2 weeks since Chicago?!!

Wow! That happened fast. I've been meaning to post something here, but I hated to post a show-n-tell of Chicago loot or a "what I did on vacation" story. The fact is, I spent way too much in Chicago (not that I regret it) and a show report would sound pretty much like last year. Mark and I had a great time and the best part was seeing all of our wonderful pipe world friends. If you haven't been all I can say is start saving your money for next year. You'll have an amazing time!

Now it's back to work on a bunch of stuff (pipe racks and paintings) that was piled up and waiting for my return. -T

p.s. I'll post pics of pipes I bought in a slow deliberate fashion ... so it doesn't make me appear to be a pipe crazed lunatic.

Packed and Ready!

It's getting close! Real close! The Chicago Pipe Show is just around the corner. I think I'm a little ahead of last year as far a preparations for the Chicago trip go, but there is still plenty of around the house chores to keep me busy for the next 3 days. Poor Mark is working at the salt mines for these 3 days, so I'd better keep my whining to myself. I'm not sure he's even cleaned his pipes yet. I don't want to be seen w/ him if he is smoking smelly, filthy pipes at the show. Hopefully he will get on it tonight.

Hope to see some of you folks there. We'll be checking in w/ the Smokers Forums crowd on Saturday. -T

The Copenhagen Pipe Show

Chicago is almost here. I'm starting to count hours instead of days. Here's a few photos from the Copenhagen Pipe Show last month. The dynamic pipe making duo, Villmer & Nilsson were kind enough to send them my way. Maybe this will help everyone get in the pipe show spirit ...as if we need help! -T

The Enriques are Here!

If you've read this blog in the past, you probably know I am a huge fan of David Enrique's pipes, so I won't gush again. I'll just let you know these are great as usual. I thought I would wait to smoke them in Chicago ... but ..um ... I didn't. No patience. -T

Waiting for David Enrique

OK- not really David Enrique. I'm waiting on a pair of canadians that I commissioned a while back. They are winging their way here as I type. Pipes from David are starting to be a part of my yearly Chicago tradition. I had a new lovat to take with me last year and hopefully the canadians will make the trip this year. I also hope I can convince David to make the trip one year.

The canadians were something of a surprise. I had intended for David to make a set similar to a pair he made back in 2008. I've been admiring those pipes on his website for a while. In the mean time, David had read Neill Roan's blog about the Comoy 309 canadian and as he said in an email "When I saw this pipe, I decided that I should make a pipe of this elegant shape !". Well I couldn't argue w/ the results. Now I'm waiting and looking longingly out the window (even though it's Sunday) at the mailbox. Any day now I'm sure. -T

Beautiful photo above taken by David Enrique

Things are Looking Up!

Around here we're calling it The Work Pavilion. It's my new covered workspace and it's ready to go. In fact I worked on a couple of pipe racks yesterday. It's good to get back to work, instead of pacing around waiting for others to finish up their work.

Also, we have a new roof on the house and studio. So I think we can weather these devilish spring storms. At least it's not raining indoors now!

11 days until Chicago!