Getting There

I suppose this blog entry isn't really for anyone, as much as it is for myself. After my injury in 2008 it was a long road to recovery. Over a year of physical and occupational therapy, a mixture of crutches and canes, and a few different doctors along the way. Because the injury was work related, you eventually reach what in the medical field is known as "medical end". This means that either you have completely recovered and no longer need the services or in my case, your recovery has plateaued. And while you may not have made a full recovery, a doctor, selected by the insurance company, makes the decision as to whether or not he or she feels you'd recover further from medical services.

A week or so after my long evaluation from that doctor I received a huge report in the mail with details about his point of view. This included his statement about my very small permanent disability (HA!) and another statement that there was a possibility for my knee to become weaker and worse off with time. How optimistic. You'd probably never notice unless you were closely inspecting the way I walk or comparing the size of my two legs that there's anything wrong. And, for the most part, I live my life as I did before the injury.

Still, my knee will buckle on occasion and doesn't respond well to quick movements like running and jumping. I've been able to push a little with my skateboard, enough to get a slow cruise going and I'm pretty happy with that. Last winter was my first strapping back into my snowboard. It's been pretty trying and frustrating to have to re-learn something I already had down cold. I know exactly what I'm supposed to be doing, but getting my leg to respond how I want it too has been a slow process. Snowboarding was work, hard work, and it was hard to see results, especially with my knee screaming the longer I stayed strapped in.

I scored some free tickets to the Snow Bowl in Middlebury this year, and yesterday, headed out with a friend not sure what to expect from "the little leg". Maybe it's having another year behind me, maybe it was the 10 inches we had gotten the night before, but yesterday was my best day on snow since the injury. Even though my leg won't quite respond how I want it too, I'm learning to ride with what it will give me. It's finally starting to feel fun again, really fun.

I know it's corny, but it's true. If there's something standing in your way of doing something, anything, don't give up. Be patient and keep at it. You'll get there.

Still getting there,

-Coob

In One Week...

You've been wondering what the heck I've been up to. Sometimes I have too. But, my friends, let me tell you... the things that will soon be unveiled will be unlike anything you have seen from me before. Don't worry, you won't be disappointed. All will be revealed in one week. You're gonna want to see this. Here's what you need to know:

Like Peanut Butter and Jelly; like Skateboards and Concrete. You can find my art on display at The 18th Annual South End Art Hop in Burlington Vermont September 10 and 11. So make sure to stop by Site 2: Red Concrete at 180 Flynn Ave.
I'll also be hanging out behind the Maltex building at 431 Pine Street selling some of my regular items on the 11th from 9-3. So come say hi!

And just to keep you in suspense, here are a few photos...

And no, these aren't necessarily shots of the finished pieces :P

Funny, that doesn't really look like a skateboard...

What the heck is that?! 32 skateboards can't be wrong.

The very fact that this actually came out well blows my mind. I think you'll feel the same.

Art Hop, do it! And for those of you a great distance away, don't fret. Photos of the completed pieces will be posted sometime after the hopping has begun.

Back to work!

-Coob

Coob hits the not so mean streets of Burlington, VT

So, I did it. I survived my first COOB Originals outing. The Queen City Craft Bazaar was Saturday and it was awesome! I have to confess to being nervous and feeling like a rookie. Especially after forgetting part of my display and a bunch of much needed supplies at home that morning. But, no one knew, except me, and now you. Comments from veteran vendors were reassuring telling me that my display looked very put together and professional.

While I have nothing to compare it too, I think I did pretty damn well! Everything was well received. I was pretty much wiped clean of business cards, which offers some promise of future business. And, I made some connections which I hope will come through. Oh yeah, I sold a bunch of stuff too :P

Then there were the other vendors. I'm not sure which was more amazing to me: how incredibly kind, encouraging, and enthusiastic they were towards me or the fact that I was part of an event which showcased these seriously talented people.

Well, you get the idea. