Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: jonathan creason on December 06, 2011, 01:55:59 pm
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As we all know there are numerous "sub-hobbies" within this great pastime of Primitive Archery. My main issue is that I want to try them all with only a few hours of spare time every week. Every time I get started on something my mind wanders to another project sitting on my bench, and before you know it I'm messing with it. Eventually I either screw one up, or they get done half-assed. I've really gotten into knifesmithing and want to focus on it for a while, but I keep getting distracted by a bow I want to scrape on for a while, or that rock sitting there waiting to be hit. I'm honestly thinking about getting rid of all my bow wood, rock, feathers, shaft material, and anything else that can distract me so that I can focus all my energy and attention on being an honest-to-goodness knifesmith. Anybody else ever face this situation, and if so what did you do about it?
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Your CRAZY man! I build my own bows, strings, arrows and all my leather work. No way in heck would I sell all of it to be better at just one. But hey thats just my spin.
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Jonathan, it is called ADD. Probably half of the population has ADD and most are creative types. After almost 62 years I still haven't figured out how to stick to one project at a time. I decided it was easier to live with it than try to change.
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I to suffer Pat................I have found a few beer's usually settles me in to one thing.........usually.
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Yeah, I honestly think I've had ADD all my life. I was never able to focus in school, but still did pretty well so I was never evaluated. I get bored easily and my mind starts to wander. That's part of the reason I'm thinking along these lines. I figure if I've got less there to distract me I won't be able to let it. I'm just kinda thinking out loud here, but it is something I've been rolling around in my head the past few months.
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Happens to me all the time. My Dad would probably agree w/ Pat too. :( Anyway, that's why I've got a messy shop w/ a lot of half done projects. I'm feeling the way you are about knifemaking w/ my knapping. that's all I can think about. So...if you decide to get rid of that rock...you know how to get a hold of me. I'm a metal worker by trade, so possibly I can help you out there if need be. Don't forget about me when you decide you need to rid yourself of that dasterdly rock that keeps looking @ you and interupting kife building. ::) ;)
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Pearlie, sometimes that works, sometimes not! ::)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/ShereKhanbroke001.jpg)
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Lets see, I have bow staves everywhere, boxes of rocks, pieces of cow bone cut out waiting to be shaped into Maori designs, a couple of war clubs halfway finished, bundles of cane, pieces of metal destined to become trade points, and drawings of a trebuchet. I see no problem with any of that ;D
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Getting rid of stuff helps but it is not a cure. If you're like me, you'll get distracted no matter what.
Right now I'm trying to narrow my focus and get rid of stuff that I'll never use. My goal is three types of wood for bows, three types of wood for arrows, three types of rock for knapping, three types of leather, three fur types, three types of feathers...etc. I've got too much variety. :o
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im exactly the same way, but i know i wont change so if you dod get rid of some of your stuff...... ::)
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I may be in the same boat I got knives bows rocks trucks bikes and other stuff all unfinished I've decided that my hobbie is starting new habbies and projects. Ron :o
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Pat, I was browsing through some old, old posts last night and came across your original post of that bow. It sure is a shame it suffered a tragic accident. It was a beauty.
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I hold Evan Williams responsible for it, Clint! ;D Probably a little ADD thrown in for giggles. ;)
Yea, ole' Shere Khan was a sweet bow. She had over 1000 arrows through her when this happened. Rawhide backed too!
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Maybe you should have put the rawhide on the belly >:D
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I hold Evan Williams responsible for it, Clint! ;D Probably a little ADD thrown in for giggles. ;)
Yea, ole' Shere Khan was a sweet bow. She had over 1000 arrows through her when this happened. Rawhide backed too!
Ahh Pat, I knew I like you. I have Evan Williams to blame for a lot of stuff. :o :P :-[ ;D
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Yea, he's a nice guy but boy will he get you in trouble. ::)
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You and ol' Roybert from SWPA need to work together Pat! I love pics like that if nobody was hurt!
Pearlie, sometimes that works, sometimes not! ::)
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/ShereKhanbroke001.jpg)
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I think we all suffer from distractions of one form or another to one degre or another.. Some worse than others...... Now what was I saying?
Oh look a shiny thing!
Pat
That is too bad about that bow that was a nice one.
N2
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jonathan i kinda have the same problem. the way i deal with several different hobbies is to focus on one thing at a time. like if i want a bow, then all my energy goes into making one and im not satisfied till im finished. then i might switch to arrows or something else. try to finish your projects one at a time, then you can pick a new one and focus on it without having several unfinished projects laying around.
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I agree....I have way to much in progress or waiting to be worked on that I don't complete a lot. I need to focus on one thing then move on........but I have always had a hard time with that. Oh Jackcrafty if you want to spread the wealth when you thin things down let me know.....I never have enough stuff to work on LOL.
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OK folks
I'm glad to hear the rest of you have this difficulty also!
I'm known around here as a collector of hobbies !
I have cut way back (sold my blacksmithing stuff ,quit working on guns,fishing,you get the idea) it does help some but is not really the answer . Putting things out of sight helps too if you can get yourself to do it. In the end its about disciplining yourself and thats hard work
Most of us are too lazy to pull it off
I know I am
Guy
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Jonathan; Most of us on this site do the same as you, that's why we approved your registration. ;D ;)
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I do the same thing ,just don't see it as a problem,I like messing with lots of different stuff, If I really get to needing something I can focus and get it done,Otherwise I am in no hurry on much of anything. :) I hate deadlines,get a lot of them at work,don't want any at home. :)
Pappy
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Haha, it's good to know I'm not alone here. I think everything would be better if I could just get that "one bow" that's in my mind made. I've got some really cool bows from some great bowyers on here and the only bow I want to add to the collection is a nice long, classic American flatbow. I'd be a happy camper then.............at least until it needed some arrows. ;D
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You have a serious problem! You are being distracted by the idea of selling off a bunch of stuff. Seek counseling and then get back to some serious tinkering. The most effective help for this "sell it off" disease is websites like this one and take two Primitive Archer Magazines and call me in the morning.
I speak from experience. I think ADD stands for "Additional stuff".
Seriously, I think people used to have to "tinker" with more stuff just to keep the household going. People had to be able to do lots of different things to manufacture, fix, improve, things for themselves. There are lots of interesting things still to be sampled!
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jonathon there is a flip side that is just as bad and maybe worse. I get kinda compulsive about
stuff and go to extreme lengths to "accomplish" something. I don't mean finishing a bow, for instance,
but learning how to build one.
I started trying to learn in late April of this year and have built 16 bows. And gotten seven more to
the tiller board before I blew 'em up. All were variations of AFB because that is what I like. Just laid
out another one this morning and hell, I don't even like to build bows. My whole goal is to
become a good shot and building is just one of those "hobbies within a hobby". Funny
but my wife doesn't call it a hobby.And sometimes she doesn't call me sweetie either.
Lane