My latest interest of woodworking has enticed me into creating custom-made canes and walking sticks from domestic and exotic woods that may include other found materials and objects such as antler, gemstones, etc.. [Nothing is safe if it stands still long enough for me to catch it.]
Previous interests include designing & manufacturing beaded jewelry, organic gardening, koi ponding {REALLY expensive hobby}, home renovations (I love to tile!) and now wood. I am designing and manufacturing the canes myself, learning techniques as I go with the initial tutoring from my husband. I hope to learn enough to create furniture and sculpture, more like sculptural furniture . . .
I have taken over my husband's basement woodworkshop, but at least I order all the tools now and I vacuum up at the end of every day! All the tool cataloges are mailed in MY name. Some of my interests can be viewed at www.gallerymh.com.
I am currently trying to fund a major project to provide our ergonomic canes to wounded warriors through the VA system and/or private enterprise. Please visit my posting Canes For Wounded Warriors
http://lumberjocks.com/topics/26512 for more information. While my attempts to gain recognition via the contest for the grants failed to qualify my projects, these failures to fund this interest have only increased my determination to get our ergonomic canes to our wounded vets who need a quality walking aid to assist them in their daily activities.
Any questions can be posted on the forum or sent to me directly via personal message.
Many thanks!
Meilie & Michael
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
25 comments so far
cajunpen
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11578 posts in 2236 days
#1 posted 1892 days ago
Welcome to LumberJocks. Enjoy the community.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
GaryK
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10263 posts in 2158 days
#2 posted 1892 days ago
Welcome to LumberJocks! Enjoy yourself.
-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX
Grumpy
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17840 posts in 2021 days
#3 posted 1892 days ago
Welcome to Lumberjocks. This is a great community of people with like interests.There is much to learn here & you will have the opportunity to share your skills & ideas with others. I hope you enjoy LJ’s as much as I do.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Scott Bryan
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27262 posts in 1992 days
#4 posted 1892 days ago
MMH,
Let me welcome you to LJs. I hope that you will find this to be an exciting and rewarding part of your woodworking adventure.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
mmh
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3036 posts in 1892 days
#5 posted 1892 days ago
Hi Guys,
Thank you for the warm welcome! Yes, I am learning that this is an expensive hobby. I am just learning woodworking and enjoying collecting all sorts of woods to work with, not to mention the tools!
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
Max
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55745 posts in 2443 days
#6 posted 1892 days ago
Glad to see that you have made Lumberjocks a part of your Woodworking experience… Welcome
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
mmh
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3036 posts in 1892 days
#7 posted 1892 days ago
Here are some examples of my canes that I have done so far. I got interested in making them watching my husband make a few for himself and I researched the different styles of canes out there and most of them are not too cute, especially the aluminum ones. I have always loved using my hands and wanted to get involved in wood, as the basement is a wood workshop that my husband has been putting together for himself and used mainly to renovate our 1950’s circa home. We conquered the kitchen and two baths ourselves, he did the wood work and I did the tile. I’ve run out of projects so now with his blessing and tutoring I’m taking over his woodshop. [He let me retire so I could do this full-time! After chores I run down to the basement.]
I am still creating new designs and have a basement full of exotic & domestic woods to choose from. I am currently working on a Manzanita root handle with Black Walnut shaft and another one of Pink Ivory handle with Purpleheart shaft. The combinations and designs are endless. I’ve yet to do much with the antler I bought, but hope to work with it soon. I need to figure out the best way (strength & aesthetics) to join wood/antler together.
My favorite wood that I’ve worked with so far is Black Walnut. The Claro walnut can sometimes be pretty hard but no where as hard as Afromosia or Snakewood. Maple with it’s different figuring is fun too. My favorite cane so far is the Quilted Maple handle with Fiddleback shaft.
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
mmh
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3036 posts in 1892 days
#8 posted 1892 days ago
My photos aren’t showing, so you’ll have to visit my site: http://www.bigstickcanes.com .
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
rikkor
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11296 posts in 2044 days
#9 posted 1891 days ago
Welcome to LJ. You will like it here.
gene
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2185 posts in 2053 days
#10 posted 1891 days ago
Welcome to the wonderful world of LJ’s (Enjoy) Come on in, The water’s fine, fine, fine. Happy, that you have chosen to join the family.
You can ask, show, teach, learn, and Share woodworking experiences.
There’s something here for anyone that likes working with wood.
Plus new friends
God bless
-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia
PanamaJack
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4472 posts in 2247 days
#11 posted 1890 days ago
We welcome you to the one and only LumberJocks. We hope that you enjoy your stay/visit each and every time you show up on our door step. If you should need any woodworking question answered, don’t hesitate to ask. Somebody’s gonna have a good answer for you.
-- Carpe Lignum; Tornare Lignum (Seize the wood, to Turn the wood)
Karson
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34370 posts in 2570 days
#12 posted 1888 days ago
Welcome to LumberJocks. Glad to have you aboard.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
mmh
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3036 posts in 1892 days
#13 posted 1667 days ago
There sure are a lot of nice, friendly people here. Where’s the coffee & cookies?
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe
gjd
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18321 posts in 1822 days
#14 posted 1530 days ago
Congratulations! This coming week you will have been a Lumber Jock for 1 year! Thanks for your participation.
-- gjd Southcentral Wisconsin
Steuss
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30 posts in 1700 days
#15 posted 1530 days ago
mmh—Thanks for the boost for my BowlSaw. We are slowly getting this tool off the ground. Two new customers in England last week. Seems the overseas market is better than the locals. They aren’t afraid to try something new. Send me a photo of what you made with the unit and I’ll put it on my website. Dick
-- Dick, Novato
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