Mike Davis’ retirement

[Kelly]

Anybody else notice that the Venerated Mike Davis seems to be everywhere on this forum now.
Ain’t retirement great, Mike ?
These Forums are better off for it.
Hope you are enjoying your time.

 

[Mike Davis]

I was here just as much before. I may actually be here less since I am in the shop much more.
But, thanks for the compliment. I am having a great time making things that I never had time for in the past. I will be starting the third set of twining looms and I just finished renovating a toy kitchen set for the grandson. He likes to play cooking while his mom is in the kitchen, so she wanted him to have her little stove and refrigerator from 30 years ago. We painted to match her real kitchen.
Still trying to clear out and clean up the shop, my laser is still sitting on the table I built for it, need to run a power line and install an outlet for it.

 

[Gofor]

For the first few years after I retired, I kept wondering how I ever had had time for a "paying" job!

One big plus was being able to work a multi-day job without having to put all the necessary tools and materials back in their resting place every day, not knowing when I would be able to get back to it.

I am now better able to plan jobs based on the weather, not a work schedule, making life much more pleasant, especially for outdoor projects.

Yeah, years later, still trying to clean out and reorganize the shop. Good luck with that one, Mike!! LOL

 

[ScottM]

Been retired 10+ years. Thought retirement meant unlimited shop time and fishing. That was very short lived. For the record my side door is about 30' from my dock on Lake Gaston and my shop is 30' from my front door. Seems I got involved in community service projects and now I have to fit my shop and fishing time into a very full schedule. I am not complaining mind you but in retirement you have to set boundaries, or you will quickly end up like me.

 

[Chaz]

Yo, Mike!

Congrats on the retirement. I packed it in myself, 3 years ago and I'm loving it. Much more shop time and looking into projects I didn't have time for when I was working.

We spent 3 weeks in Egypt back in Nov., instead of 2, simply because we could.

I didn't know you made twining looms. Tell me more about that. I make boat shuttles for weaving.

 

[LeftyTom]

I was here just as much before. I may actually be here less since I am in the shop much more.
But, thanks for the compliment. I am having a great time making things that I never had time for in the past. I will be starting the third set of twining looms and I just finished renovating a toy kitchen set for the grandson. He likes to play cooking while his mom is in the kitchen, so she wanted him to have her little stove and refrigerator from 30 years ago. We painted to match her real kitchen.
Still trying to clear out and clean up the shop, my laser is still sitting on the table I built for it, need to run a power line and install an outlet for it.

Who is the mom?

 

[Mike Davis]

Who is the mom?

Our daughter.

 

[Mike Davis]

Yo, Mike!

Congrats on the retirement. I packed it in myself, 3 years ago and I'm loving it. Much more shop time and looking into projects I didn't have time for when I was working.

We spent 3 weeks in Egypt back in Nov., instead of 2, simply because we could.

I didn't know you made twining looms. Tell me more about that. I make boat shuttles for weaving.

Stokes arts council started a Fiber arts program in memory of a famous weaver and community arts leader. The Gypsy Hollingsworth Fiber Arts program is starting out in the local Stokes Arts Place in Danbury. One of the first classes is Twining, a form of weaving that is done on a frame loom with cloth strips and looks a little like the old braided rag rugs. I made the ten class looms and a few to sell the students who wish to continue after the classes. The frame is about 14 x 16 inches and uses finish nails to hold the warp. !/4 steel rod is slipped into screw eyes on the long sides to hold the weft out to the finished width. When finish the rods are removed and the warp is lifted off the nails. I have seen some larger looms up to 5 x 4 feet that use 3/8 dowels instead of nails to hold the warp.

Nine finished looms packed and ready to deliver.

 

[LeftyTom]

Our daughter.

Kristin?

 

[Mike Davis]

Kristin?

Caitlin

 

[Rwe2156]

I’m not fully retired yet, but I realize I can only build so much furniture, so I’m glad I have a few other areas of interest. The main thing is have an interest that stimulates you. I know too many guys who sit in the couch.

After making Kumiko lamps, I think I could put them on Etsy. That might keep me busy.

 

[Mike Davis]

I’m not fully retired yet, but I realize I can only build so much furniture, so I’m glad I have a few other areas of interest. The main thing is have an interest that stimulates you. I know too many guys who sit in the couch.

After making Kumiko lamps, I think I could put them on Etsy. That might keep me busy.

View attachment 237606
View attachment 237607

Beautiful work!

 

[Hmerkle]

I’m not fully retired yet, but I realize I can only build so much furniture, so I’m glad I have a few other areas of interest. The main thing is have an interest that stimulates you. I know too many guys who sit in the couch.

After making Kumiko lamps, I think I could put them on Etsy. That might keep me busy.

Yup, @Rwe2156 - Etsy or an art gallery!

 

[Mike Davis]

Yo, Mike!

Congrats on the retirement. I packed it in myself, 3 years ago and I'm loving it. Much more shop time and looking into projects I didn't have time for when I was working.

We spent 3 weeks in Egypt back in Nov., instead of 2, simply because we could.

I didn't know you made twining looms. Tell me more about that. I make boat

shuttles for weaving.

Placemats from the first twining class at Stoke Fiber Arts Program.