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By Janel Laidman
I recently had the good fortune to meet Steve and Connie Paulsen of Spindlewood Company, makers of lovely fine spindles (of course, I am now a proud owner of a Spindlewood work of art). The Spindlewood spindles are not only beautifully crafted, but they are great spinners as well. Steve and Connie are warm, friendly folks who graciously consented to answer a few questions.
S: How did you get started making spindles?
SP: I began making spindles to keep my wife from buying them since I had the capability to make them. Little did I know at that time that there are spindle collectors out there and she was one of them. I'm happy I didn't realize that or I may not have started a satisfying enterprise.
S: You spin such a nice yarn. How long have you been spinning?
SP: I have only been spinning for a couple of months. My wife test drove everything for me before that. It has given me a lot more insight into what makes a spindle work well. Before that my main focus was on the beauty of the woods and the detailing. It has made them better spindles with the learning that I accumulated by actually using them.
S: Your spindles certainly are beautiful. What is your favorite spindle/wood combination?
SP: I love any woods that are full of figuring and texture. I like the rosewood family woods for their workability and denseness, as they are easily balanced. As long as the wood is beautiful, I enjoy working with it. I probably don't have any favorites but Cocobolo, Bubinga, Redheart, Bloodwood, Ebony (when I can afford it) and Tulipwood are all woods that I love. There are some woods that are more difficult due to their properties, but I still appreciate their beauty. It would be difficult to pick a favorite.
S: Where can our readers find your spindles?
SP: I have only gone to two shows. The Northwest Regional Spinners Association Conference in Tacoma and the Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene OR. I am hoping to have a vendor booth at the 2006 Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival in Canby, Oregon this fall. I have started to receive orders from my website, www.spindlewoodco.com. Styles and woods can be custom ordered. If there is anything desired in terms of wood, weights or shapes I will be happy to attempt it. Satisfaction is assured and if it is not what you want it can be returned for a full refund.
S: Tell us a little bit about where you live.
SP: Connie and I live in the country southwest of Salem, Oregon. The website "About Us" page shows our family of critters as well as Connie and myself. We seem to gravitate to rural as it is quiet and a beautiful way to live. We have a small one-acre property that is surrounded by forested land that is owned and maintained by others. The best view with the least upkeep that we could ask for.
S: Do you have another job?
SP: I retired from the corporate world after 17 years. I am a licensed plumber but have been a photographer, landscaper, juvenile probation officer, QA analyst for Kodak and a myriad of other things. I retired because I still haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up. Spindlemaker seems to fit the bill pretty well.
S: What other spinning tools do you make?
SP: I also make a few orifice hooks and nostepinnes. I have made inch guides, an occasional niddy noddy or anything else that came along. I have worked with wood for 40 years off and on. I love to do special requests and will try to do pretty much anything that I have the ability to do.
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