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My Interest in Pens

How I Became Interested in Handmade Pens

At heart, I am an artist. I love helping people and working with my hands. All combined, my goal is to become a musician, and inspire others through the language of music. 

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My father and brother have enjoyed working with wood and making pens since I can remember. We've done many projects together over the years.

I watched my brother as he learned valuable and fun skills.  I loved looking at all the different types of materials that were used in production of pens. I saw many hand turned pens coming from the workshop and it fascinated me. Finally I asked my brother if he would teach me.

After hours spent learning how the equipment works, and assembly, William let me try my hand at making a magnifying glass pendant. I made one and kept going!   I sold three the first month after I finished them. It's a family love for woodworking that kept us in the shop.  My father had his grandfather's old Montgomery Ward's lathe in the  basement. It had sat there, unused (rusty, no motor, no stand, nothing but basically the cast iron bed) since I was born. 

The lathe was refinished. It was sanded, scraped, and all the rust was taken off, they greased it, oiled it (no ball bearings, have to constantly oil it), put new belts on it, put a new motor on it, built a stand, bought the turning tools, and all the other little items you would need to get the lathe working again.  I was young so I watched with excitement. We are certain it would have been less expensive to purchase a new one. But, over 70 years later, the lathe came back to life, and I used my great grandfather's lathe as my brother and father had done.

I certainly wish I could tell you that the first pen came out perfect. But, alas, no such luck. I had to learn the craft, just as everyone else has ever learned a skill. Slowly, with patience and perseverance. But, over time, I believe I have become good at it.

But, I enjoyed it from the first moment. Still do.