Mothers Day Sale 2011

Mothers Day is the perfect chance to get the moms in your life gifts that say thanks - I mean, seriously, who do we owe more than the woman that brought us into the world, unless perhaps it's the woman who is the mother of our children. So you can wait till a few days before Mothers Day and then run to Walmart and get some token gift that doesn't really say much except that she was an afterthought (been there, done that, sorry Liz), or you can place an order with me now to make something as unique as she is, that says you appreciate her in a personal way. Plus, these things take time to make, so your forethought will be obvious too.

So here are the terms:
$10 off of any bowl, limit 10 bowls,(place order by Apr. 11 for a segmented bowl, Apr. 18 for other turnings.)






$20 off of a Salt and Pepper Grinder set (Place order by Apr. 11)











$10 off of a Salt and Pepper Shaker Set (Place order by Apr. 18)







$10 off of any pen from the "Design Your Pen" page (place order by Apr. 18)

To cash in on this offer, don't use the "Order Now" buttons on my individual items - email me with your order and I'll send you an invoice. Thanks!!

I'm an Award-Winning Woodturner Now

This year I thought I'd try something new - I made a couple of extra projects that I think are really cool, and entered them in to the Weber County Fair. It was actually a little stressful for me. Your lay person usually doesn't notice the mistakes or flaws that I, as a woodturner do. Woodturners who see my work at the Farmers Market are too polite to be critical of my work. This was really the first time I put my work up to be objectively judged. Turns out I wasn't disappointed - all three of my entries received first place, blue-ribbon awards: The segmented bowl set, segmented Americana pen and letter opener set, and the segmented pepper mill and salt shaker set.

It was a huge honor for me to see my pepper mill and salt shaker figuratively and literally on the same level as a set by Bert Hamblin, a well known and accomplished local turner of pepper and salt mills who I've admired and been inspired by for a long time. See more of his work here.

So, as my sister-in-law and my wife said, I'm an award winning woodturner now. And of course, if you're interested, these award winning items are still for sale. Thanks!

Click on the pictures below to see details.

Update 9-22-10: The State Fair was great too.
Unfortunately the letter opener was stolen at the Farmers Market, but the pen won a blue ribbon, together with my squiggly European pen and letter opener set; the bowl set won a blue ribbon, and the pepper mill and salt shaker won a blue ribbon together with my Padauk and Maple Celtic Knot Pepper Mill and Salt Shaker set. Now I just have to decide what to make next year.

One-Of-A-Kind Segmented Wood Pens

If you've never held a turned wood pen, you really don't know what you're missing. Wood has a natural warmth that you feel - if you don't believe me, try holding your cheap plastic pen, or a metal desk pen, and then switch to a wood pen and you'll see what I mean - it feels natural, warm, organic. And when it's shaped for the way you grip a pen, it's like putting on those comfortable, broken-in, old boots that just fit right. You grow attached to your wood pen, and find yourself finding excuses to carry it in your pocket - and why not? They're cool!

As a gift, a wood pen says a lot - it's something that is truly a unique present - good for the person who seems to have it all and is hard to shop for. It shows personal attention and carries with it meaning - good for any number of occasions - graduation, Fathers Day, birthday, anniversary, wedding, or just so say Thank You in a special way.

I've enjoyed turning pens for as long as I've had my lathe. They're small discrete projects that I can start and finish in a single sitting if they're from solid wood. For a busy working father of five, long processes and detailed projects are few and far between. That's why it took me so long to move into doing segmented pens. It's a move I'm glad I made. I think the results are stunning. Each pen is completely unique. Here you will see three different patterns for segmented pens, each using completely different glue-up techniques, each with its own unique challenges. Shop for segmented pens here, or email me and we'll design something completely unique for you.

If you want to know how to make a segmented pen, email me and I'll be happy to give you a step-by-step. I don't mind sharing trade secrets!

Virtual Farmers Market - Facebook Group Only

Well, the Farmers Market was a success this year - originally the plan had been to use whatever money we made to increase inventory and buy some new tools, but it ended up becoming an important part of our family's income as things got tight - darned recession, you know...

Anyway, pictured above is most of the inventory I have left, and I'm offering it to members of my facebook group at Farmers Market prices - great Christmas gifts, if you're an early shopper, and prices much less than what I normally offer things for. See the list below. If you want to buy, don't use the "buy now" button on the respective pages unless you want to pay regular price, but rather, email me at mike@mikeswoodwork.net and I'll send you an invoice for the item at the correct price. Happy shopping, and thanks.

