317 days ago
by Mark A. DeCou |
30 comments »
There is an ongoing debate about whether Lumberjocks should be the focus of a marketing plan by professional woodworkers. There are quite a few professionals on this site now, all of us trying to make a living.
I define “professional” as someone that makes all, or most of their income from their woodworking and craft work. Selling something once in a while from your hobby work really has nothing in common with “having” to sell something every day to buy food and s...
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486 days ago
by Mark A. DeCou |
27 comments »
(I haven’t done this style of blogging for awhile. With so many new LJ’ers now on this website, I’ve figured most of us don’t want to see these long-winded-folksy style, non-woodworking, rambling, style blogs anymore. But, this is a story about “Hot Air”, so I’ll let a bunch out along with the photos.)
This blog could easily be subtitled: ”Facing Your Fears with Hot Air.”Read on further to find out why.
July 29th, 2008:
I wa...
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936 days ago
by Mark A. DeCou |
25 comments »
I am so excited this morning. Why you ask?
I’m complete with the St. Anthony Church Side Altar commission project. I have more work to do on other pieces for the church by the end of the month. So, there isn’t much time to take a breath yet, but the completion of the Side Altars is a huge milestone for me, and my woodworking career.
To be honest, there were some times that I wondered if I would ever get all of the details of these Altars complete. Total working time is a...
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779 days ago
by Mark A. DeCou |
16 comments »
I’m in the midst of finishing up a project I have really enjoyed. Sure, it has taken me two times the hours I bid, but I am happy with the result. Actually, it has come out better than I expected, which is always a nice surprise.
This is a functional-art piece I wish I wasn’t selling, to be honest. But, I have already spent all of the down payment. So, giving the money back is not possible, so the customer will get her desk.
There have been a few pieces I wish I could ha...
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279 days ago
by Mark A. DeCou |
15 comments »
I’m sort of sad this week. It’s just frustrating to me, what is happening now. In the big sense, and the little Lumberjock sense.
An artist and L-J’er that I greatly admire, Thomas Angle, can’t find anyone to buy his work, and he has shut down his business operation
That sort of just stinks, and should be a huge red flag for any of the rest of us that try to sell our handmade work for a living. He can work leather, and combine it with wood like few have ever d...
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749 days ago
by Mark A. DeCou |
15 comments »
A Scrimshaw Art Journey: A Lumberjock’s “Short Version” of the Techniques for Decorating a Powder Horn
by: Mark A. DeCouwww.decoustudio.com
(This writing, photos, and artwork are protected by copyright by M.A. DeCou 11-11-2007, all rights reserved, please ask permission before using any part or component.)
Commerical Note: I get quite a few emails about how to buy my scrimshaw work. Most of my scrimshaw art and powder horns are done on commission, and take several...
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211 days ago
by Mark A. DeCou |
14 comments »
This is really just a Misc. Hodgepodge of Stuff Today, Nothing but a Country Life Update.
New Co-op Gallery:It’s been a busy couple of weeks here for me. I helped open a new Co-Op Gallery called the Prairie Past Times Antiques and Crafts Shop in Cottonwood Falls. I joined up, as it’s the hottest thing going right now for art in my little town. I put quite a few things in the store, and learned how to ring up the cash register. The new website for the little gallery is prair...
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577 days ago
by Mark A. DeCou |
12 comments »
I think it is really important to constantly try to learn new things. Could just be my ADHD. But, I’m too old for medications, so I take on new things to learn to keep my mind freed-up from boredom.
I just don’t like doing anything the same, more than once, or twice. And, I’ve been trying to find ways to make a niche for myself in the vast internet woodworking world. To that end, I try unique crafts, and do cross-discipline, mixed-media work, in the hopes that my work...
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360 days ago
by Mark A. DeCou |
11 comments »
I was tracking back hits to my website this morning, and one of them came from my previous blog. So, I read my own blog again, since I couldn’t remember exactly what I had written.
In that Blog, I talked about two things:1. My lack of communication technology to run my business2. A visit from a commissioned customer
Well, I’m still working on the commissioned project. Might be able to finish it up next week. I’m a little behind on it, but the drop-dead deadline is...
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1014 days ago
by Mark A. DeCou |
11 comments »
I wanted to tell a little more about my experience with crafting my own crown molding, and share a couple of lessons I learned along the way.
Previously, I showed how I formed and sanded the profile on the last blog of this topic, and so today I thought I would complete the task by showing the installation of the molding, and a few “gems” I discovered along the way.
First off, I made very sure that my cabinet that I am hanging this crown molding on was as perfectly square on...
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