A Little Journey with Lau Lau Woodworks Pens
Sitting here with a steaming cup of black coffee—just the way I like it—I’m reminiscing about my adventures in crafting pens. You know, not just any pens, but these beautiful, handcrafted ones from Lau Lau Woodworks. It’s funny how I stumbled into this world because, believe me, it wasn’t on my to-do list.
How It All Started
I remember the day I first held one of those pens. I was wandering through a local craft fair, checking out the usual booths—pottery, paintings, those knitted cozies. But the moment I picked up a Lau Lau pen, it was like the world had stopped. Seriously, it fits so snugly in your hand, almost like it was meant just for you. There’s something special about the wood texture; you can feel the grain while the finish glistens in the light. Oak, walnut, cherry—all of it whispered stories of the trees they came from. The aroma, you know? There’s that faint scent of cedar that lingers in the air.
Part of me thought, "Maybe I could try making one of these." Yeah, I know, ambitious, right?
The First Attempt
So, I dove in headfirst. I grabbed my old lathe—bless it; I bought it used from some guy named Earl who lived down the street. I had just enough confidence (or maybe naïveté) to think, "How hard could it be?" Little did I know.
I decided to start with some maple that I found in my dad’s garage. That wood had been sitting there for ages, probably waiting for a project like this. I could almost hear it sigh with excitement when I pulled it out. I mean, it was rough and a bit warped, but how hard could it be to turn into a pen?
Set it on the lathe, and off I went. What an exhilarating feeling! I remember the sound of the carbide chisel gliding over the wood. It was like music, whirring and humming away, inching closer to that perfect shape.
But, oh boy, the moment I got a little overzealous? Yikes! The chisel caught—yep, you guessed it. A huge chunk of maple flew off! I swear I saw it do a little ricochet dance before it hit the wall. My heart sank faster than a lead balloon. I almost gave up right there. I thought, “Am I even cut out for this?”
Lessons Learned, One Chip at a Time
I’ll be honest. It took more than a few tries. Each time I tried to salvage what was left of that poor maple log, I learned something different. There was that moment when I finally got the profile just right, and then I realized I had neglected to drill the ink cartridge hole properly. Ha! Talk about a face-palm moment.
One day, I was just sitting there, staring at the lathe and the pile of wood shavings like they were some sort of puzzle I couldn’t figure out. And that’s when the lightbulb went off!
Instead of trying to make the pen I thought I wanted, I decided to embrace the imperfections. I started playing around with different wood stains and finishes. It was kind of liberating, you know? Instead of aiming for perfection, I leaned into the quirks. I actually ended up with a pen that had this wild grain pattern—like it was wearing its history with pride.
The Final Touch
When I finally finished a pen I was proud of, I carefully polished it up with some food-safe finish, a blend of jojoba oil and beeswax. The first stroke of the nib on a piece of good paper was mesmerizing. I laughed out loud when it actually worked!
I remember gifting it to my sister—her eyes lit up when she held it. “Wow, this is gorgeous! Did you really make this?” She’s always been my biggest supporter, but I could see a little surprise in her eyes too.
A Warm Moment
From that day on, each pen I made became more than just a writing tool; they told stories. I’ve started experimenting with other woods, even some reclaimed first-growth wood from an old fence. Oh man, you can smell the history, each piece carrying its scars and memories with it. I even tried a few custom engravings—talk about a learning curve!
It’s funny, right? How something that seemed so out of reach turned into this passion that now fills my evenings and weekends.
So, if you ever feel the itch to try something new—whether that’s making a pen or diving into any old hobby—just go for it! I wish someone had pushed me a little harder to explore my creative side sooner. You never know what you’ll learn about yourself in the process.
Here’s to more wood shavings, coffee breaks, and stories waiting to be etched in ink! Cheers!
