Barry Gross demonstrating at MAPG
The Mid-Atlantic Pen Gathering is in the history books for another year and all who attended gained some knowledge, shared their experiences and most importantly had fun! 😀
Kurt Hertzog offered his insights on pen making, Roy Robaldo offered tips on nibs, Charlie Wortman turned between centers, Bruce Robbins and Bill Walters showed how to thread and I demonstrated how to clear cast items on pen tubes.
Kurt Hertzog at MAPG
Happy participants at the MAPG
Come see all the latest in Pen Making at the Mid-Atlantic Pen Gathering… Door Prizes – Education and more…
Empty booth at last weekend’s show
This past weekend I attended the American Art Marketing – Wadsworth Museum Show in Connecticut. This was the first year for this craft show, so I expected the attendance to be low, and it was very light in attendance. Most of the exhibitors around me had light sales, and some of the exhibitors did not even make their booth fee and expenses! Luckily, I had made my booth fee and expenses, with a slight profit.
Stabilization Chamber & Cactus Juice
This coming Monday, April 20, 2015 Barry will be at the Bucks Woodturners meeting to explain his wood stabilization chamber – the one that uses Cactus Juice!
Cactus “juice” is a professional grade heat cured resin for stabilizing and hardening wood and other porous material. It is especially effective on beautiful, punky, or spalted woods that would otherwise be too soft to work with.
Copper Bangle Bracelet with turquoise
Barry’s also going to demonstrate making a bangle bracelet with a seamless metal core.
Bucks Woodturners meetings begin at 7:30 PM in the woodworking studio in the Hicks Art Center building of the Bucks County Community College, Swamp Road, Newtown, PA.
Click here for directions to the college:
Click here for a Map of the campus:
If you live near the Philadelphia suburb of Bucks County, here’s more info about this woodturning group: http://www.bucksturners.com/
Barry demonstrating at DelVal Woodturners Group
I want to thank everyone who attended the Pen Making Demonstration at Del Val Woodturners meeting the other night in Moorestown, NJ.
The meeting was very well attended. There were many questions from the audience ranging from tool selection to finishing techniques.
There was even an unanticipated “bonus” demonstration. I had to repair the Spalted maple pen blank that I was turning because a piece “blew” off! (I know, you didn’t think this happened to professionals) Once it was repaired, no one could tell where the piece blew out. It was a good lesson on repairing a blow out. Learning little tips like this is a great way to save frustration, time & money.
Thank you for hosting me, I had a great time!
For more information on Del Val Woodturners see www.delvalturners.com
A nice turnout at the DelVal Woodturners Club
Thank you to DelVal Woodturners, I had a good time!
Gone to Kansas City, Kansas City here we come… as the song goes, we are off to Overland Park International Trade Center for the next edition of the The Woodworking Shows. Last week at the Indianapolis Show each seminar session was filled with pen makers asking questions. and learning new techniques on pen making and finishing. All three of the 2015 shows so far have been very busy, and we are glad to assist people with their questions. I look forward to seeing, and discussing pen making, with all of you at the upcoming shows in your area. Here’s info on the show:
http://www.thewoodworkingshows.com/webapp-shows/kansas-city
“Hot Stuff” Medium CA Glue
One question I continue to get is:
“Why do I have white spots on my CA glue finish, or why does it crack?”
There are many variables like using the wrong accelerator, or being too close to the surface of the CA glue when you do use the accelerator, or not using an air compressor to blow out the fine sanding dust before you put your CA glue finish onto your pen blank. I have found that the main culprit is using the wrong CA glue! I only use Hot Stuff CA glue. I have been using that brand for over 35 years and I have NEVER had an issue with white spots or cracking with any finish I have applied! I have pens that I put a CA glue finish on over 10 years ago, and they still look great!
8 Hardwood blanks for only $5.95!
We have a lot of new pen blanks in the “Specials” section of the website that are in VERY limited quantities so act fast to get them! Just for example, look at the Hardwood blank photo on the left. You get EIGHT hardwood blanks for only $5.95, that’s less than 75¢ per blank! Stock up now for all the upcoming craft shows. These blanks are great for your less expensive pens, and a great way to make back your show expenses!
American Eagle Bolt Action Pen Kit
Also, check out the “New” section of the website to see all the new pen kits we just got into stock. There are over 30 new products on 2 pages. Since they’ve been moving pretty quickly, if you see one that is “out of Stock”, get on the waitlist for that kit because new ones will arrive early next week.
