Metamorphosis
I'll share something with all of you : this weekend during a family BBQ I was asked how many places I've lived at, meaning homes. Since the day I was born we counted 38. 38 houses, living rooms, efficiencies, apartments, bedrooms, dining rooms, etc... Comfort has always been a luxury, permanence is a luxury, peace is a luxury, being debt free is a luxury, just being free is a luxury. We tend to take those things for granted or maybe they don't factor into the lives of so many people. And thats ok, I'm just sayin.
You might ask what does this have to do with furniture? Well, it does a whole hell of a lot! Furniture is basically the tool that allows you to get work done comfortably/efficiently, try and say any table will do, sure : but its a luxury to have a table with soul, concept and meaning. Just like your story, and mine. Any piece that will go through my hands will be given that spark that makes it more than just a bunch of wood. I would hope you consider it more of a guest. That you'll take it along on that journey of yours, that metamorphosis that is life from being broke to making it, or from making it to being broke. All that we have takes the journey with us, it all accompanies us during the ups and downs.
In the USA the journey of becoming financially "free" sometimes requires destruction and discomfort. That discomfort is enhanced by the fear others put into you into thinking that if you leave the comfort you'll never achieve it again. That is the key to keeping you powerless...Fear and uncertainty are the basic tools of some people's business plans : not here not us. If you have never tried to break free, then you don't know. Take my word for it : it isn't comfortable (it isn't supposed to be), nothing is certain (nothing is supposed to be) only your skill and tenacity will get you to that goal post (nothing else) not one other soul will get you there, except you. The world owes you nothing. Except for what you carve out for yourself and for those you care for, and that includes my clients.
So to those that are going through their own metamorphosis my hat is off to you, to those who have [please buy my stuff when ready], to those that aren't don't worry we are here to share our journey, products and life's work with you! Our struggle will only make a better product for you, because we know that if we care enough about the things nobody else cares about we'll be providing a product that you want, in a manner that is responsible, efficient and affordable.
Thanks for reading my blog, and if I owe you something don't worry you'll get it back...
dl.v
PS. A whale dies, a man makes money from the meat, another from helping the other carry the meat to market, the other makes money from taking a picture of the dead whale and the man who makes money from its meat, another man makes money from taking a picture of a man taking a picture of a man who sells whale meat with an assistant. That whale didn't know how much it was helping our system of currency and exchange: I only hope it passed its legacy on back in the ocean, all the while its carcass feeds another species [who would have harpooned it in the open ocean regardless]. Welcome to planet earth.
This signature changes lots of things…
With that signature, lots of small businesses will have the ability to gain the tools they need this year and still have working capital to invest in staff. Sometimes some victories go to one side, and other times to others... Who cares about sides really, its just good to see a victory for the little guys...
I've been busy with "secret" plans, you'll see. My trip was successful, and the future looks very bright for this furniture collection. I spend MANY MANY hours creating those models for the trip I took, and the models came and went without ONE incident. I checked them in my bags! Packed with perfection inside of a Tupperware container going [not glued], and returned on a larger Tupperware container also packed in water soluble packing peanuts, the models traveled over 2000 miles in the belly of Jet Blue's Airbuses intact! It took an entire day from 8 am to 7:30 PM to assemble and glue the models...
Wait till you see them...
dl.v
io non posso commentare…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oquendo/1495734313/
I can't document the craziness going on right now. Hectic cannot define what is going on in this office/shop... Big big big iBig trip coming soon... Will post about it later...
dl.v
If you have a son, take him here… Airventure Oshkosh
#1 thing on dad and son todo list should be this : Airventure @ Oshkosh. It is THE definitive gathering of airplane aficionados on the face of the earth, PERIOD, bar none. In another two years or so when my boy is a little bigger, we'll see you there...
dl.v
60/40
One point before I move on: I welcome criticism [good or bad] but this discussion was a bit "forced": rather than offering solutions to what is a LONG and arduous process, his comments felt like they needed to be countered, until I realized that I don't disagree... Age gives you wisdom and at moments like that you use it: although I am working on a million things a few issues stood out to my friend and they bothered him enough to ignore it all and focus on those issues that mattered to him. I appreciated his rigor and timing, I only wish others would be as diligent in dishing out their gut feelings as soon as it hits them: they think they'll be received with force but the truth is the ONLY way you make a high quality product is by increasing your rigor by MANY folds, even if you are a hard ass, knit picking, type A, perfectionista. If you play golf you know what I mean, "ay que apretar cuando el tiro esta dificil".
As an Architect you learn to never fall in love with one scheme, over time you learn that you need to tread much water before you reach the shore of your solution. Even then you'll always question this decision over that decision [its confusing like that]. When "Making" anything you realize that you must have targets or thresholds or standards that you must stick to: some lie only in your head because the finished product isn't there to be criticized yet and the rush to create will only further obliterate that rigor, so put on your armor write down your thoughts and keep pushing.
So here is to friends with guts who keep the doers shooting straighter and more precise.
dl.v