- Joined
- Dec 5, 2005
- Messages
- 28,366
...that kept my boat afloat in turbulent waters.
Many of you who know me might understand some of the challenges I've faced over the past year. I don't fly my dirty laundry high, but I'm straight up with where I'm at. And to be honest, this last year has either f'ing sucked for me when it comes to disappointments in people, and very draining in helping others get their head out. The shattering of expectations is lame, but so is having expectations, so there I go. Through it all Ryan counterbalanced it, and the purity of his friendship has thwarted the evil gnome that eggs me on to give it up when times get tough.
Back in March 2011, I started up this little thing. It wasn't a big deal, but it made me feel good, I thought it was a novel concept and I received a cooperative spirit from some really great guys. Ryan Weeks was one of them.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/835941-First-Annual-Pay-It-Forward-Buildoff
Ryan and I have an affinity. That's a beautiful thing, and something that I feel is special about the handmade knife community, (HKC for short). It is still such a niche, that closeness among the like minds which constitute it comes pretty easy, despite differences which may be present outside the interest. Even through the internet, and without the benefit of a face to face meeting, it's amazing really the friendship that I've received and that spontaneously occurs all the time.
Well, blah freaking blah...the point of this thread is to tell you all how stoked I was to come home after a tough day at work to the newest print of Blade magazine, (the only magazine I subscribe to) sitting on the counter;
No custom knife could make me as happy as seeing this. Ryan, thanks my friend. You've got a lot of class, and you'll always be the Best New Maker in my book!
Many of you who know me might understand some of the challenges I've faced over the past year. I don't fly my dirty laundry high, but I'm straight up with where I'm at. And to be honest, this last year has either f'ing sucked for me when it comes to disappointments in people, and very draining in helping others get their head out. The shattering of expectations is lame, but so is having expectations, so there I go. Through it all Ryan counterbalanced it, and the purity of his friendship has thwarted the evil gnome that eggs me on to give it up when times get tough.
Back in March 2011, I started up this little thing. It wasn't a big deal, but it made me feel good, I thought it was a novel concept and I received a cooperative spirit from some really great guys. Ryan Weeks was one of them.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/835941-First-Annual-Pay-It-Forward-Buildoff
Ryan and I have an affinity. That's a beautiful thing, and something that I feel is special about the handmade knife community, (HKC for short). It is still such a niche, that closeness among the like minds which constitute it comes pretty easy, despite differences which may be present outside the interest. Even through the internet, and without the benefit of a face to face meeting, it's amazing really the friendship that I've received and that spontaneously occurs all the time.
Well, blah freaking blah...the point of this thread is to tell you all how stoked I was to come home after a tough day at work to the newest print of Blade magazine, (the only magazine I subscribe to) sitting on the counter;
No custom knife could make me as happy as seeing this. Ryan, thanks my friend. You've got a lot of class, and you'll always be the Best New Maker in my book!
Lorien, I feel the same way about the man. Great attitude and really pushing himself in knife designs and production.
takes a little of the bite off that it was Lorien! What a great guy and I am humbled by his comments in this thread and whispers that get back to me second hand. His PIF thread moved me from a stagnant pond many new makers find them selfs in, caused by finding comfort in the easy designs. Thank you for posting this up Lorien. I will try not to gush too much because we know that most of the people that have posted in this thread have heads that are used to swelling on a regular basis 
. 
There are times when I regret not getting into this craft sooner in my life, but when I look at the guys with whom I've learned this trade alongside, I couldn't be happier about where I'm at. 
