Turnings For Every Season - Spring
Personal, Well Crafted, Unique, and Affordable Gifts for Friends, Family or
... YOURSELF!
About The Name
It recently occurred to me how often the crafts I've made for others were gifts or creations that people bought based on their personal needs or preferences during a particular season in their lives.
These have included wood or acrylic pens made for favorite interests, sports, or pastimes or custom pens displaying important events in their lives (births, graduations, success over breast cancer, memorials, business start ups with logos, etc.)..... sometimes just a useful tool or utensil for the home, garden or kitchen.
Turnings for Every Season may be a new company, but I have been dedicated to handcrafting unique creations for homes, friends, and family since 2005. My passion and commitment to excellent craftsmanship has earned a healthy reputation in the local community and now it's my season to grow. (again) I take pride in the lasting relationships I've built over the years and look forward to the opportunity to craft something special for you during the seasons and activities of your life. As you browse through my offerings you will no doubt find special creations that spark a personal interest or would provide a great gift for others. When you see examples of the personalized pens you may want to send me a picture of a special person, event, pet, or virtually any image that deserves recognition on an item you, or someone else, will see or use every day. The in-stock inventory changes virtually every day. If you don't see what you want here, just ask by sending an email to:
Keep Scrolling to Learn More About us or Go Back to the Top of this page.
About The Mission
I've learned a valuable lesson; that giving gifts to people is much easier and more fulfilling than making items to sell. It is very expensive to build inventory and exhausting to produce sufficient product to show what all is available in innumerable variants like type of product, theme of pens, color of metal and type of woods.
I've run a business before and I'm intimately aware that if you work hard, you will eventually reap what you sow. Our profits will benefit the many organizations that feed and care for people (and animals) who are hungry or suffering. Currently, we are contributing to Feeding America, UNICEF, Wounded Warrior, Mercy Ships, St. Jude Hospital, the ASPCA and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. (You can check their excellent ratings on Charity Navigator at https://www.charitynavigator.org)
You can either click "Pick a Charity" on the Menu or on the button below, to identify your choice of charity.
Your patronage will result in fulfillment for both of us by knowing that we're working together to feed hungry people and help vulnerable children, disabled veterans, women with breast cancer, and animals in trouble.
About The Artist
Hi! have always been happiest working with wood. I came from a long line of woodworkers. My grandfather was a master woodworker. After watching my father make amazing things in the basement (like a life sized outdoor Santa Claus) and my uncle turn wood candle sticks and salt/pepper shakers, I tried my hand in the fourth grade at cutting outlines of the states and gifting them to my friends, family and classmates. Not much has changed in that respect, but that was five or six decades ago....
Of course much of life happens during those decades. I've been through (and repeated) a few seasons. While continuing to bestow little handmade creations on friends and family, I graduated from nursing school as the class president, earned an MBA, and accomplished a law degree. I've worked in hospital ERs and ICUs and owned and operated a busy critical care transport company. I've sat in administrative seats everywhere from my church Board of Directors to clinical administrative and management positions throughout the Western United States.
Out of the fear of boredom, I unsuccessfully tried to fully retire over the past five years. Now I've finally done it and returned full time to my happy place in my little Oregon shop with my lathe and woodworking tools. Oh the joy of flying sawdust, the whir of a lathe, and the sound and smell of cleanly cut wood! Over the past months I've produced 100 handmade pens and numerous other small projects for people to enjoy or gift to friends and family. I ask you, who wouldn't want to find a special pen in the toe of their Christmas stocking?
I'll always remember that it is quality, rather than quota, which is most important. I'll invest the time and resources to create things you will be proud to own or give as gifts.
Thank you for checking out the website. Feel free to visit anytime and know that you are always welcome to drop me a line with feedback, questions or suggestions at:
Keep Scrolling to Learn More About us or Go Back to the Top of this page.
About the Products
Crafted with Care
Almost all pens are available in five different metals (Gold, Chrome, Antique Brass, Antique Pewter and Gunmetal). Some add others like Bronze and Titanium. There are also some ceramic pens.
All of my creations (mostly pens right now) are made with bodies (or barrels, or handles) of acrylic products, beautiful and exotic hardwoods, laminated woods, dyed woods and burls - or a hybrid of wood and acrylic. Bowls are turned from wood (beautiful wood). Most kitchen utensil and tool handles, toys etc. can be made from acrylic or wood. There are virtually endless possibilities when designing your personalized product.
Finally, you should know that all pens can be made beefy or slim. If you see one that is NOT what you want, send a message and I'll beef it up or slim it down for you!
You will have the opportunity to customize your order in the SHOP.
If you can describe your perfect pen, I'll do my best to deliver it to you
Keep Scrolling to Learn More About us or Go Back to the Top of this page.
About the Prices
In the Interest of Transparency
What's Included and Why
It's important to me that you understand how I price my products. Basically I take the cost of goods - metal and barrel material costs and add $10.00 hoping to make at least a small profit for donations to worthy causes (see the Mission page for more details). Considering the current market situation, and to be fair to both of us, I continuously monitor and update material costs and take advantage of sales offered by several suppliers.
What's NOT included
I specifically exclude overhead and operating expenses- like your online transaction and credit card costs, finishing products (like sand paper and polish), and replacement tool parts (like chisel blades) . Nor do I include any labor charges. I consider it a privilege to donate my labor of love in support of worthy charities as well as a privilege to provide joy to my customers (who I assume will be happy with their purchase).
Why Prices Vary
This is why you see so much variation between prices....it's because of the material costs. Different "kits" (the metal pieces) have a broad range of prices. Inlaid pen barrels (like the Segmented Cross) are most beautiful but also among the most expensive. The most exotic (and expensive) hardwoods or some acrylic based pen blanks are more expensive. (I made one of TruStone for myself and the barrel blank alone cost $29.95!). The hybrid barrel blanks (acrylic embedded in wood) again, beautiful - but expensive. I may have to charge more for some custom made pens that you specifically request. Don't worry, any upcharges will be explained before you and I commit to the project. (Remember - no overhead , no operational costs and no labor is added).
Additional Costs
If I sell in person at a craft show I will need to add an additional $5 to help defray the booth cost, credit card transaction costs, and commission expenses collected by the venue's administrator.
Delivery Costs
I can and will deliver by hand to a safe public place anywhere within 25 miles of Salem, Oregon for FREE!
Shipping Costs
Any product that I need to ship will cost approximately $12 for addresses in the United States and will arrive on the average of 1-3 business days (right now anyways). I'll ship your package at most economical rate made available from USPS, FedEx or UPS delivery services. I can pack in any number of pens that the small box holds. Of course, it will be more for expedited shipping depending on how fast you want it - so shop early!
Remember, I will meet you to deliver your product in any safe public place within 25 miles of Salem, Oregon for FREE!
Keeping it headed
Due North!