So if the weather holds out – (it is snowing right now as we’re leaving) we will see you in Kansas City! ( hopefully)
Happy Turning!
Pepper Grinders with Color Block wood.
The crowds came out, and all the artists at the show all did well! Top sellers at this show were the new pens! Sierra Grip, Glacia & .45 caliber pens kits. (Customers liked the “click” action, and sound, of the .45 caliber)
I took 10 of the new Sierra Grip pens and they sold in the first two days (I wish I had made more) – All the Glacia pens sold, and of course the bolt action, ..45 caliber and the 50 caliber pens continue to be great sellers.
I only had time to make 8 of the pepper grinders using the color blocks and they sold out! People love the “old fashioned” antique look of the pepper grinders. Alligator jaw and pine cone pens did well – I could go on about all the pens but it was a great show – we sold well over 75 pens!
Barry Demonstrates at the Sacramento Woodworking show
Last weekend we had a very successful show in Sacramento, thanks to the newly released Skull Pen from PSI and the .45 caliber pen!
Thanks to all who attended our seminars this past weekend in Sacramento! Each seminar, on all three days, were full of people standing in the aisles trying to see what we were demonstrating. The pen finishing techniques seminar is always well attended. Woodturners want to see the quickest and best way to apply a CA glue finish!
I am always amazed at the creativity that pen makers have when it comes to casting your own pen blanks. There were some very unique pens made with the resin casting kit. I hadn’t seen these before, and they were very nice – great work Wayne!
We are now getting ready to make another cross country journey to the land of the “Ducks” up in Portland Oregon. So if you are in the great north west, stop by and see us at the Portland Expo Center this weekend.
Thanks & Happy Turning
Standing room only at Barry’s Costa Mesa, CA demonstration
Last weekend’s Costa Mesa Woodworking show was a great success! Every seminar was packed with so many people that they were standing in the aisles. The just released Octa Mini Tool™ and .45 caliber bullet pens were very popular items. All the finishing products, especially Odie’s Oil, continue to be big hits.
This weekend we’ll be at The Woodworking Show in Sacramento, we have a special on the Milescraft pen press. Purchase a pen press, and we will give you a FREE 7mm Colt drill bit AND 2 Buckeye Burl stabilized pieces. These pieces can make TWO Sierra / Gatsby pens!
New Skull Pen kit
Just released!
Here is a close-up of the brand new Skull Pen kit from Penn State Industries, and we are the ONLY ones to have them at the Woodworking Show Only! So come on down and see us at the Sacramento Woodworking Show to see the newest pen from Penn State!
Happy Turning – Barry
We just completed back to back shows at Paradise City Art Festival & Morristown Crafts Marketplace. Both of these shows are upscale Art & Craft Shows with the booth fees in excess of $700. I was speaking with many of the artisans at these shows to see how they felt about sales & attendance. I did not get answers to any of my questions, instead it just raised a few more. From my experience at these shows, they have been trending down slightly for the shows that I have attended for several straight years.
Have you seen the same trend?
What is the definition of a bad show for you?
If you have a bad show, and everyone’s definition of a bad show will differ, but mine is a reduction in sales from the previous show by more than 15%. That is what I consider to be a bad show. I am not complaining, because some of the venders did not even make their booth fee and travel expenses back – now that is a really bad show!
No matter what the reason, if you have a “bad” show then you have to really take a global look at some of the reasons and not simply say “the other venders did not do well so I am okay.” This is like he old adage “misery loves company” I never want to have that attitude! Honestly, I don’t care how the other venders did, I want to do better! I take a look back at the show and try to evaluate what I think went wrong. Do you do the same?
Did the promoters not get the crowds there?
For example, the other night at our show there were only 790 people that came through the door! That simply is not enough people!
Were your prices too high?
I have seen some pen makers charge $200 for a Baron made with a very nice burl – but $200? I sell them for around $100 depending on the material. That is what my market will bear – is your market the same?
Did you have something different that no one else has?
Did you have some different items that would attract a crowd?
One such item that I sell a LOT of is the old style pepper grinders (PSI204) made with the color blocks – I sold 10 of them last weekend for $65 a piece! Everyone that went by my booth loved them.
Are you seeing a trend for your sales going up or down?
Traffic is lower, but are they buying?
What do you think are the reasons? Economic, saturated market, too much competition?
I would love to hear some feedback from other turners who attend shows. What’s it been like in your area?
Use the comments section below to chime in. I’d love to discuss it with you so we can help each other do better!
