So, what do you do when you lose your enthusiasm for turning pens (or anything else). I haven't turned a pen in a couple months. It just seems to have gotten boring. I just can't figure out what to do. I still want to do it, but cannot motivate myself to go down in my shop and do anything.
I think part of it is not having a lot of success with selling. I have sold some and felt good about it. I don't have the time or inventory to do shows.
I think what I do is of pretty good quality, not perfect but good. I have received compliments and people like what they see, but I am not seeing a decent return on my investment (either financially or emotionally),
So, any suggestions?
Unfortunately mate, what you are going through is not uncommon and will affect all of us, at some point...!
There has been a few good suggestions already given, and I would certainly start by spending some time, cleaning and going through everything you've got in it...!
I can tell you that, the source of your lost of enthusiasm has come from the fact that, you aren't making any sales and you want to make some money, for your efforts and investment. That though is running in your head far too deep and is getting you all stressed about the fact that, you are working and spending money and getting not much if anything in return.
Sure, we all want to make some money and we all deserve that, when we invest tight available funds in a hobby that we work damn hard, on however, there are far too many reasons why some people find very difficult to sell their products, and that is something that you may have no choice/say or you may need to work a lot harder in the sale aspect of the hobby.
I know how difficult that was and continue to be, as I don't like making shows nor, going around offering my products for sale or for display, that is the hardest part and one that I don't do any good at...!
There has been a large number of member on IAP that have expressed their disappointment at issues like yours and, those issues were discussed deeply providing some different directions, one can take, at least, try.
My suggestion to you is, start by cleaning and organizing your work-shop then, take some time off the shed and re-energise by doing other stuff you like to do but haven't had the time or the reason for, go fishing, something...!
I would then thing of something that I could do in the work-shop that you don't have to sell, something for yourself, the wife, friends, whatever...!
Make something that you may have not made before, with a small lathe you could make a couple of nice bowls for the wife, girlfriend, a friend, a relative, etc...!
Look at it as I test to your skill and ability to improvise/created something new. You are doing it for you own pleasure and enjoyment so, there is no need of being pressured with time, selling steps difficulty and profitability...!
If you spoil it, buggered it up, who cares...??? make another, learning from the mistakes and enjoy the feeling of having created something nice that you don't have to put a price tag on...!
When you feel ready to tackle pens again, try to make less and better ones, the ones that will require full attention to detail and some good workmanship, you will find that those will give you a very different reaction to anyone that can be a possible buyer, you also will feel a lot more "confident" in approaching anyone with a sale in mind...!
Someone once said to me, while accuracy shooting that, "If you don't feel right, you will not be able to shoot right...!"
Turning, wood or other materials is by itself, a very relaxing exercise, sure it can have its, nerve wracking moments, particularly with very large objects but in general, the act of wood turning is use by many people as a very effective des-stressing thing so, you have the right tools, you only have to find the right mood...!
Best of luck...!
Cheers
George
