Enjoying shop time again

Since my last relapse, I have really struggled to back to where I was in my recovery. One of the things that truly angered me was my inability to enjoy my time in the workshop. I continued force myself to to work, and was able to, but got little to no enjoyment out of what I loved to do.

After talking to my healthcare provider and adjusting my medication, I am happily enjoying my shop time. Years ago my buddies would call me ‘This Old Vincent’. Combining, This Old House, and Norm Abrams, analogies. I was always building something or working in the shop. While I was out in the shop the other day it just popped into my head I had a little laugh. Then I started thinking about some of the good old days and I noticed I was actually smiling to myself! Even though some of the guys have passed, I remembered them from those times. I miss them dearly and wish they were still here, but I am happy for the time they were in my life.

Mostly I  have been doing some turning. It’s starting to get really hot in there and I have limited power. I am working on fixing that so I can get an air conditioner going. I have been having some luck with selling lately, and  I am looking into some more ways to market. I’m really trying to get this venture moving forward. I’ve accepted a part time job that should start within a month or so. Working with 17 to 21 year old kids transitioning out of fostercare into independent living. The main focus will be cooking their meals but I will get to teach them some cooking skills.

 

Fly Fishing Flies Assortment

For any Fly Fishers out there! Check out her products. They look like good quality flies!

Completed projects

Finally got back to work! Made more than a few cutting boards and have them listed on Etsy. I’m really starting to enjoy my time in the shop again. Just making some items and listing them for sale gives me that sense of accomplishment.

Black Walnut burl approximately 12″ x 15″ x 1″

11½” Diameter Oak and Maple cheese/serving board.

The link to the store on Etsy is here-  http://etsy.me/1rT. I have a few items for sale. If you see anything you like you can purchase it here by making a donation in the amount of 10% off the Etsy price of the item. Email me and I will ship it at no extra cost. See the donate link in the sidebar.

10″ x 13″ x ¾” oak and maple serving board.

Getting back on track after these setbacks in recovery are very crucial to my long term health. Being able to analyze the way I felt the last week is a huge step forward. It was not a complete relapse, but mainly a flu that caused some feelings of depression and anxiety. Before starting recovery this would have lasted for two or three weeks opposed to six days. So the progress is there and measurable!

Oak and Maple serving board

I’m up to ten followers and a bunch of likes! You guys are all awesome! When I started writing this blog I never thought anyone would even read it, let alone follow me. Thank you all so much for reading and commenting. I appreciate the words as well as reading your blogs. I get inspiration from your stories and from the poetry. You are all very talented!

Thanks for listening and tell me what you think, be honest I’m a big boy.

Positive thoughts lead to positivactions. -Me

First week thoughts

Out fishing and I saw this!

It has been one week since I launched the blog! To my new friends who are reading and coming along on this journey I say welcome and thank you! I was reading a post in Virtual Vomit  she said it best “I don’t like calling y’all followers because I’m no leader of any sort.” I like to think most of us are all in this together. We are all just looking for our own version of normalcy.

Now that you have read a few of my thoughts and  know what I am up to, I would like to hear a little feedback. We all, I think, are looking for some type of acceptance. Maybe not validation, just to know that there are people out there that “get it”. Please take a minute to write a couple words and let me know your thoughts. Also I am pretty open about my issues, if there is anything you would like to know just ask.

As the blog continues I am also going to get into woodworking a little more. I am going to keep focused on my recovery and the issues that lead me into depression and anxiety. So when I get off track for too long I hope everyone will reign me back in.

Thank you all for reading!

Please subscribe if you have not already! Check out the link to my Facebook page as well, and a GoFundMe.com campaign you can search serenity shop woodworking to donate if you can.

 

 

Serenity Shop Woodworking mission

Part of starting this venture is to help people with similar conditions, to be able to work towards recovery. The therapeutic value I receive from getting into the shop has done wonders for my mood and for motivating me to get up and get going.

Having that something in your life that gives you joy and a sense of purpose is very cathartic. During therapy and recovery you need to have and acknowledge the good things and small victories in everyday life. Depression can be so intense that even though you have supportive people telling you good things but you need to actually feel good about something you do. Then you need to allow yourself to feel good to know you are worthy of happiness. It takes some time to get to that point. You need need to start with very little things like getting out of bed, taking a shower, or doing some laundry.

My shop!

When you get to the point of getting into a routine you can’t forget to add things you enjoy doing. Once you start the daily grind of going to program, doctor appointments, grocery shopping, work if you are able, and every day life it’s easy to forget to take time for you. For me it is the workshop. After meeting some people and talking with them I’ve found some don’t have that outlet or they would like to try woodworking. I want to offer some basic classes for people interested, at no charge, to see what is involved and if they would like to learn more. I’m looking to get donations to start the classes and want to transition them into a self sufficient program. Mass producing quality items to fund the tools and materials needed to keep the class functioning.

How I deal when I can’t deal

There are still days I just want stay in bed and not deal with my depression and anxiety! The days where the mere thought of moving seems all but impossible. Maybe there was some stress yesterday or I didn’t get enough sleep, sometimes there just is no reason. What can you do on those days?

Well, I’m still figuring that out. Currently I try to find something I can use that was a win. A good thing I did it that happened, even just a small accomplishment might be enough to give you the momentum you need to get up. On those days I absolutely need to get into the shop!

As long as I can physically get myself into the shop I can always motivate myself to do something in there. Even something as small as cleaning the bench and organizing the tools helps me clear my head. Getting out of my head can usually break me out of my funk.

Learning new skills and trying new things

Learning how to do things I was not comfortable with our was not in my skill set did not come easy. It took a while for me to be able to openly speak in front of the group in recovery. Once I started I found it wasn’t as hard or frightening as I thought. The same thing happened with journaling. I discovered I enjoyed writing, a lot!

Getting back into woodworking this new found pursuit of learning new techniques and skills carried over. I had been making relatively simple products and designs. Now I wanted to start stepping it up! The cutting boards I had been making were simple edge grain boards. I would joint the edges and glue them together. Cut them to length, rout a decorative edge, finish sand, and they were pretty much complete. Now I wanted to make end grain boards.

Maple and Black Walnut edge grain cutting board.

End grain boards have a few more steps involved. The boards all need to be the same dimension before the first glue up. Then you glue them like they are going to be a regular edge grain board. Once the glue dries I then cut it across the board to make them the the same size again.

After being cut and then glued again.

If you want the checker board look you need to flip every other one end for end before you glue. Then you glue it up and clamp it again. After it cures you clean up the glue, rout the edge, finish sand, and cost with good safe mineral oil.

Black Walnut and Maple end grain board.

#cuttingboards #endgraincuttingboard