Recently,I posted in “ Over the Fence” about poor quality items being passed off as “Art”,and charging an exorbitant fee for said items.
These are twin pouches I’m making for a very dear and important friend of mine and his “young” gun builder,(who is up there with the BEST!),and kind of what I was getting at.
At this point,I have about 50 hours in these two. And this is the first of @ 15-20 steps I use in finishing these pouches. I say 15-20 because as a life long antique restorer,my Grandfather taught me how to “Listen to your work”. Not everything finished the same. No matter if I’m restoring a 1780’s Irish Hall Clock(my personal favorite to do!),or a simple Country chair,each piece “ speaks to you”,IF you listen. Even though both of these use the same materials,except the lining,and same processes, they are already telling me different things. And I’ll proceed accordingly.
Is this art? I don’t think so,because these are made to be used! NOT admired!
Am I an “artist”? Nope. I’m a “Tinker”. A Muzzleloading Tinker.
My ego is such,that I don’t do the truly amazing shows,like Dixon’s and the CLA because I don’t feel my stuff compares to the truly great pouch makers. Ian and Mary Ellen Prat,Jack DuPrey,Curt Lyles,and so on.
These are my $200 pouches,and I’m hesitant to charge THAT much. Mostly I’ll either give them as gifts,shoot prizes or in trade. Yeah,I’m “poor”,but my heart and soul are FULL!
