Over the years, people have come to work in the shop. Buddy's dad used to come up often after he retired, always working on something. He made picture frames, and quilt racks for all us kids and grandkids. Buddy's sister, Sue, is said to have the family sawdust running in her veins, also. She started working in the shop back when she was still teaching and started making wooden games and toys to bring to the classroom and to sell for extra cash. She and her husband quit their day jobs (both teachers) and now have their own business making education games, selling to school systems and home schoolers - Muggins. Sue has her own shop now, but still comes down occasionally for something she needs. She knows she is welcome, and knows where the key is, but always calls first out of courtesy.Buddy was between construction employment for quite a while at one point and started making wooden crafts for sale, doing the craft show circuit. During this time, the shop was running full time, with all of us out there helping at one point or another. Melissa, Carrie, and I were taught to run a few of the tools to help Dad out. Then he would go out peddling his wares, sometimes taking one of us with him.
But for the most part, the shop doesn't get much use now, just for occasional projects. This time of year, though, it becomes more popular again. Handmade gifts always seem better to give, and of course the price is right! Buddy has made quite a bit of Intarsia (see lighthouse picture above) and scroll work for gifts, and our youngest daughter, Carrie, has become quite proficient at it, also (see picture at left). Melissa even tried it one year, making some ornaments to give all the family members.One of Buddy's coworkers came over Saturday to use the band saw to make some log slabs to use in his Christmas present makings. Carrie is coming over tomorrow to make a couple of presents, Buddy always has a project at one stage or another he is working on, and Melissa called last night wanting to know if they could hide some Santa stuff in the shop…
Buddy's boss once shared his philosophy on the purpose of the woodshop, saying that it was not just a place for tools and wood and projects, but a destination, an escape. When the wife and kids were just a little too much, he could say "I have to go work in the shop." When I think about it, this rings very true. My dad had a shop he would escape to, and for the life of me, I cannot remember any project that ever came out of that shop! I guess everyone needs a place to escape to from time to time, whether it be a workshop, sewing room, going shopping or to the movies, or even just mental escaping with a good book or even a computer.
I am looking forward to seeing all the creative gifts coming out of the shop this year, it's kinda like the North Pole!
