| Project by cabinetman | posted 630 days ago | 822 views | 0 times favorited | 9 comments |  |
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Got out of the Army in 1970, and was unemployed and married. Couldn’t find a job, but had a degree in business and was in Special Forces. Tried to get a job with different police agencies (before there was SWAT), they all thought I might have latent aggression. Can you believe that? Anyway didn’t want to be a mercenary cause I like living, and living in the US. So, that’s my history.
Oh yeah, back to the story. LOML and I went to a weekend arts and crafts show and a guy there was selling handmade lamps. I looked at them and thought, “I can do that”. The next day I went to the lumber yard and bought what I thought I needed.
We had a two bedroom apartment and the floor was my workspace. The lamps were made from 1” thick cork, cut in strips, glued together like frames. Then I glued on the inside colored plastic K-Lux panels, and mounted hanging hardware at the top. Took them to the flea market and hung them from a 2×4 on top of two loose bi-fold doors. The first weekend none sold. After a few weeks, I got better at the design and quality, and didn’t sell any then. As I was packing up a woman asked If I would come to her house the next night and show them to her husband, I said “I can do that”.
When I got there she had 6 – 8 neighbors over, and they went wild and about half of them ordered lamps. I took deposits and was so excited, that when I left the house, I forgot to put my samples in the trunk, and backed up over them.
Fortunately I scored that night with deposits, because LOML was ragging on me to quit making a mess in the apartment. So, the real story about cabinetwork evolved when I would be in houses installing the lamps, they would ask “Can you make a cabinet for over there?” My answer was “I can do that”.
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9 comments so far
frank
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1389 posts in 695 days
posted 630 days ago
Hi Cabinetman;
—-yes, I can also relate to what you have said here. Great story, I have a small blackboard I picked up at a yard sell some years ago that sits in our kitchen on a phone table. On it I have wrote these words: I CAN DO!
I also know what its like to build furniture at the kitchen table and then have to keep the area clean so as to keep peace in the house. That why I always tell folks that one can build furniture anywhere as long as they have, ‘doggedness of persevrence’.
GODSPEED,
Frank
-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/
Obi
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2152 posts in 726 days
posted 630 days ago
Last year I converted our spare bedroom into a “mini” shop while the LOML was on vacation. It’s easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission. My brother was the first to instill in me “Can-Do”. Then while studying the scriptures, IT said I can do all things, and that all things were possible to those who believe. If they could do it, I can do it. Can I get an “Amen” ?
-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/
cabinetman
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140 posts in 633 days
posted 630 days ago
AMEN!!!
Dick, & Barb Cain
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5089 posts in 789 days
posted 630 days ago
Nice Story!!
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
HatchetJack
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8 posts in 631 days
posted 630 days ago
Great Story, That is a fine example of how a person can Improvise, Adapt, and overcome
-- Quite is Good
MsDebbieP
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11945 posts in 650 days
posted 630 days ago
and so you were guided to the gift that you were given and meant to share!!
Hallelujah for those lamps.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Don
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2586 posts in 666 days
posted 629 days ago
Great story CM. An inspiration to us all, I’m sure!
Quote Obi: ”It’s easier to get forgiveness than it is to get permission.”
This is a great line. Can’t wait to use it.
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/
Nils
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116 posts in 354 days
posted 224 days ago
CabinetMan – a great story for those of us just getting started too. Reminds us that it’s OK to start small.
-- Nils Davis, Menlo Park, CA
Sergeant_Chad
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13 posts in 242 days
posted 129 days ago
Hooah.
-- “If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting” - Jack Handey