Proof that No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!

[Jan]

Not long ago I was coerced into putting some of my intarsia work in an art shop
nearby. Since the owner wanted "a dozen pieces" I took the JRG sandhill cranes I'd made for myself off the wall in my den and included them in the lot I took to the shop. It wasn't long before the owner called and said he'd sold the cranes. I said, Whoopee! Here comes the part that is punishment:

Owner called and said the guy who bought the cranes loves them and wants another one with the wings in a different position from the other two. Then he said, I told the buyer that you would have a pattern to show him this week. I won't tell you what I said because it wasn't lady like and not acceptable for print. Anyhow, I knuckled under, made the pattern and the guy said fine, I want it to be 17" long and when can I have it. Well, I finally finished the stupid bird this week after having had my eye surgery. Here it is, along with a photo of the first two for reference. Obviously, I used the JGR pattern with the wings up as the basic part of the pattern and redrew the wings after staring at a lot of photos of cranes. I sure hope he likes it!

Jan

[Wood Dog]

Nice job on the project Jan, but that guy sure had some nerve speaking for you before asking if you even wanted to do the project. Some people "just don't get it."

[oily]

Just look the guy in the eye and say " you have an expensive problem on your hands. make your first bid good because you only have one"

[Jan]

Just look the guy in the eye and say " you have an expensive problem on your hands. make your first bid good because you only have one"

Good idea, Rob. I like that.

Jan

[Jan]

Nice job on the project Jan, but that guy sure had some nerve speaking for you before asking if you even wanted to do the project. Some people "just don't get it."

Thanks, and you're right, some just don't get it. Same shop owner put a couple of ships wheels in my car and said put the Bluenose schooner in the big wheel and a lighthouse in the smaller one.

I took his ships wheels home, put them in the shop and waited. Sure enough, he called wanting to know how I was doing with them. I then said I had to know just how he wanted me to deal with the places along the inside of the wheels where I was going to cut out all of the spokes. It got verrrrry quiet on the other end..........then he said, bring the wheels back and we'll talk about my vision for them...........I said, OK. I plan to win this one.

Jan

[lucky2]

Good luck, and don't let him coerice you into doing something that you don't want to do.
Len

[jim_mex]

Ciao Amica - so i guess there are two morals to this tale. One, don't take on more than you can do, followed by, two, don't mess with mean lil ol' ladies!

Love the work and the stories wrapped around them-

Hey - I saw someone in your area was taking in illegal Chinese immigrants. Are you setting up a scroll saw sweat shop?

[Jan]

Good advice, Amico. The problem is not taking on more than I can do, but being pushed into having to do more than I choose by someone who has made those decisions for me. As for messing with mean lil ol' ladies, I guess we all have to learn the hard way.

The illegals around here speak Spanish and are boat people from the southern Caribbean. Do you have any idea where I might find some illegal Chinese immigrants?

Jan

[Lou]

I think you've already won that won, Jan! I can't really imagine you letting anyone push you too far, but you can't stop them from trying, can you? You're doing just great. Keep the stories coming. Very entertaining!

Lou

[ncsealeveler]

Cranes look awesome and stand tough.
Tony

[dedijerry]

Great work Jan! Seems to me the cost of a very custom piece like the 3rd crane ought too cost a whoooole looooot more!