| "Tomatos you're falling behind", "Don't worry we'll catchup!" |
[Mar. 19th, 2008|01:37 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  hopeful | ] |
Sorry for the lack of posts for some time. I got back from a very unsuccessful Knife Expo, just in time to get ready for the SCA's Gulf Wars. That lasted all of last week. Now I'm getting ready for the SASS Smokey Mountain Shootout, that starts a week after tomorrow. From there it is on to the Rossini Festival in Knoxville next month. The end of May is the Blade Show in Atlanta. And July and August brings the two week long SCA event called Pennsic War. Plus a lot of other events I can't remember right now. (sheesh!)
Knife Expo was a major money loss. They rescheduled the event for a very busy weekend and attendance was WAY down. I am very much considering not attending again unless there is a major change in the show and an even bigger one in the economy. In fact for that weekend in Feb, I am thinking a return to the SCA's Estrella war is starting to look good.
After returning from Knife expo, I had three knives to repair. The Tulip Wood handles on one of the Green River knives shrunk badly. So badly in fact that it never went on the table. I tore them off when I got home and replaced them with some Tulip Wood I Stabilized. I also had shrinkage on the ebony handles of the Sgain Duhb's. But it was minor enough that I was able to put them out at the show and just buzz down the brass bolster and pin flush when I got them home.
Gulf Wars went very well. It was the first fight of our new DIXIE GUN Marquis Pavilion. Other then being too small to both merchant out of and live in (I already ordered a second one so we have one to live in and one to sell in, and even with two of them, it will still cost less then a Panther or Tent Masters for the same or smaller size)), It worked amazing well. At the start of war the Pavilion shook off an overnight long soaking rain storm. And on the last day of war it handled some pretty heavy winds (they lifted the rented commercial dining tent), without any problems at all.
The classes I tough at Gulf War's were very well received. With the only problem being the afore mentioned high winds canceling the second forge welding class for safety reasons. All told I manged to get in 11 hours of instruction over the week, before being shut down by the wind. I sold five knives over the course of the war. Which isn't at all bad considering no one knew my work before seeing me there. I figure next year the knife trade will pick up. Likewise my wife did well with her amber and hats. But it should pick up as well when our reputation gets better known.
Next week is a complete unknown. This will be our first try at merchanting a SASS regional event.
This week has been all about insurance. Insurance for the kennel and vendor insurance so we can get into the larger events (Like Pennsic). For that we found some clown to handle the coverage. That is Clowns of the US, with their Vendors of the US plan through the Specialty Insurance Agency. Real nice people, very easy to deal with.
Tomorrow is Thor's Mountain Metal workers meeting at our home. The topic will be Forge Welding. As I didn't get to teach the second class of that at Gulf Wars, I have more of the class materials already. I just need to run out today (our day off turned out to be rainy (grump!)) and pick up some 1/4" square steel rod to make the rings that are the first practice welding project.
I also need to get my web site back up to date. Especially in terms of getting my current stock on hand updated.
Scott B. Jaqua
Hagerson forge |
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| Comments: |
Bummer about the poor sales. We were up north in San Jose for Pantheacon, it's a blast. And it's in a hotel!
so tell me, does your new Marquis have mud/sod cloth/flaps?
I've got a line on a used Panther that I'll be buying soon :) Just need a ground cloth for it. Yay me.
Mud/sod cloth/flaps??????
I'm thinking the answer is no. But then I don't really know.
Panther has sod flaps which fold under the tent poles to help keep rain and mud from drifting under the edge of the tent. I have a line on a used Panther for $500 without the flaps. I'm thinking perhaps I could shave a foot or six inches off the poles and then fold the fabric under. Maybe.
I'm having fun these days with my new chihuahua. Lots to learn about a different breed.
You wouldn't have liked going to Estrella this year anyway. Arctic cold with lots of rain, rain and rain and wind. And that was just during the day.
So how is the wedding present coming?
Wedding present not so fast. It's pattern welded, profiled and has it's tang welded on. The rest of the grinding has just started. I have it and one other custom order I need to get hopping on. The other is ready for it's handle. So I'll advance your knife to the same point and work on both handles at the same time.
Arctic?????
By yours or your hubby's definition? Oh you who has lived in So Cal WAY too long. | |
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