Laffing Horse Crafts

This is where I’ve been hanging out on Saturdays. It’s great on the electric bill, I don’t have to go to the gym, and I don’t have to sweep up when I’m finished (it’s outside).

The foot lathe is one of the historic crafts I demonstrate at the Ozark Folk Center.

I’d be VERY interested in hearing from other people with foot powered wood-working tools. At a recent craft show, I saw a gentleman running a treadle scroll saw and it got me to thinking…

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… or something like that.

People are getting unhappy with me because it’s taking so long for me to get the orders out to them. I don’t want unhappy people!

I’ve also taken the positions at the Ozark Folk Center and that cuts into my shop time… and I need to be building up stock for other shows. And then there’s the Mountain View Area Artisans Council, Ozark Woodturners, Arkansas Craft School, and Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour.

Oh, and I would like to put in a garden, too.

What’s that mean? That means that I will be filling all orders currently placed and then stepping back for a bit. I’ll still take orders, but it will be with people that understand that these – for all their simplicity – are not items I can or will just whip out. No schlock here! I’m making art…or at least some really pretty, usable tools.

There’s another reason I need to step back for a bit. My creative process is calling and I can’t leave it on the back burner any longer! I’ve had so many orders as of late that I’m beginning the feel like an assembly line worker.

This is good news for my loyal customers and for those searching for the next great item from Laffing Horse Woodworks. Now, instead of seeing yet another set of crochet hooks or knitting needles or another TriLoom – we all know what they look like at this point – I’ll be putting up some new products. Some, I’m sure, will be one-of-a-kind!

To recap, if you’ve got an order in to me, don’t worry. I’m getting them done as fast as possible while maintaining my high (and getting higher) standards. If you want to place an order, go ahead, but be aware that it might take me quite a while to complete. Also be aware that, although I do try to get items done on a first-come first-served basis, some items take longer and get spread out over a period of time with other, smaller, faster items intersperced. If I really did make everything in order as-ordered, I’d be many months behind instead of a couple weeks!

For those of you not wanting to wait: I wish you the best of luck in finding what you’re looking for, but don’t forget to come back here and check from time to time… I’m making a minor course change, not stopping my progress.

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Things have been flying by so fast I don’t kow what I’ve written and what I’ve forgotten to write. I think I’ll just write a lot and hope that you, gentle reader, will forgive my lapses.

I was asked to fill in in the broom shop at the Ozark Folk Center in, I think, December. I, at that time, did not know how to make brooms but they had that covered and offered me a broom making class which I took. What fun! So now, I make brooms.

While taking the class I was informed that they did not need anyone to work the broom maker’s shop, after all. I was upset… after all I had invested bit of time and money in the learning and the acquisition of supplies and tools… but I figured I had enough to do and I’d just keep being a broomsquire as a hobby.

Back to the woodshop!

Then the Ozark Folk Center called again and asked if I could sub in the Spinner’s and Weaver’s cottage. I said no. I was tired of folk telling me what I was doing was woman’s work and having to explain that, indeed, in a time when one could not walk into a store to buy clothing or even fabric spinning and weaving was EVERYONE’S job. But the head of the cottage had asked for me by name so I capitulated. I would work Wednesdays.

The fellow that was working the broom maker’s cottage then managed to slide off the road and total his car and break his collar bone. He’s basically OK, but it’ll be a while before he can tie a broom again. We’re all pitching in and keeping him in our thoughts. We’re hoping for a speedy recovery.

Anyone care to guess where I ended up?

So I’m in the broom maker’s shop on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (I had to train a young lady to spin and weave – she got the one-hour crash course and is progressing nicely – to cover for me on Wednesday’s over there). I’m at the foot lathe on Saturdays.

I’m also feeling quite honored as other crafters in the crafts village have seen me at work and seem to be impressed with my diligence, willingness to learn, and creativity… they’re lining up to have me as apprentice. I once joked that in under five years I’d be able to work every house there (there’s about 24 houses with… lessee now… blacksmithing, candlemaking, old time print shop, instrument maker, photography, soap making, wood cookstove kitchen, jewelry maker, cooper, furniture maker, quilter, bodger, seamstress, spinning and weaving, woodcarving, gardening, potter, knife making, leather working, doll making, basket making, art (2D), and I’m sure I’m missing something)). Now, I wonder if the Powers That Be took my joke seriously and are going to make sure I live by it.

Meanwhile, I’ve been working on the website of the newly formed Arkansas Craft School (not much to look at yet), the Mountain View Area Artisans Council website (it’s the formal name of the group that set up the Artisans Market on the Square), the Ozark Woodturners Website, and writing up biographies for us for the Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour. I’m also setting up classes for next year’s Folk School and in-season classes at the Ozark Folk Center.

Oh, and I still am spending plenty (never enough, it seems) of time in the woodshop… if you’re missing an order, I haven’t forgotten you…

Busy busy busy!

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