Shown in photo above:

Ambrosia Maple Goblet Set: Regular $100, Farmers Market $60

Cocobolo Salt and Pepper Shaker Set Regular $40.00, Farmers Market $25

Cocobolo 10" Pepper Grinder and matching 6" Salt Shaker: Regular Price $150, Farmers Market $100

Mahogany Platters: Regular $55, Farmers Market $40

Maple Square Bowl: Regular $30, Farmers Market $20

Purpleheart Square Bowl: Regular $35, Farmers Market $25

Walnut Bowl: Regular $12.50, Farmers Market $10

Ambrosia Maple Bowl: Regular $12, Farmers Market $10

Purpleheart Bowl: Regular $30, Farmers Market $20

Myrtle Bowl: Regular $35, Farmers Market $25

Faux Drawer Shelves
1-Drawer, White: Regular $35, Farmers Market Price $25
1-Drawer, Black: Regular $35, Farmers Market Price: $25
2-Drawer, White: Regular $50, Farmers Market Price: $35
2-Drawer, Black: Regular $50, sold




Rubber Band Guns
Single-Barrel Pistol: Regular $5, Farmers Market Price: $4
Double-Barrel Pistol: Regular $7.50, Farmers Market Price: $6
Rifle: Regular $12.50, Farmers Market Price: $10

Penny Hockey

12"x16" Board: Regular $20, Farmers Market Price: $15

8"x12" Board: Regular $15, Farmers Market Price: $10

Keyring Consecrated Oil, Perfume, or Essential Oil Vials

Regular: $20, Farmers Market Price: $12 - sorry, all have sold.
Pictured from left to right: Ambrosia Maple(sold), Walnut(sold), Purpleheart (sold), Blackwood (sold), Olivewood(sold), Elm (sold), Padauk (sold), Zebrawood (sold)

Harry-Potter Style Magic Wands

From left to right:

Ebony and Holly: Regular $28, SOLD
Yew: Regular $18, SOLD

Myrtle: Regular $18,SOLD

Walnut and Alder: Regular $23, SOLD
Yellowheart: Regular $23, SOLD

Purpleheart: Regular $23, SOLD

Alder: Regular $18, Farmers Market $13

Holly: Regular $23, SOLD

Pens and Pencils

From left to right:

Padauk and Chrome Slimline Pen: Regular $35, Farmers Market $20
Cocobolo and Black Titanium European Pen: Regular $50, Farmers Market $30

Tulipwood and Gold Titanium European Pen: Regular $50, Farmers Market $30

Purpleheart and Chrome Slimline Pen: Regular $35, Farmers Market $20

Olive and Gold Titanium Slimline Pen: Regular $45, Farmers Market $25

Blackwood and 24K Gold Rollerball Pen: Regular $45, Farmers Market $25

Kiatt and Tactile Rubber European Pen: Regular $40, Farmers Market $20

Blackwood and 24K Gold Slimline Pen: Regular $35, Farmers Market $20

Carob and 24k Gold Slimline Pen and Pencil Set: Regular $65, Farmers Market $40
Black and White Ebony and Chrome Slimline Pen and Pencil Set: Regular $75, Farmers Market $50

Zebrawood and 10k Gold Jr. Gentlemen's Twist Pen: Regular $60, Farmers Market $40

A Good Year of Great Projects

A little over a year ago I got my start with my lathe. I had been burned out on woodwork for a while from taking some risks - spending money on materials and then not selling projects, or taking too much time on jobs. Once I got into woodturning, though, it was fun again. I made my first bowl, and thought it was way cool. Then I came up with a new business plan: NO drawing from family money, period. Make stuff from wood I have on hand with tools I already have, and then sell it, or take custom orders. Use half the profit to buy more wood and tools, the other half goes into the family finances. And set up a web page for custom orders. My wife was a little skeptical at first, but I was confident that it would work out, so I set up my page.

I still remember the first email I got asking about stuff. I felt like the scene from Tommy Boy about "JoJo the Idiot Circus Boy" who gets so excited about his sale that he loses the business, tearing up his dinner roll - youtube it if you want. Great clip! Then, about a year ago - start of April last year anyway, I closed my first sale from my web page - $500 of custom frames for a school fundraiser. My business was off to a great start. Of course, that's the biggest order I've had, but it was great.

Since then I've had fun. I've "met" interesting people across the country, and expanded my product offerings to over 120 items.

I've learned that woodturning is my favorite and that I will sell woodturning things for less than what I should because I enjoy it so much. Any excuse to work in woodturning is a good one - see the spindles in the jewelry display...


I've learned that wood pens don't sound that exciting till you hold one and use one, and then you can't help but become emotionally attached to it - see the comments on a purpleheart pen I made, for example.

I've learned that kids still love wood toys every bit as much, if not more, than action figures and things that beep and flash. And to sell magic wands, it works well to give a kid with siblings a wand for his or her birthday and then wait till Christmas for their parents to order wands for the rest of the kids.

I've learned that, for whatever reason, Penny Hockey boards sell, but Penny Soccer boards don't. Go figure.

I've made some people very happy with their orders - the segmented bowl set here got me the comment "You have no idea how happy these bowls have made me. "


And sadly enough, I've learned that what I think is beautiful and striking isn't always beautiful and striking to everyone - this bowl got me the comment "I have put the box in a spare bedroom for now and will deal with it all later. I don't even really want to look at any of it just now; I need to clear my mind first. " You see, she didn't like the white spot in the wood. I was very sorry, and offered to pay shipping to have her send the bowl back and replace it with one without the sapwood, but she wouldn't do it. I think that if she was really that upset, she would have taken me up on my offer. Anyway, one unhappy customer out of over 36 in the last year, though more than I would like, is still not too shabby.

