Bamboo Rods, wrong turns & The “Accidental Retailers”

“If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise.” – Robert Fritz late night in the shop…my class Over three years ago, we had outgrown our “cottage” inspired home workshop after a decade plus and needed […]

My tribal bamboo fly rod!

The above photo is a direct result of the following: 6 months of planning, 7 friends (including my Aunt Terry from Seattle) and 74 hours of work (I was slow, and others had to assist me…hence the “tribal” in the rod) … ♥ Originally, I had planned to write out a thoughtful […]

About last night…

…and this bamboo fly rod making class. Okay, I skipped a day because the second day of class started out with straightening strips and the night ended with math! So, I decided not to tell the tale. However, I got through it and finally tamed my bamboo strips. This is how the day started. […]

Bamboo Fly Rod Class Day One…

After my first day in class making my first bamboo fly rod, I have discovered the following: Bill’s job is SO much better than mine. Of course, we started with a raw stalk of Tonkin bamboo and 9 hours later ended up with something that kind of resembles some (12) strips of Tonkin bamboo. Surprisingly, it […]

Confessions of A Bamboo Fly Rod Maker’s Widow

So…after 14 years, I am taking my first bamboo fly rod making class tomorrow. Why 14 years? Well, like many of you reading this, it’s something I have always wanted to do but life has been in the way. Let’s see between work, 2 small children, building a new bamboo fly rod making shop, new office, […]

Proverbs, Flocks and Bamboo Fly Rods

You’ve heard the proverbs… “You are what you eat” … well then, I am a stick of pepperoni. “Necessity is the mother of invention” … our favorite around the shop. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing” … no comment. “Behind every great man is a great woman” … (inset smirk on my behalf here). […]

American Dreams and Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods

Tick, tick, tick…time. …vintage Bill…circa 1993 …vintage Shannen…circa 1993 Time is a gift and a bully…a constant “in your face” reminder of your inner most weaknesses but when confronted head on, the time bully can also be a reminder of your greatest strengths. ♥ Oyster headquarters from our basement to our cottage to Main Street […]

Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods says goodbye to summer

What? Summer is over?!?! Fall is near. Our nights are cooler and the crisp air teases us until noon each day when we inevitably end up in the high 80s. I am okay with the heat (if it’s below 70 , I swear I can see my breathe), but most people are not as tolerant. […]

My Jeep Wrangler, an ode to a blue minivan and Oyster Bamboo Fly Rod Rods

I had an epiphany today. You go where you look. And it all revolves around an electric blue minivan. Let me explain…it all started several months ago when my Jeep Wrangler was trashed by softball sized hail (if you think this is an exaggeration…it’s not). the hail that started it […]

Cast and Blast at Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods…and this time…it’s me!

Roni taking a stroll down Main Street attracting a crowd My children have grown to be quite the conspirators in the progress department wherever we may go in our small mountain community. I spend the majority of my day “preparing” to be efficient while Cutter and Veronica have a completely different agenda. While there are […]