one woman’s journey into the bamboo fly rod making abyss
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 […]
Read More My Bamboo Fly Rod, a Can of Worms and the Sentimental Nature of it AllWhen 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 […]
Read More Shooting in Pajamas, Bamboo Fly Rods & letting go of the Martyr“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 […]
Read More Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods…2012 Year in Review…The Best Laid Plans of Bamboo and Fly RodsWhile 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 […]
Read More 10 reasons why I love my shotgun more than a diamond.“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 […]
Read More Bamboo Rods, wrong turns & The “Accidental Retailers”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 […]
Read More My tribal bamboo fly rod!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 […]
Read More Bamboo Fly Rod Class Day One…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). […]
Read More Proverbs, Flocks and Bamboo Fly Rods“How did you become a bamboo fly rod maker?” That is the most common question asked at our shop. Our answer is a bit convoluted but basically it’s a hobby gone wild. So, I started to think about our Oyster clients and their stories… here are a few of my favorites… How did you become… […]
Read More How did you become a bamboo fly rod maker?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 […]
Read More American Dreams and Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods
Bamboo Fly Rod Maker's Widow 