The mushrooms were a disaster

Colin_Partridge · #1 09-12-2006, 02:50 PM

Hi Gang,
Well you were all right and my worst fears with the white mushrooms were a disaster. When I took them out of the wrapping all the customer said was. NO! NO! NO! why are they White? She loved the concept and loved the carvings but hated the colour. She also didnt like the smaller toadstool said she didnt like the straight stem. So here I am this afternoon carving two more mushrooms and taking the WHITE stain off of the other mushrooms. In all of my years of carving this is the first time I have had a complaint. Maybe I should start listening to myself more, I knew I didnt like the white stain. Thank you for all the comments I was under pressure to get these done and didnt have time to wait for your opinion I just went ahead. Shows that you guys are usually right I will post pictures of the new carvings before I give them to her and see what you think. I have to have them done by noon Thursday so wish me luck. All this and I am working on two more commissions at the same time. I am going to change my WCI T shirt to say EAT, CARVE, no time for sleep.
Colin

Thor · #2 09-12-2006, 02:56 PM

Hi Colin,

My husband and I both could tell you nightmare stories about commissions going terribly wrong...and usually at our expense.

We've learned one important lesson over the years...
Everyone has an opinion...and if you want a different one, just ask someone else.

I think the white ones will tone down with another darker stain and look great. If that customer doesn't want them, then someone else will be thrilled to get them.

Sorry to hear about it going sour, but it does happen even when you "are" listening to your best judgement.

Don't let it get you down, we think you're the star of all tree spirits!
Thor

Ashbys · #3 09-12-2006, 03:01 PM

Colin ,

Personally , I like the white , but that is becaused I have seen what the weather will do to white stain and wood in a short period of time.

That said , any she doesn't want , just set them aside, and bring them to the open house, I will take them off your hands. I have a good place to put them.

Ash

BobD · #4 09-12-2006, 03:02 PM

I think they were great, my friend! I LOVE the concept! Hey...not everyone likes every article that makes it into the mag either!!!

I'm sure your grandsons would love them if nothing else <grin>

Bob

Micky · #5 09-12-2006, 03:16 PM

The carvings are beautiful. Sorry she did not like the white--always go with your gut--breakfast, lunch, dinner,snack or carving and color opinions.

)

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #6 09-12-2006, 05:01 PM

Colin, I sent you an email with some spanned sketches, maybe they will help?

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #7 09-12-2006, 05:09 PM

Colin, I sent you an email with some spanned sketches, maybe they will help?

squbrigg · #8 09-12-2006, 05:12 PM

Don't get down on yourself Colin. Not everyone likes the same thing. Colour isn't a big deal to change, lots of paint out there, slap it on thick and bright!!! Then call them Magic Mushrooms!!!

Bob

Kenny_S · #9 09-12-2006, 06:59 PM

Well Colin, I can relate also to commission going sour, But to tell you the truth, the white one would have faded out in time and may have been the better looking on, I don't know as I like the natural ones. She didn't like the straight stemmed one? what's wrong with them, crazy eh?
Best to you and don't stress out over it my Friend.One disappointed one ion all that you done isn't bad.
I have changed things on a job I am doing for a business and they don't know squat about wood or stain or how to build anything. They just want what's in their head and sometimes it isn't correct. Anyways, I had to pull out the original bid sheet and say, Guess you better get a lawyer as I will be doing what I bid on and we had both signed the OK.
May lose a customer but An finding out, no matter ehat you do for them, they are not happy. Wish I knew this going into the project.

Colin, you will come out of this one ok.

Just Carving · #10 09-12-2006, 08:44 PM

Colin,

The white mushrooms were not a disaster. I should know--I've been picking 'em out of my yard, my garden buckets, and yes, even off my shed wall!!!! That tropical depression they called Ernesto dumped a lot of moisture and the result? 'Shrooms, 'shrooms, and more 'shrooms! I'm only sorry that I didn't take some photos. I picked one out of my lawn that was as 3" wide and it was about 3 1/2" tall. The stem was about 2" in diameter. The shroom was perfectly straight--and get this---PURE WHITE!!! The ones coming off a piece of trim on the shed wall were tall and skinny--pointing on a 45 degree angle to the west. The ones in the tomato plant buckets were like the ones on the shed, but they had a wavy-like stems. I found a dried up one laying in the backyard with a cap about 3" in diameter and a stem about 3/4" in diameter and it was about 4" long. So, keep carving them 'shrooms of yours--whatever way you like, and tell the customer that's the way they are. You no like, I make you what you like. BUT THEY ARE NOT A DISASTER--maybe a learning experience, but not a disaster. BTW--customers are a pain but they pay the bills. So, youz got to give 'em what they want. But I'll bet somebody else would come along and buy dem 'shrooms your customer didn't like--I bet a room of 'shrooms!