Have you ever noticed how much inspiration comes in the mail? Damn,I thought I just paid that!

Moneys tight, everyone's on a budget and Christmas is just around the corner! I don't know how
you people think but I spend this time of the year making smaller, less expensive pieces, I'm
not talking junk, just thinking gifts. I would rather sell a truck load of smaller carvings than
gamble my time on some ego trip!...Best of luck...R.L.


It all boils down to bills, beans, beer and Levis.

This is true , however there seems to be a science behind it too..Being I live in a cold Winter state , it gets difficult to finish ( Paint/weather proof ) large carvings that won't fit in the livingrooms .. Not many of us have indoor heated work areas , so it's easier to bring the smaller work indoors ( Bedrooms, livingrooms, kitchens ) which seems to work out with the holidays.. You do have to watch the fumes too.. I just happen to have a paint room but it also has 4 steps to wheel in what I want.. Nothing easy in the Winter/ Fall..

I do use Japan Driers when it's cold out on all my oil based paints.. You can cheat a little..I'll stain works too if it's above freezing..Poly just doesn't like the cold..

It'll be Ridgway time before we know it.. Then there is the warming time..

Yup, BeeGooDe, Tone

tHAT'S THE DUMBEST THING i'VE EVER HEARD! wHERE IN HELL DO YOU GET SMALL PIECES OF WOOD?

sTEVE, I thought you probably parked your P.O.S. unmaintained fork lift on your foot, since I haven't heard from you in a while, been nice!

Hope that work release program is working well for you!...R.L.

For your information, I'm not falling for that forklift on the foot Idea! What happens if you run out of propane and you can't reach the throttle? I'm not stupid you know! Cheeeesh!

sTevE Bl(an)charD

And the truck too! Where are you suppose to get the truck?
Amazing!

Steve B (lanchard)

rl i think your right on your carvings size and price matters my question is what product mix and price size range. pictures also thanks

Buzz, I'm not saying the large concepts will not sell! but if you have them in inventory back
it up with smaller carvings, your customers will determine the direction you should go!

If I have three wooden Indians and one cowboy, if the cowboy sells, I don't run out and make
another Indian!...Best of luck...R.L,

rl what mix do you keep this time of year ? bears,bears and mo bears or bears,eagles,owls, i had a customer from texas jasper county i have a few and was wondering what they buy and just do not want to carve 20 years before i figure it out thanks

Your right on RL.

But dont wait till winter to make the bread and butter carvings. They sale better then the high dollar carvings all year long. And make variety, variety, variety.

I know that I carve a bunch of little carvings myself. Hillbilly bears with overalls, colored in blue,red,green, cute little bears. It its not just cute bears it eagles,raccoons,flowers,benches with slab backs, trees. If I keep my price range under 100.00 dollars and provide people with a nice 2 foot tall carving that we all know took maybe 2 hours to make. That translates into pretty good money if your to sell 2 maybe 6 of them a day 4 days a week. I can tell you this me being a new carver and having a passion for carving taught me quick that I needed to work the little logs. Plus its firewood. ITS FREE!! Like Pat would say, "Carve or Starve". I don't like minimum wage.

Buzz, Indy stated it very well, variety! I think the key to surviving in this business,
bad economy or not, is diversify! Have as wide a variety as your skills allow. If the only
carvings you have are bears, and they stop selling you have nothing too gauge by, price? size?
area saturation?

I have been carving much longer than you my friend, but don't assume I have it figured out!
This is only my opinion, take what you need and trash the rest...Best of luck...R.L.

R.l's Right. You should have at least three fork lifts. Especially if your in the snow. That way if you get one stuck you can have one to sell and still have one in the spring.

StEvE Blanchar(d)

sTEVE, check out the earlier posts about carbon monoxide! you need a BIG fan...R.L.

That's a good idea R.1. How many fans do you think you should have? I was tHinkinG that maybe one big one and several little ones, depending on how many inlets you have. And if you have one of your forklifts inside for heat. especially in the winter. While i'm on the subject,how many cords do you have? Maybe you could send one to A.Jay. I hear it gets pretty cold out there in Minnysota without a forklift/

SssTeve b

indy has it going on and variety is the key thanks guys

Or you could park them all and call it a re-tire-ment plan. ....as each tire goes flat from lack of use.... you'd see your re-tire-ment plan grow to maturity. .............of course it's ONLY a plan.

Finally someone is making sence!

Hey A>J> is R*L* secretly sending you an extension cord? How many fans do you have?