured it was worth a try. It cost a little time (OK… several hours) to get signed up and figure out the process. But at only 20 cents per listing and a small transaction fee for sales, it was worth a shot.

Just 4 days into the effort I have made my first sale. On the other side of the country in Seattle Washington, Mary is the proud new owner of two of my bowls. Thank you Mary!!!

On the other hand it is also a little sad. While I wasn’t particularly proud of my finishing skills on the Hackberry bowl, It was still nicely proportioned and a classical shape. On the other hand I am attached to the Mango bowl and I will miss it. The entire time I was making it, memories of my time in Puerto Rico floated through my mind.

I spent just over a year commuting from California to San Juan working on a consulting project. The Land of Enchantment it is! The mangos were always juicy and delicious, the people always kind and welcoming, and the weather was spectacular. Oh how I miss the sand, surf, friends and tostones…. so too will I miss my Mango bowl!