Awesome stuff, Paul!
You don't know my kind.....You don't my mind.....Dark necessities are part of my design.....
Excitement Bump
Good timing on the bump. I was about to post a production update today.
The board production is taking longer than expected. Jim underestimated the time needed to complete this many boards. He's spending a significant amount of time on each and getting them just right. Of course there's two per book so there is a lot to make. There are so many steps and so much manual labor than goes into making these wood boards and perfecting them.
Also some don't end up meeting quality requirements, so he has to make more than what was initially planned. This sort of stuff you don't know until you actually get deep into production.
He's looking to hire some help to move things along. We also have to wait for the last lot of cut wood to dry as it has to air dry. In the middle of it all, he is going to be away for three weeks teaching and giving classes. I am safely estimating another 3 months for completion.
Anyway.... thanks for your patience. I can tell you, it will be well worth the wait. The level of craftsmanship that is going into these books is astounding.
To leverage this time now waiting for the boards, the bookbinder is starting to prepare the page blocks and I am getting the laser engraving done on the boards that I do have on hand. So this will save us some time when all the boards are ready.
Everything else is in place. Signed prints, original illustrations, etc.
Thanks for the update, brother. Just thinking about the craftsmanship going into these can make one downright giddy. Definitely worth the wait
HOW IS THAT "FIRESTARTER" COMING ALONG?
LOOKS LIKE WE WILL ALL HAVE TO RELAX A WHILE LONGER ON OUR QUEST FOR THE "FIRESTARTER"
Thanks for the update! Agree it's definitely worth the wait
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Michael Whelan & DT Original Art
Brain This young lady would like to know....
Spoiler:
You walked right into that one Brian. ;-)
Thanks for your understanding everyone!
Bruce, maybe I should tell Jim to stop using a stick and kindling to scorch the boards. Might save some time.
Thanks for the update Paul. I love hearing about the inner workings and have no problem waiting. It's like Christmas all year 'round when you're a book collector
Thanks Lori. The bookbinder got the books today, so he can start preparing the page blocks. This will give us a jump on that while we're waiting for the rest of the boards.
Hi Jeff, thanks for checking in. Here's an update I posted mid May. We're just waiting on the wood boards. The enclosure for the book will start production soon, but nothing to show yet. Everything has been pushed out as a result of the boards taking longer than expected. As soon as I have another update, I'll post here. It will all be worth the wait.
Production update for you. I got a call this week from Jim (for those who may be out of the loop, Jim is the craftsman who is making the wood boards), and he said that the wood is now dry. We have been waiting for that to happen so he could continue with the board production.
So that's some good news. He will be working on the boards and is also looking to hire someone to assist.
Anyway, things are moving along. In the meantime, work has started on the clamshell box that will be housing the finished book, so we are at least utilizing this time while we wait for the boards.
Thanks for your patience!
Exciting news! Thanks for the update Paul!
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I just rewatched the video of Jim explaining the wooden book board process. I find it quite awesome.
"One day you're going to figure out that everything they taught you was a lie."
Awesome news!
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Load up the Spaceship with the Rocket Fuel
What's up campers... Wanted to give you an update on this one. Talked to Jim today (I call him weekly now), and he is making good progress. The wood-drying phase is done, or was done a few weeks ago. I tell you, that was like watching paint dry, or in this case, wood dry.
He is now able to cut, shape and finish the boards, and is doing just that. So he's working it, and there is forward momentum; and even though it is slow momentum, it is momentum nonetheless.
It's looking like a fall release for this. I know... further out than I had planned, but the boards were a far bigger job that he had anticipated, and it's the sort of thing I have little control over as I'm not any good at making wooden book boards! Although, I could do one thing to light the fire, so to speak, and that was to offer up a cash bonus if he can get these completed pronto, which I have done. And it seemed to me to be a fair offer anyway, since he has ended up spending a whole lot more time on this than expected.
I had hoped this would be done before I announce the next one, but rest assured, she will be done, and it will be worth the wait.
Thank you again for your patience.
Peace.
Thanks for the update Paul! I'm happy to wait for something like this and a couple extra weeks/months is definitely reasonable.
Thanks for staying in top of everything and keeping us in the loop!
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