Hello from Southern Iowa

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ccharles

Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2025
Messages
2
Location
Iowa
Hello all!

Happy Friday to everyone!

My name is Chris, I live in Southern Iowa - about 45 min south of Des Moines. I just got into pen turning a couple weeks ago after getting back from our vacation to Branson, MO. There was a wood turner at Silver Dollar City's fall festival selling pens. I bought myself a bolt-action pen from him and then started researching what it takes to get into pen turning.

I kept thinking what wonderful Christmas gifts handmade pens would make for my wife and children! I quickly discovered PSI and ordered the 8" lathe starter kit! I have made a few slimlines so far, a faith/Hope/Love pen, and the Anvil.

It has been so much fun so far and very rewarding! Glad to have found the IAP site - I have learned a lot so far from reading and lurking here. :-)

Kind regards,
Chris
 
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Welcome Chris! Handmade pens are great gifts. You should consider going to the Midwest Penturners Gathering outside of Chicago in April. About 300 like minded people together for the weekend learning, sharing and having a blast.
Bill from Missouri.
 
Welcome from Utah, Chris!

Important question here... do you root for the Cyclones or the Hawkeyes??

I was born and raised in Iowa (Iowa City and the Quad Cities area). I still miss game days!!
 
Greetings from Nebraska and welcome to the IAP community. Be sure to check for Direct Messages by looking at the envelope icon at the top of the page where members can communicate on a more personal level, one-on-one or in small groups. Once again, Welcome aboard. - Dave
 
ccharles said:
Hello all!

Happy Friday to everyone!

My name is Chris, I live in Southern Iowa - about 45 min south of Des Moines. I just got into pen turning a couple weeks ago after getting back from our vacation to Branson, MO. There was a wood turner at Silver Dollar City's fall festival selling pens. I bought myself a bolt-action pen from him and then started researching what it takes to get into pen turning.

I kept thinking what wonderful Christmas gifts handmade pens would make for my wife and children! I quickly discovered PSI and ordered the 8" lathe starter kit! I have made a few slimlines so far, a faith/Hope/Love pen, and the Anvil.

It has been so much fun so far and very rewarding! Glad to have found the IAP site - I have learned a lot so far from reading and lurking here. :-)

Kind regards,
Chris
Click to expand...
Welcome Chris. You found a great site for information and fellow turners.
 
WOW!! Thank you all for the warm welcome! I appreciate it so very much.

I made this Anvil click pen for myself yesterday and am pretty happy with the way it "turned" out.

As some have mentioned, this site has a TON of information on it!! I have learned so much already.

@Twist&Click - I was looking at that gathering in Chicago and am seeing how I might be able to make it happen.

@d_bondi - While I don't follow sports so much anymore, the Hawkeyes will always have a special place in my heart. My dad and I used to listen to Jim Zabel announce the play-by-play action of the football games on WHO Radio. We spent many hours listening together in the garage when we were working on stuff together or sitting in the car outside a craft store on a fall Saturday afternoon waiting for my mom to return from her marathon shopping adventure. I'd give a lot to be able to relive some of those special times - like hearing Zabel and his signature "I love it, I love it, I love it!" when Chuck Long would connect on a long bomb deep in the heart of enemy territory. Oh boy, those were the days.

@egnald - Thanks for the DM! I just replied.

Looking forward to many happy hours of pen turning, creating one-of-a-kind gifts for the people I love, and staying connected with all of you here on this forum!

Thanks a lot!

Kind regards,
Chris
 

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