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5K views 40 replies 17 participants last post by  CharlesDearing 
#1 ·
Anything and everything about me. Not always woodworking related.

I am brand new to this site so I hope I am even doing this correctly. I'd like to use this series to give my opinions and such about day to day life, etc. I am choosing this first post to let you inside the inner workings of who I am as a person. My shortcomings, my passions and my character. Of course I will get to posting more site-related topics in other series (if I do this correctly)l.
I pride myself in not keeping secrets about who I am, how I tick and how I feel. I chose to make this my first topic post so that everyone knows all about who I am. It is not my intention to alienate, disrespect, offend or break any rules.
I'm a single 41 yr old man living in Hamilton, Texas. Population around 3000. I love small towns. The only thing wrong with it is that it isn't a good place to meet single folks ;)
I've been in the scrolling community a little over 10 years. Through those years I have learned (sometimes the hard way) what seems to work and what doesn't. I still fail often at being who I want to be. When I first began I honestly wasn't too impressed with the quality of patterns I was seeing. I mean no disrespect to pattern designers from that era or any designers in general. It seemed to me that almost all designs were aimed at beginners. Yes, I was a beginner, but they all looked too simple and too "undetailed". In looking at my own growth in designing I sometimes laugh at my own patterns from way back when. Anyway, that's what made me decide to try to make my own patterns. I strive for as realistic as possible most times.
The methods I chose to get my name out there weren't always well received or well thought out for that matter. I basically spammed everybody trying to get my designs out there. I wish I could take that back, but of course I can't. I got better about not spamming but then my personality ran some off as well. Let me explain my personality.
Most of my life I was bullied, talked down to and was never really able to speak my mind without some kind of negative consequences. Due to that, in trying to grow out of that mindset, sometimes I go overboard. I vowed I would never allow myself to be "stepped on" and would speak my mind. In general I am a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. I almost never get upset unless I feel I am being disrespected. That disrespect can be in words or actions. I never lie and never set out to deceive anyone so if it's implied that I am either of those things…I get upset. I mentioned all of that because Lord only knows some of the rumors that could be going around about me lol.
I am on disability for panic disorder. Basically, that means the chemical in my brain that is produced during fear..is over productive. Being in disability is sadly why I rely on pattern sales so much. I also suffer from depression, but to me, it isn't clinical. My depression is usually situational. 9 times out of 10 I am down because I'm alone and because I'm pretty much always broke. Like I said, I live in a small town and hardly know anyone so I DO see the online community as my family and the place to vent and reach out. I believe that's why there may be some negative feelings about me floating around. I believe, to some, I am seen as a whiner among other things. Guilty. I vent and complain about my constant bad luck and such.
In admitting those faults I also feel like I am a very helpful person. If I can help someone with a pattern, scrolling advice, etc. I will. ANYONE. I'm not sure if it shows online, but when I am around people, I love to make them laugh. I am known for my big heart and sense of humor. Being single and thinking that the ideal relationship to be in would be a woman who is into woodworking/scrollsawing I sometimes flirt. Being that I'm imperfect…sometimes I flirt too much and may even cross the line. I assure you, that isn't intentional. Some may not be able to tell, but I truly do care how people perceive me and what kind of image I cast of myself.
As a final topic in this introduction into who I am I will do a quick rundown of my family and growing up. I am the youngest of 4 kids. Youngest by 11 minutes. I have a twin brother and two older sisters. My parents have been married for 46 years. My dad is retired Army (Special Forces- Green Beret). He was in for 23 yrs. I was raised VERY strict. Mine and my dad's bond has been rocky at times but now my bond with him is tight and I wouldn't change it for the world. I have a very close knit family.
Ok, well that's the peek into me. Now onto some scrolling/designing talk when I can come up with enough.
 
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#7 ·
Glad to be here. Honestly I didn't know about this site before today. Not even sure how I found it. My personal life and it's constant downfalls tends to also make my participation fluctuate as well. I still haven't figured out how to make a gallery of my work, where to post potential free patterns, etc.
 
#8 ·
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
When I seen the name CharleDearing, I had to see if it was THE Charles Dearing.
I've cut a few of your patterns. You are very talented. Glad to see you here.
I read in your post about you being called a whiner. I know where you are coming from. I worry sometimes that I am seen as such because it seems like, at times, every time I look up I'm posting something with explanations that are related to my health and my varying degrees of physical abilities (and sometimes mental as well). When I'm able to put things in perspective though, I realize that most here understand it. There are others here with health problems. Also, they know already about my health problems. It isn't necessarily whining. It is just part of my life, part of my work, part of who I am.
I understand though. Even though I understand all this, I still feel guilty of whining sometimes. So you're in good company I guess (or bad depending on how you look at it).
I know how to do most things here, but aren't good at explaining it. So I hope others can help you there. I can't wait to see your work here.
I'd love to see your website in your signature line though. If you don't know how to do that you could just give it to us as a response here (hint, hint).
Again, welcome to Lumberjocks.
 
#10 ·
Welcome to LJ, there are many who do scroll saw work here, me not so much but my wife does much better than me after a few weeks. I consider her to be an expert scroller but she will deny this!

There is also Scrollgirl, Sheila Landry who is also a pattern designer and a good one, you might want to look her up.
 
