![]() August 5th was a big day for little old Hendywood. We hit 1000 sales! It was exciting for us, lol! How did that happen?... Since my father was a carpenter, I grew up in a wood shop. As I grew older, I kinda lost touch with the wood. Sad, really. In 2004, I told my hubby I wanted a table saw for my birthday, something to cut wood. I figured if I could cut the wood, I could build something. I was getting a hankerin' to get back in touch with the wood. Well, wouldn't you know. God had other plans. I got the table saw for my September birthday and was learning how use it, but in November that year, life took a left turn. I had to spend some time battling and recovering from thyroid cancer. It took me away from my wood and saw for a while. But it's all good! The cancer went away and I dug the saw out and cranked it up. I worked on larger projects, like furniture and it kicked my butt. I debated doing this, because I knew, if I liked it, it would only cost more money. - I signed up for a bowl turning class at Woodcraft - It was December 2007. A Jet mini lathe showed up under the Christmas tree that year and my life took a right turn. That little lathe has not stopped since. The number of bowls started to pile up! I called them Didit Bowls if they worked and Dammit Bowls if they didn't. Fortunately, there have been far more Didits than Dammits. Ha! I needed more space ~ OR ~ get rid of some of this stuff. I'm a teacher. The kids at school call me Mrs. Hendy which is fine with me. I started throwing around ideas for a name for my work. Another teacher (who's last name was Wood) put Hendy and Wood together and the name 'Hendywood' was born. - Now what - http://www.Hendywood.Etsy.com ![]() April 6, 2008. I remember it was a Sunday. My husband thought I should read an article in the paper about a website called Etsy. You could sell handmade stuff on there and make it your own website (as long as you followed their rules). I decided to give it a go. I figured out the basics and ended the day with about four bowls up for sale on the World Wide Web. It was a scary time. I sent word out to people I knew and wouldn't you know, within a week I had a sale. I 'bout peed my pants when that happened. My sweet sister-in-law bought the bowl in the picture. I will never forget my first sale... Below are some of the early pieces. After a while, let's say a few years? I noticed people were buying and my style was evolving. I started working with stones, glass, and metal, adding a little variety. I also added a new Etsy shop. http://www.HendysHome.Etsy.com Below is a peek at the the evolution, lol. Buttons, silverware, charms, gemstones. It's all fair game! I even got back to the sewing machine, something I learned in my childhood.
Over 1000 of my handmade items are floating around the world - incredible. And it all started with "I want a table saw. I need to cut wood." Take a look at my work at http://www.Hendywood.Etsy.com and at http://www.HendysHome.Etsy.com
2 Comments
Dennis
8/8/2012 02:04:43 pm
You make some really nice stuff!! By the way, this is really me . . . not some joker hacking my 'puter. ;-D)) P.S. I have some "Dammit" items too. I keep them as a reminder of how NOT to do something.
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Anne
8/9/2012 01:26:57 pm
Congrats on hitting 1,000 sales, that's something to be proud of! Your work is beautiful and very creative. It sounds like you have made some wonderful achievements in your life...cancer isn't easy! Keep the sales coming and you should think about moving out to Colorado- your stuff would do great here! :)
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Karen HendersonWife, Mother, Grandmother, Teacher, Lover of Animals, Woodworker, Jewelry Designer, Owner of Hendywood. Archives
June 2016
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