Facebook, oversharing and bamboo fly rods

POST! Okay…these photos belong on Facebook…my children and Kory with their bamboo fly rods and huge trout! For years, Oyster Bamboo Fly Rod’s marketing department (me) has deliberately “opted out” of the Facebook phenomenon. Deliberate or not…and among other reasons, this marketing department (me) prefers oversharing the old fashioned way (face to face with a […]

Mother’s Day, Bamboo Fly Rods and the "Best" Lifestyle

It’s Mother’s Day. Naturally, I am feeling proud, content and superior to all other mothers full of self doubt! In the weeks leading up to this sacred day, our culture inundates us with the images of “perfect mothers” by showering them us with accolades, flowers, perfume…blah,blah, blah. Sans the perfume…that’s how my day began as […]

My Bamboo Fly Rod, a Can of Worms and the Sentimental Nature of it All

My class was on March 3rd and through all of the ups and downs…I successfully made another bamboo fly rod without crying impaling anyone. About a month before my class, I sent out an email asking for advice concerning my new bamboo fly rod. I asked Oyster clients to help design it…I did it…it was […]

Shooting in Pajamas, Bamboo Fly Rods & letting go of the Martyr

When I woke up this morning, I had no intention of shooting. With Bill on the other end of the planet on his annual trip to Argentina for a few weeks, my schedule goes from hectic to quasi insane…not to mention lonely (days are good…nights stink…see reference to my co-dependent nature). Self admittedly, I could probably go a […]

Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods…2012 Year in Review…The Best Laid Plans of Bamboo and Fly Rods

“If it were easy…everyone would do this.” Those are the words that Bill whispered in my ear almost daily in the beginning of 2012. As the year wore on, Bill’s whisper grew into a dull roar and those words’ final resting place became my mantra. At the end of 2011, we had a plan for 2012. What’s the expression…no good deed, […]

10 reasons why I love my shotgun more than a diamond.

While diamonds are presumably a girl’s best friend… my shotgun has become my BFF. This blog needs no introduction. 10. Even if I gain 10 pounds, my shotgun still still fits!9. A diamond does nothing but just sit there and I swear my shotgun loves me back…it does.8. Having my shotgun “sized and fit” […]

Bamboo Fly Rods, Change and 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 more […]

My tribal bamboo fly rod!

The above photo is a direct result of the following: 6 months of planning, 7 friends (including my Aunt 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 blog each day of the class […]

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, […]