Good Morning all y'all.. Welcome to KosKraft, Issue 28.
This Group is for all those creative kossack artisans, plying away at their benches. If you make things, please join, and maybe give us a look at your work.
After the vapor trail.
I have to say, this was an incredibly historic week. From President Obama's Occupy speech, to Madiba's passing, the Old Guard should be on alert. People put up with a lot, and then they don't!
For me, the winter malaise has given way to busy days, and not enough time to feel anything much at all, just knuckle down, and "git 'er done". I don't, normally, get Holiday rushes. For some reason, the end of the year does not bring increased sales, just fits and starts. Springtime is my busy season. During the Winter days, weeks on end of nothing, and then boom. This is why craftsman often starve. The boom and bust is not a consistent way to live or plan for the future.
Nowadays, a lot of people live from paycheck to paycheck. For the Artist/Craftsman, a weekly paycheck is a luxury, if not a dream. When they do get the work, all the monies go back into the resupply of stock, tools, and materials. When there is no work, it's time to sell the old furniture, and dust collectors on Craig's list. We cover it up well, though. " But, I love my work." is the common refrain of us deniers.
We can take hope that when we die, the art may be sold at auction for vast sums...lol.
Sara's quilts may one day hang in a Museum. Boran's paintings may hang beside them. Wing's jewelry may be treasured from generation to generation. My work is time limited. My belts will eventually be tossed aside. Holsters will be thrown in a box with the others that are no longer wanted. Cell phone cases will no longer fit the latest technological design. Pocketbooks will be ink stained, and in the closet pile. Wallets eventually swapped out. As my time is limited, so are my creations. For me, it's not the legacy, it's the making.
I was once a carpenter, a home builder. I built everything from condos to indoor swimming pools. I can, to this day, still ride through my home state, and point, "I built that." My children's children might be able to say granddad built that.
My work now, is more ephemeral. It's made for the here and now. "Pull up your pants, use a belt for cryin' out loud."
Speaking of belts, Okiciyap had a fund raiser, and I offered a Bridle leather belt as an incentive for donations. Some wonderful person helped them out, and I've sent the belt. Their kharma will outlast anything I've made.
Well, that's all for now.
All Kossack Artisans are welcome to join the group, just send me a PM.
In the meantime, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the KosKatalog. They do yeoman's work in there, and it's about as business close to supporting "local" as you can get on the inter tubes.
Another crafty place to hang around...
WAYWO
my links:
Rocky River Leather Co.
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