Ron, I sincerely cannot understand why you degrade and undervalue your work. Certainly you have seen the joy and pleasure you have brought to many with your creations. That there hasn't been even a single solitary criticism from anyone that I'm aware of must speak volumes.
Your shaping clearly shows how well you've grasped the basic shapes and have excelled in several of them with the bent Bulldog being your signature. Your sandblasting technique is second to none, and despite your color blindness you have consistently created a color contrast that is pleasing to the eye. Your attention to detail is well in evidence on engineering, fit, mouthpiece, and so much more.
Don't sell yourself short brother. You have a talent. But then again I'm biased. I only have 7 of your creations.
Cheers,
RR
Rande, You know I've never really like anything I've done to the point I could compare it to someone who really does do a nice pipe.
Obviously I think there worth something otherwise I wouldn't sell them for the price I'm getting for them. But, I never seemed to reach
where I wanted to be as a pipe maker and maybe this whole thing of giving it up has given me a little sour grapes. I really would like to
keep making pipes and smoking them but, I can't and be the person I suppose to be. And that sorta peeves me off, all the time, money,
etc. just all seems like a waste now. But, I can't turn back, forward is the direction I must go, I hope it leads to something great.