So it's been fun. I've made some cool stuff, and made most of my customers very happy with their custom-made stuff-Woodwork, By Design. My wife and kids now get excited about it and have even started making their own projects

This next year should be good. Coming soon: Salt and Pepper shakers, Salt and Pepper Grinders, ceiling fan chain bobs, a page dedicated just to magic wands, a chess set, cutting boards, a smaller rocking horse, an American Girl sized canopy bed by my wife, and more. Thanks to all who have helped support my habbit this last year. And to say thanks for reading my blog, mention this post and get $5 off your order. See you in the woodshop!

Corporate Gifts - Hand-Turned Wood Pens

As the holidays approach, businesses often look for a special way to thank key clients, employers wish to thank their staff, and employees often contribute as a group for gifts for their bosses. There are a myriad of companies out there that offer cheap products, mass-produced marked up drastically in order to include a painted company logo. If it is the thought that counts, well, perhaps such gifts represent an opportunity lost. Why not give something unique that shows real thought?

My hand-turned wood pens are all made from natural solid wood, and finished with clear natural shellac for a glossy-finished, one-of-a-kind pen. Parts are the Artisan brand components, for quality and durability. You can choose from one of ten part finishes, and any number of native or exotic wood species. And each one can be shaped differently for comfort and style. The result is a unique, beautiful, personal gift that shows the recipient that what they do maters. I had one client say about his pen, "It's a bit of a conversation starter. Not to mention it looks great, and is an addition to any well organized desk. I also like to think it shows a little something about the person who carries it. Gives off a refined professional touch to any aspiring entrepreneur. Shows class and style. Accents your intentions as a businessman." I couldn't have put it better myself.

So visit my pens page today and design the pens you want. Email or call me for a price quote. Give a gift that they'll appreciate for years to come and show those whose business or service you appreciate that they matter to you. Happy Holidays!

What's in a Pen Anyway?

Earlier this week I got a phone call one evening, while helping a kid with homework, from someone I'd never met before, who immediately apologized for interrupting me at home. "That's the cost of having a home-based business," I said. Well, his name was Omar and he was after a specific pen. He had browsed through my Pens page pretty thoroughly, and told me exactly what he wanted, from the type of wood to the shape and finish and type of metal components.

I worked with Omar to get it just right, and made his pen, which you see above. Honestly I think it turned out great. I picked the most interesting piece of Carob wood I've ever seen, and it turned and finished nicely. I thought, though, that Omar might have a story behind his order, so I asked him. This is what he had to say:

"Well as far as my story goes regarding wooden pens. About 5 years or so ago, my father gave me this Semi-assembled build your own pen kit. So I decided to make this pen. I had to sand the wood and finish the wood and just snap it all together. When this pen was finished, I was hooked!! I wrote with this pen for about 4 and a half years!! I refilled it when needed, and my pen was good to go. I appreciated the pen because my father gave me the kit and I put it together. I always carried it at work, and brought it home with me. Whenever I took my pen out to write something people would comment about it, and ask me where I got it. Its a bit of a conversation starter. Not to mention it looks great, and is an addition to any well organized desk. I also like to think it shows a little something about the person who carries it. Gives off a refined professional touch to any aspiring entrepreneur. Shows class and style. Accents your intentions as a businessman.

Now anyone, can just go buy a nice pen, which leads me to you and why I chose you to help me replace my 'little heirloom' Originally i was looking on line to find the same kit so I could make the pen myself. That's was a huge reason why its was important to me. I checked all these sites and I could not locate it, only the kits where you built it from raw materials. Then I started to lean towards buying a finished pen. I again searched several sites, and I came across yours. Nice web-layout by the way! I started to read the descriptions of the pens and was intrigued behind the story's of the different woods. So I again hit the Internet looking at and reading about different woods. I'm a spiritual person so I was drawn to the wood referred to in the bible. Thus I knew what kind of pen i wanted.

I was looking to order right away!! I found some on some other sites, but as I read your site I seen an evening PH# so I called, and the person who answered the phone said that you were busy helping your kid with his or her homework. I pretty much decided right then and there to order from you. Once you got on the phone and we were talking about the different woods and metals, I felt comfortable ordering. I could tell you are detailed craftsman that takes pride in his work, and also makes time to help the kids with homework!!! Awesome!!! Can't wait to get this pen."

Omar, the pen ships Monday morning, and thanks for your business. You know, my wife thought I was a little nuts when I started marketing pens, because it's true that a Bic that comes in a pack of 12 for $1 will do the job. But then, of what practical value is a necklace? Or why buy an expensive watch when for $5 you can get one that will tell you the time as good as any? It's nice to see someone else who appreciates a nice custom-made wood pen for all the reasons I keep saying they're great. Thanks again, Omar, and it's been a pleasure.