Good grief, it's August already!!! I have exactly five (count 'em, 5!) carvings as 'inventory', stores waiting for more, and a bunch of custom orders to get finished by year-end, too!! Where did the time go???? Am I the only one completely unprepared for the so-called 'busy' season??

I'm working as fast as I can (read, will) to get stuff done, but feeling the 'rush' also kind of slows me down - feels like a weight of some sort.

What are you 'holiday' carvers working on? How are you juggling your time to get things done?

Teri

[mdallensr]

Hi Teri. Just got back from vacation on the beach. I got a little more of my holiday carving done, and a better mind set to keep after it. I'm feelling a little better every day and kicking the pain meds so I'm more confident about all these sharp tools. I noticed the Cap'n mentioned a Green Man he had started and set aside, so I've decided to get mine finished and post a picture to beat him to the punch. I think I need a little kick in the butt to get back to carving seriously. Classes don't start until October so I just need to keep after the projects I've started. At least I don't have the pressure of filling orders. That would have been unbearable this year.

Some of us don't have people beating down our door with orders LOL

Hey, Mike - glad to see you back and to hear that you're recuperating well. There's work to be done!!

Teri (not doing enough of it)

Hi Teri; I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just said to my wife last night....' these are Nov/Dec hours I'm putting in right now!!! I guess we should never argue about having 'too much' work. I carved 61 pieces last month, and I'm still behind the 8 ball so to speak. The economy hasn't been the greatest this year, so you really want to get stuff out there as fast as possible, and as much as possible. One thing I 'WILL NOT' skimp on though, is, the quality of my work. I love to pick up the pace, but I will not put anything out there that is still not up to the standard that I have set for myself. Teri, I'm looking forward to seeing you in Kirkland in Sept. This time maybe we can actually find sometime to carve together. The summer show was a little nuts there. Hang in there Teri...put some good tunes on the stereo...and hunker down and get the work done. Just remember, we could have to get up and go to the office everyday.......think about it huh?!!!!

Blech!!!! Get up and go to WORK, you say?!? LOL....Well, I guess I do that every day, but in a different sort of way than I used to....now I just pry myself up off the couch again and stumble into my workshop. I probably put in more hours at santamaking than I did at that 'other' job, but they are sure much more enjoyable hours.

Dave, Kirkland should be much more relaxing this time around. I'm looking forward to it...and am also planning on paying a visit to the Artistry in Wood Woodcarving Show up in Monroe that weekend, too. 'I wanna do it allllllll!' she screams!

Teri

[Callynne]

I thought I had a bunch of Santas carved up for this Holiday season but they all sold, (not that I'm complaining!! ) now I'm really going to get busy and try to do at least that many again...good thing I love carving and especially love carving Santas!! Callynne

LOL Callynne - it's a bittersweet problem to have, isn't it?

I was complaining (again) to a friend about not having enough ready for the 'busy season'. He simply asked, 'Have you been making as many as you can so far this year' 'Yes' 'Have you sold them all?' 'Yes' 'Okay, then you're already IN the busy season and it can't get any worse - you're already selling as many as you can make'

Hmmmm. Ummm. Whew...so I guess he's right. Thinking about it that way helps me not panic about 'getting enough done'.

Teri

[Callynne]

Yes Teri, I love having this problem, still can't believe it!! As for getting a lot done, you have to remember....you are only one person (although I still have doubts about that, both you AND Dave Francis are really beginning to worry me! ) Callynne

Nothing much to consider, really....we're both simply insane.

Teri