#11 ·
Welcome Charles, Glad to see you finally made it to the best Woodworking site going. I have a admired your talent for cutting and designing for a long time. I know you will fit right in here, good bunch of people.

Andrew
 
#15 ·
Howdy Chief. I appreciate the compliment, but I'm not the best or I'd have book deals, catalogue entries and sales lol. To me, the best are the ones who cover many avenues of patterns and have patterns everywhere ya look. That would be Sue Mey and Sheila Landry. I DO appreciate your compliment though.
 
#16 ·
Welcome to Lumberjocks, Charles. Very rarely does anyone lay everything on the table as you have in your introduction. We all have strengths and weaknesses, so I'm sure you have an extended family in waiting here. I can't wait to see some of your work. Now, make us laugh ! ;=)
 
#18 ·
Charles,
I don't deal with Facebook. My wife says it's because of my paranoia, but we won't go there.
Have you considered blogspot?
I've had a blog on there for some times now and have been pretty happy with it. Someone more technically intelligent than myself would have to tell you how to put patterns on there though. Photos are no problem, but I don't know of what compatible format patterns would have to be in.
One idea would be to post completed projects. Then is someone wanted to purchase the pattern they could send the money by PayPal and you could send the pattern via a PDF.
I think this is similar to the way I got my last pattern from BullRun, a website you had at one time.
If my memory is correct, the last patterns I got from there though were by a guy named "messman" you used to have with you on your site? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyway.
I for one, (low on funds at the moment, but never know when I will come up with cash for patterns) would love to know some way other than facebook to view your work and in the future order some patterns. I have a hard time finding the type of portrait cuttings I enjoy. I lve the ones with great detail. Since your site and Jeff Zaffino's disappeared though, my options have been very limited.
 
#19 ·
I can understand some people's paranoia with private info being given out publicly, but for what it's worth, if ya don't post private stuff, people can't steal it lol. Anyway, No I only sold my own pattern on BullRunArt.com and that changed to CharlesDearing.com. Sadly I just can't afford to keep it up and it's just easier to post them on Facebook. I'll look into the blogspot thing, but please know if I don't use that, that you have nothing to fear with facebook. I am STILL trying to figure out how to post pics in my gallery on THIS site.
 
#21 ·
I never posted anything on facebook that I wasn't prepared for the whole world to see. However, boy some family and friends had no problem doing so.
Facebook I feel has become a monster in some people's lives. I have several problems with it, but I will only briefly touch on the biggest one.
This is a habit I see all over the internet, but it seems somehow most prevalent on Facebook. People post things that really shouldn't be posted in a public forum. Then other's comment on it. After that, the person that originally posted the thing, gets upset with the light that is cast on said subject matter. Do they get upset with themselves for posting it? No. They get upset with everyone who has seen it. This doesn't make sense to me and may not have happened in other's experiences. This is what I went through though for the short time I was on that public forum.
I use the internet differently than some I think. I think you can relate to this one Charles. I often get down and am confined to home. Because of this, the internet has become like my connection to the outside world. The only other people I talk to regularly are my wife and kids or anyone who visits my shop. This being said, I present myself on the internet exactly the same way as I present myself to the real world. I am what I am. I can either be accepted ot rejected. Either way, I am true to myself. I won't try to be someone I am not nor ever will be.
For some though, they see the internet as sort of a whole other dimension. It is a place where they can reinvent themselves. They can be someone they are not. This is what I mainly found on Facebook. Too many people on there try to present themselves in a different light. Then when the truth about who they really are is out, there is no turning back. This upsets them. Their whole other life came crumbling down leaving only themselves.
I try to tell my kids this little lesson so often. I tell them do not type anything on a computer that you wouldn't say to someone in the real world. They don't always listen though. It never fails either. Everytime they fail to heed my advice, it eventually comes back to bite them in the @$$.
I will get on my wife's facebook in the next few days and see what you have to offer there though. I have been thinking of setting up an account there as sort of an anonymous person. It would be an account with no friends, just a door way for me to get on there and see things like your site. I haven't done it yet though and don't feel up to it today either (health not great this morning).
 
#22 ·
I'm sorry for your health problems and I'm also sorry if you felt pushed into doing the Facebook thing. I'm attempting the blogspot thing but so far it's confusing as !@#$% lol. I guess I fear change.
I do know it will be charliedearing.blogspot.com I believe I created charlesdearing.blogspot.com too a while back but can't find what email address I may have used with it. Lord my two brain cells constantly collide!
 
#23 ·
Charles,
I'm not sure how much help this is to what you want to do, but here is the help guide for Lumberjocks. It has all kinds of information, but down the left side of the page are links to "writing guides". Under that column are articles on "basic formatting" for Lumberjocks, "imbedding pictures", and a how to.
I hope that may be of some help.
 
#26 ·
No problem Charles.
I don't feel pushed by you actually. My kids or other family member ask me on almost a daily basis though when am I getting back on Facebook.
I don't want put it out there publicly. I'll let you get used to the site and sometime I may tell you about it through private message. It may interest you because from what I read in your post, it actually mirrors some of what you have went through as well. Let's just say for now that certain people took the opportunity when I first got a Facebook account to try and make my life hell.
since then, in all honesty, Facebook scares the hell out of me.
 
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