Neil the Tortoise on the cover of the Wall Street Journal!

Neil the Tortoise was on the the FRONT PAGE OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL!!!! This has been such a great day - one I will never forget. 
 

When I was contacted by the Wall Street Journal a few weeks ago, I had no idea when/if it would really run. I hoped it would, but I wasn't sure. When I saw it on-line yesterday, I was surprised it was on the webpage. Today, when I went to buy the newspaper, I didn't even look at the front page as I figured it would probably be a little blurb on the back of the back section. I looked through the paper four times and couldn't find it. I actually put the paper back on the newsstand as I thought it wasn't in there. I picked it up one more time, just in case, and looked at the front page and there is was. I never, ever, ever imagined my name or our tortoise being on the cover of the Wall Street Journal. 


I showed the checker the paper because I was so excited and had to share! I went to another store and bought the last four copies. I again showed the checker. The people in line behind me overheard me talking about it and asked to read it too. We stood in line reading the story - it was a cool moment! Then I went to Starbucks and yes, I bought another copy and showed everyone there too. I asked a random customer to take my picture holding the paper - and she did. I then posted it all over facebook. Sorry if I broke the internet with the constant barrage of the Neil the Tortoise story, but, I figured this was a once-in-a-lifetime thing and I was going to enjoy every minute! Plus, this happened on my birthday - what are the odds? I don't like to make a big fuss over my birthday, so this just made it awesome! Today was crazy in the best way possible. The cover of the Wall Street Journal. THE COVER OF THE WALL STREET JOURNAL! I have to let that sink in for a 
few.  

Here are five of the six copies I bought! :)

Cindy Breninger
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Starting Over.

The last two years have been quite a journey.  I never thought I would use a power tool, let alone own several, and then become pretty skilled with them.  Never did I imagine I would be able to tell the difference between almond, oak, or olive logs. Never did I imagine I would be out in my garage working and sweating in the summer, or freezing in the winter - all to make something new from a log! Never did I imagine that I would enjoy sitting in a garage that was either too hot or too cold, music playing and working away on anything I wanted to make. Never did I imagine I would look at a log looking for the beauty of it and make something other people would want. Never. Funny how life does that to a person. 

With all that said,  I no longer have a workshop where I can keep the logs or use the loud power tools. Somehow I don't think an apartment manager would be too understanding of a 12" skilsaw revving up at 10:00 at night. 

This was a very tough decision for me to make, but instead of closing my shop, I have decided I want to start my shop over from scratch. I feel a bit lost, as the logs were such a huge part of my shop and life. I used to work with them about six days a week - now zero. It was a bit of a shock at first. But, I am not one to sit and dwell, but more of a "what can I do now" type of girl.  I have been teaching myself to sew, and looking into a variety of fun things to make. I hope you will bear with me as I go through a trial and error period.  I love a good challenge, and I am definitely up for it.



I will always be so grateful to have been a small part of so many weddings, proposals, gifts, and even funerals of people I have never met. People who trusted me to make something they would enjoy - I can't explain how amazing that feels - it just feels amazing. 

Maybe someday when I move again, I will make sure to have a workshop and just might get back into making log items as I really love doing that. :) This is a huge change, but I firmly believe in making the best of any situation and to always move forward. I am excited for the new things I will be making and hope you will be too.

Here are some of the things I have made that I loved making. Maybe someday I will make more. :)

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My Workshop - Deerwood Creek Gifts

A customer asked me what my "workshop" looked like. My workshop? I had to think for a minute as my workshop is in an overcrowded one-car garage.  The customer thought I had a fabulous workshop where I made my orders. I think she was imagining Santa's workshop where it was clean and sparkly. (I wish!) Well, I wouldn't exactly call this fabulous, clean, or sparkly, but it is a great place to work and I love it. Here are two pictures.

These pictures were taken on a rainy day. The rain makes it pretty "cozy" as I have to squish all the tools and logs inside the tiny one-car garage instead of spread out on the driveway.  But, as small, dusty, and dirty as it is, I love being out there. 

Other than that, here are a few random pictures to show a bit about me.

This is me about to make some orders.

Ah the rain. Gotta love when my goggles fog up. ;)

A new pile of logs. This makes me happy.

This picture has nothing to do with my business, but thought I would put up a picture where I wasn't covered in sawdust or wearing goggles. 

And this is Neil. I love this little guy.

This is me having a discussion with Neil telling him to quit running in the house. ;)

Take care all. I hope your workshop is fabulous and it is somewhere you feel creative. Please feel free to leave questions or comments. :)

Cindy Breninger

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Hypertufa Update

 Hypertufa update. I am still making it and still loving making it. :)  Here are a few things I have been working on. Enjoy! Oh, here is a new picture of me working with the logs. Have a great day!

Cindy

Hypertufa update. I am still making it and still loving making it. :)  Here are a few things I have been working on. Enjoy!

Neil the Tortoise gets his first Halloween costume

I made Neil the Tortoise his first Halloween costume. He is thrilled. Have a great day and I will leave you with this: What do you get if you cross a tortoise and a porcupine?

A slow poke.
Cindy
 

Do what you love, but do it carefully.

I have been busily working away lately and I try to always keep my tools in good shape. I like to make sure they are sharp and working correctly. (After my son had to get stitches in his leg, I am very aware of the damage a dull drill bit and a power tool can do in a matter of seconds...)  But, sometimes, no matter how new or sharp of a tool, they can still break.  

I bought this drill bit not too long ago and was in the middle of making some candles and a few jewelry boxes when all of the sudden the drill bit lost its grip and spun off the log. It just missed my leg by about an inch. It happened so quickly, I didn't even realize what had happened until I examined the drill bit. The center point was gone, missing. Where was it? I quickly did a check - was it embedded in my leg and I just wasn't aware of it yet? I checked again and luckily it wasn't. 

I searched for a few minutes, but never did find that missing drill bit tip. I realize that there wasn't anything I could have done to prevent this, but sometimes that is just what happens. Such is how it is working with power tools. 

Anyway, when working with power tools, please be as safe as you can. Accidents can and will happen and it only takes a split second. I don't think you should stop doing something you love because it is dangerous or because of what "might happen". If you find something you love to do, just do it as safely as possible so you can continue to do it for a long time to come. 

To this day, I never, ever use my skilsaw with the 12" blade without first doing a thumb and finger check. I also always think of the wise words from the man who sold it to us. Those words were, "Be careful. This thing will take off a finger before you even know it was cut off!" I like to keep those words in my head to keep my fingers safe. :)

Take care.

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