Jake Helmboldt
03-28-2012, 10:05 PM
So a few weeks ago I posted my first hollow form which I had turned for my daughter's annual school auction and fundraiser party, and which was done as a tribute to a dearly loved teacher that died suddenly and unexpectedly this past fall. The sweet gum stump the burl came from was on the school playground and I drew some inspiration from the parallels between that big stump and Phil's life.
Well, it went for $475 so I was thrilled that a) it helped raise a nice amount for the school, and b) someone found the piece both beautiful and moving. I was suprised at what it brought in, but as my friend noted after I got off stage giving the back story to the piece, "that was a $200 story". It was a joy to turn, though unnerving at times as I feared I would destroy the thing. Phil really brought a lot of joy to folks, and it was fun to see the genuine joy that people got from seeing that piece and the bidding activity it generated. I'm smiling thinking about it. :)
Well, it went for $475 so I was thrilled that a) it helped raise a nice amount for the school, and b) someone found the piece both beautiful and moving. I was suprised at what it brought in, but as my friend noted after I got off stage giving the back story to the piece, "that was a $200 story". It was a joy to turn, though unnerving at times as I feared I would destroy the thing. Phil really brought a lot of joy to folks, and it was fun to see the genuine joy that people got from seeing that piece and the bidding activity it generated. I'm smiling thinking about it. :)