Osage Roost
General Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: stevelumma on September 23, 2013, 11:41:14 PM
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I was sitting in my shop the other night , and got to thinking how great the last few years have been in my callmaking career.
I started making wingbone calls when I was 14 years old. 20 years later, I have grown out of a shoebox that included a few dried out domestic turkey bones, a pocket knife, a section of metal clothes hanger, a spool of thread, a couple of sharpie markers, some white elmers glue and some cotton balls to a really fantastic shop with some pretty amazing tooling.
When I first started, I just wanted a call that would work, and I had no intentions of making anymore after that. Well I got into decorating them , and just couldn't stop. I'm guessing I made 50-60 calls before I got into other things like driving, girls etc..... I made a handfull in that time, but there were funner things going on.
In 2004 My wife got pregnant with our first girl, so I decided to set up a really makeshift jewlery shop in the corner of our basement, and hand carve wax jewelry models to make some extra money at home. I literally carved 3 or 4 waxes at home before doing work after work wasn't very inspiring.
I can remember taking a break from my work and looking around stretching my neck and spotting my old "shoebox" in the far corner of the basement. I grabbed that little box, brushed all of the wax carving tools off of my jewelry bench, put all of the contents of that box on the bench top, and never looked back.
The reason I mentioned this chain of events is that callmaking for me has always been an artistic escape.
I absolutely love making jewelry for a living, and look forward to going to work everyday. I do know that when I go to work, I have specific jobs to do, and follow the instructions on the job ticket.
I always know that when I go home, I have a work bench in my basement that I can "escape" to and let my mind and my materials go in any direction.
Over the last few years I have been blessed to have made a lot of friends and customers in the callmaking community. The amount of support for me and my work has been more amazing than anything I could have dreamed of just a handful of years ago.
Anyone who knows me can tell you that what I love most about making calls is making the absolute best call I can possibly make,ascetically and in the sound quality .
I sometimes drive myself crazy because I want every detail to be as spot on perfect as my eyes,ears and my hands can make it. I don't work this way because I have anything to prove , it's because that is the very part I love.
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I have had a lot of support in the last couple of years in terms of orders. THANK YOU to those of you who have ordered from me.
While I was in my shop thinking the other night about how amazing it has all been, I also thought about how my "list" is taking away that freedom I once had when I first started making calls.
My list has seemed to have turned into my at home job ticket that tells me what I need to be doing instead of letting me do what my mind wants to do.
With everything being taken into consideration, I have decided to stop taking orders.
I figure it will take a year or more to fulfill the obligations that I have commitments to. After I fulfill those obligations I plan to just concentrate on making calls and artwork that excite me to run into the shop.
I will still make all of the same types of calls,jewelry and artwork I make now(and possibly expand to other types of calls) and offer them for sale as I get them finished.
I think that in time you will see better and more exciting work coming out of my shop, just maybe a little less of it.
Sorry for being long winded, but I wanted everyone to know where I am coming from.
Thanks again for the continued support from my friends, family and my callmaking family !!!!!! Steve
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STEVE YOUR WORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BLESSING TO SEE HOW GOD HAS BLESSED YOU WITH A TALENT SO GREAT, I STILL HAVE THREE WINGBONE CALLS THAT YOU MADE FOR ME IN TRADE CALLS YEARS BACK, THEY ARE PART OF MY LIFE OF CALL MAKING IN MEETING YOU OVER THE PC AND MAKING A FRIEND, STEVE ENJOY WHAT GOD HAS BLESSED YOU WITH, HIS HAND HAS TOUCH YOU IN A SPECIAL WAY, MY PRAYERS WILL BE WITH YOU.
PSALM 89:15 BLESSED IS THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW THE JOYFUL SOUND, THEY SHALL WALK, O LORD, IN THE LIGHT OF THY COUNTENANCE. STEVE I BELIEVE YOU KNOW THAT SOUND, SO WALK. YOUR FRIEND REV. MIKE ALMOND
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Steve:
I read yesterday and I cant remember where: a person who works with is hands is a laborer. a person who works with his hands and his mind is a craftsman and a person who works with his hands, mind and heart is an artist. you definitely fit the last definition. I know exactly where your coming from and wish you the best.
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Ya summed it up well Marlin and Rev Mike- spot on when it concerns Steve.
Steve, keep it like you need to- ya can't loose that passion and TALENT that ya have.
This is probably a move that will allow all of us to watch Steve set even more heights in his creativity- good luck and can't wait to see what ya do next as always Steve *up*
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Steve, We all have run up against the "List" and understand how it takes the fun out of call building. Complete yours and get back to what it is that makes call building fun for you. Be sure to post up what that creative mind of yours comes up with. We love to see your talent shine.
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Steve, Marlin said it all! I have always admired your work and talent. I hope you never loose you drive to do what you do. RkLu RkLu RkLu
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"LIST" You have a "List" *peep* *peep* *peep*
I'm always happy for you Steve *up* *up*
Great to be your friend *cheers* *cheers*
Dave
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Steve, You are a true artist in every way..Your work is amazing..I cant wait to see what your creative mind brings next...I am Glad for you and wish you all the best.
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I was going to type how great I think you are but instead I'll just wish you the very best. *cheers* MY FRIEND
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Steve, I have always admired your talents, now I can look forward to what you will come up with knowing it is something you want to do, other than filling you have to do it. God bless you my friend.
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Steve, We have admired your work for years *up* You are a talented gentleman and I wish you the very best and continued success !!!!!
Thank you for your friendship !!!!!
Mike
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Steve you and I had this conversation when you were down to visit and I personally respect your decision. You are one of the most talented artist I have had the pleasure of meeting. If it has turned into more of a job than something that gives you great pleasure and relaxation then it's definitely time to downshift. Perhaps we can chase some whitetails this winter to help detour things.
Take care my friend and hope to talk to you soon..
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Steve
With the God given talent you possess, it is only fitting you have the ability to do what you do, best.....using you mind to create that one of a kind master piece, time after time! I am very proud to have some of your fantastic works of art, in my collection.
Bill
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I truly appreciate the support everyone. Love you all !
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You absolutely should build what you want to build! I, for one hope you still find a little time to build a few hunter grade weapons on occasion as one of your God given talents is tuning a hunting call to be a killer!
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Don't worry , I will still build hunting calls. With a bit of time to fine tune I'm hoping they will be even better than they are now. That definately one of my long term goals.
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Steve, You have truly arrived. Best wishes for the new chapter.
Ralph
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Steve,
I can't disagree with one thing that I've read on this thread. To say you are an artist and are talented is an understatement. Your work speaks for itself. I wish you the best with your upcoming endeavors and can't wait to see them. God has blessed you with this, now go explore it, my friend.
Fred