My head is still spinning. Just getting to the show has been a trial. This was my third try to get past the jury process. I’ve heard about how hard it is just to get accepted into the show. So in my innocence I figured I’d go all out and bring everything. That meant getting a booth. Hauling everything up there. Setting it all up. A good bit of time and money involved.
Part of getting ready was getting all new tires on my “good” truck, a 96 GMC with just about 100,000 miles. It made it two hours down the road before the radiator blew and I had to turn around and nurse it home. This all happened on labor day so everyone is closed. I ended up hooking my trailer up to my other truck. The 95 Ford with 180,000 miles, old motor, bad transmission, horrible brakes, bald tires, broken window. Did I say you smell gas if you drive it too slow. Half way there we stop and I find a nail in the tire. A little further down the road at a gas station I come out to find a large green pile of fluid under the radiator! I’d just over filled the reservoir …thank God!
Tuesday was set up day. I had to get proof we had a Lumberjock in attendance.
Wednesday the judges did their thing. That evening we had a reception for the artist at the National Museum Of Wildlife Art. I started out building picture frames for my wildlife art so this was just up my cup of tea.
The next three days the show was open to the public. My juried pieces set out in front of my booth. I’d never even done a local show so I didn’t know how people would respond. 
It was real hard to not just walk around in awe of the great work! Wow it was amazing. What a great place to be a “mediocre” craftsman.
Thursday night they had a fashion show. Drug kicking and screaming…well I knew my wife wanted to go so I graciously accompanied her. I guess I was expecting that urban dress up anorexic girls in weird Halloween rejects and call it high art type show. This old construction worker loved it. Girls in cowboy hats and leather are hard to beat!
The artisans I met and the inspiration of the collective creativity made it all worth the effort. I don’t know if I have a single sale. Bad business decision…maybe. You will see the effect of the show in my work. If this show doesnt improve my level of art I’ll be shocked.
Monday back installing cabinets just sucked. My heart just wanted to start a “real” woodworking project. I’m thinking a small box…
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
20 comments so far
Karson
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12887 posts in 881 days
posted 386 days ago
Dennis Glad to have you back. Good luck on your next commissions.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
David
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1818 posts in 620 days
posted 386 days ago
Dennis -
First off congratulations! WOW, what a great experiene. Very cool to see phoos of our work and booth. I am sure this will effect your work and I am excited to see what is in the future. Thanks so much for sharing your exoerience.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
Roger Strautman
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496 posts in 614 days
posted 386 days ago
Dennis,
I will have to say you jumped in with both feet for the first time. Your adventure sure sounds like my first carving show I participated in, you’re just not sure what to expect right from the get go. Your pieces look GREAT set up in your booth. Good luck in the future.
-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"
Bob Babcock
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1807 posts in 567 days
posted 386 days ago
I’ve been waiting to hear how you made out. Congrats on getting there….sounds like a trial by fire.
I can’t believe it will be a bad business decision. It had to be very inspiring. Maybe your next piece needs a carving of girls in cowboy boots…:)
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
Bob #2
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1942 posts in 502 days
posted 386 days ago
No one that tries that hard will ever be denied.
Best of luck to you whatever you choose.
The world needs more folks like you.
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
CedarFreakCarl
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357 posts in 534 days
posted 386 days ago
Dennis,
Those are awesome pieces to put it simply. You’d never know if you didn’t go. Great job!
-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC
scott shangraw
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214 posts in 550 days
posted 386 days ago
Glad you made it there!!!Just give it time on the sales end I just now finalized a large order from a customer I met at that show three years ago.You just never know when they will call.Your booth looked good .Any other pictures from the show?
-- Scott NM,http://www.shangrilawoodworks.com
Buckskin
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483 posts in 469 days
posted 386 days ago
It sounds like you travel like I do… never a dull moment. I hope you enjoyed your trip and it looks like you put a great foot forward. It takes time and who knows you may end up busier than you want. Good luck!
MsDebbieP
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11905 posts in 641 days
posted 385 days ago
Congratulations!!!—on going; on taking the opportunity; on all that it has inspired you to do/become…
what a wonderful experience!
(cool shirt. Made me smile).
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Thos. Angle
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3236 posts in 443 days
posted 385 days ago
Dennis,
I thought I posted this yesterday. You deserve congratulations for getting in and getting there. Whether it was profitable or not , you did it! The experience alone is worth a lot. I wanted to come over for a day but the boss told me I was too busy and we needed the money for something else. I was there in my thoughts. It will make a great memory and wll look great on your website. Well done, my friend.
Tom
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
jockmike2
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4128 posts in 727 days
posted 385 days ago
Dennis, what guts it takes to put it all out there like you’ve done. But your wood art is worthy so you should be proud, it’s as good as any I’ve ever seen. Great experience for you though, glad you made it there and back safely. Beautiful things you made. mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
schroeder
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474 posts in 606 days
posted 385 days ago
Way cool Dennis-looking forward to seeing how your work changes – thanks for the blog! (wish I coulda been there)
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
dennis mitchell
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2931 posts in 795 days
posted 385 days ago
Thanks everyone! To add to the story you will now find me riding around in a red 2005 F-150…So that pushes the show over the $25,000.00 budget. Now I will have to raise my prices.
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
MsDebbieP
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11905 posts in 641 days
posted 384 days ago
you know what they say, if you want to BE rich you have to ACT rich :)
Let’s see a picture of your new tool (the truck)
And… did you meet any LJ’s at the show??
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Max
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5845 posts in 754 days
posted 384 days ago
Dennis,
I would like to add my congratulations on you getting into and too the show. I would call you a “mediocre” craftsman. Far from it….. The proof is your booth at the Western Design Conference…. You should be very proud of yourself, just like all of us Lumberjocks are of you…... GREAT WORK AND A GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
Max
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5845 posts in 754 days
posted 383 days ago
Dennis,
I just re-read my comments above and noticed a big mistake, It should read I would not call you a “mediocre” crafsman….. I appoligize!!!!
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
dennis mitchell
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2931 posts in 795 days
posted 383 days ago
LOL..at that show I was happy to be mediocre.
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
kjwoodworking
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142 posts in 368 days
posted 367 days ago
Hi Dennis,
Mediocre….I don’t think so. Nothing about your work seems mediocre. The pictures of your booth were cool and so are the ones of the land outside your shop. I live in SC right out of Augusta GA now..not by choice as much as circumstance. I dream of living in the mountains with snow on the ground now and then.(I’m not that crazy, notice I said now and then) Working in my shop making a living doing what I love. I’m jealous.
I think your very talented and it will only get better from here on out.
-- Kirk H. -- http://www.kjwoodworking.com
DAN
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3191 posts in 464 days
posted 334 days ago
awesome work ! looking forward to seeing your current stuff !!
-- ..... art for lifes sake
Russel
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1229 posts in 420 days
posted 333 days ago
Great stuff. And I hope to be as “mediocre” as you someday.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.