July 1st: It is officially the start!

Today, we are officially in business according to the state.  Of course the county still wants one more day to issue the Conditional Use Permit for our shop, but since it is Sunday, we would not have been open today, anyway.

We are not opening as a retail store, but we will be happy to have customers make appointments to come see what we offer and how we can create  high quality producst that will be designed and crafted for their specific needs.  As we grow, Kevin hopes to focus a considerable portion of his time on building custom furnishings that meet the individual client's needs, but he is more than happy to do smaller projects, as well.

We are doing business as K R HEMPEL WOODWORKING LLC.  Kevin will be doing the lion's share of production and I will be doing the paperwork and marketing.  To that end, he busy getting smaller items ready for several shows to help us get our name into the public's mind.  He will be working on several other furniture pieces as examples of his work.  I am thinking he plans to enjoy each and every minute.  There is something magic about working with wood to create high quality, custom made pieces.

For me, I will be doing some carving and helping where needed in the shop. I have obtained all the licenses and permits for us to get going,   I will continue to do the paperwork/bookkeeping.  I am starting classes in the fall to earn an associates of arts in small business and marketing.  I love being a student, so that part should be great fun.  I am not worried about being the top student but rather about getting the most I can out of the coursework so that we can really grown this business.  (We are not planning to outgrow our shop - we just want to enjoy working together as successful owners of a small business.)

Candlestick table of maple
and ash

Hanging tool cabinet with a custom
layout for Kevin's chisels, planes, and
other hand tools

Windsor rocker made of
maple and ash

Here a few photos of larger pieces that you might have seen on my former blog written while we were still living in Vermont. Currently we do not have a website, but I am going to be taking some classes to learn more about building it. Thanks to Amanda's tutoring, we have been taking photos of various items Kevin has created, so we will probably be producing a catalog of sorts which will ready to share before the end of 2012.  All things take time and patience, though, so we will see how quickly this can be achieved.

For the time being, we are going to start with word of month, small shows, business cards, and a sign that I am painting over the next week or so.  We keep in mind the idea that we have to start somewhere and build from there.  Ideas are wonderful, but action is required.

Life is GOOD!