A great week.
Forgings flowed out nicely, sent some excellent grinds home. It’s spring, and the anvil is ringing while the birds are chirping.
With this excellent break in the winter, I’m going to try to be in the shop as much as possible, so if communication is slow, please forgive me as I’m usually at some equipment that keeps me from checking messages.
This piece featured a very nice knot in some ironwood. Another fresh shaver that I’m happy is in a collection.
Took a quick photo of some custom work I did before sending them home earlier this week. You can see more pictures of the wedge 9/8 chopper here. Both have ox horn scales, one with silver, the other with faux ivory. Beastly blades that give an oddly precise and fine shave.
My dad has passed away.
Everyone has been an incredible support to him, me, and my family.
To my customers who has had their project slow down, orders shipped late, who reached out, related, sent stories and support, who understood all that this has done to me and my work – thank you.
Your compassion helped me keep my shop around, keep good steel shipping out, and helped me honor my dad in the best way I know how. But most of all, you gave me time with my dad when I wasn’t sure how much I would have.
This is a gift that I can never repay, but will be sure to honor it as best I can.
In spirit, my dad is now in the workshop with me all the time, and we have a lot of work to do, and we can’t wait to do it.
Your friends,
-Christopher & Braden
Thank you for supporting my work all these years. Not only has your enthusiasm for shaving steel given me much purpose and pursuit, but it fortified a connection to my dad that I would not have otherwise.
He’s very sick now, and I’m very sad. In thinking about he and I, I’m appreciating every blade that left my shop, because each one represents the connection that he and I hold. So many more blades ahead, and I hope he’s there with me to do it.
Because of the situation, I’m out of the shop all today, tomorrow and likely the next.
Since the 20th I’ve been out of the workshop because my dad endured a very severe heart attack. During this time, I’ve been with him at the ICU.
Today, I’ll be traveling back in the workshop, and resume work under a 1/2 day schedule for the next week, perhaps a bit longer. This lets me have time to visit my dad and family, but start all the razors and orders that I’ve been looking forward to since leaving.
My dad is responsible for my skills and craftsmanship within ShaveSmith, so it has been difficult returning to the workshop because of it reminds me of what he’s going through. But today I start work, and appreciate your understanding though all this.
The countless well wishes sent to me and my family give us strength and encouragement for his recovery.
My dad is in the absolute best care possible, and I can’t thank the medical team enough for their efforts. It’s becoming obvious that his recovery is not linear, but the sum of small progress and setbacks.
Thank you for your support and understanding, I’m looking forward to honing up some blades today.
Best,
-Christopher
I’ve left my shop because my father has endured a very severe heart attack. It all started Sunday, and upon hearing I immediately stepped away from work and have been staying with him in the ICU.
This has hit me very hard, and I apologize for losing contact with customers and orders over the last week. I intend to stay alongside my dad, and will be touching base with everyone as I can.
My dad is an accomplished craftsman, knifemaker, and much the reason why I do what I do. Please keep him in your thoughts, and spend a little extra time with your loved ones this holiday.
Best,
-Christopher
A quick note:
Looking back to the moments leading to this is quite hard. My dad and I didn’t really get together in the last 6 months because his contracting skills were in high demand, and my time wasn’t matching up. Though, we had lots of phone calls and checking in, which made it a bit easier not seeing each other.
We finally carved out a Saturday, the day before his heart attack, and spent an afternoon talking shop. We made plans to do some forging and grinding together when his schedule slowed in Jan/Feb.
It’s really hard seeing my dad, a pretty healthy guy, go through this.
I went through some of my shop photos, and found these from 2014 when we met up to do a few forgings together, and he was working on a dagger.
