Woodworking of White Wolf Creations
I'll start with a digression... Apologies in advance 😃
MANY years ago, a vendor of mine at a logistic company I was working at was retiring. He showed me a lathe turned bolt-action pen he had made and said this is my retirement plan. I was amazed both at the quality of the pen and his statement. We talked for a bit and he handed me the pen as a gift. When he left, I immediately stashed the pen (for fear of it growing legs), pondered his plan for a bit and then, quite honestly, forgot about it.
Not too long ago I came across his pen again and remembered our conversation. Retirement? I never truly planned on retiring rather figured I would eventually, as I age, find a position that requires less travel, hours in an office/warehouse, or even change careers to something with less responsibility as a whole.
Either way, I have been a hobbyist of various sorts my entire life. All the way back to Legos (who wasn't), when personal computers first hit the scene, and then electronic project kits. This was all before the age of 13. Couple this with my grandfather's ideology that "if something needs done, we do it ourselves" which led to me learning about tools, engines, woodworking, and more as we did all repairs and remodeling ourselves. This lead to a short period (pre kiddos) that I had a small workshop where I made trinkets, toys, and other decor with wood. I remember being very pleased and relaxed while doing this as I often thought of my grandfather, my childhood, and wanted to 'make' things for others.
Fast forward to present day
Now that I am older, with grandchildren on the horizon and decades of waking up too early and working far too many hours in a day/week, retirement is starting to sound more realistic - as it my vendor's retirement plan. I had recently come across his pen again and after hours of staring at it and remembering how much I enjoyed woodworking, I ordered a wood lathe and the supplies to make various pens. Now I am NOT retired yet, nor will I be very soon but I did not want to wait. After all, it is easier to purchase the tools you need while you have an income.
This was just beginning however. After months of turning and learning, I was creating pens that I was proud of and people wanted! I moved onto other turning projects like tools, toys, bowls and plates. I started combining other hobbies into my turnings like resin, electronics, and even 3D printing as well as expanding beyond turning into additional woodworking projects (and tools).
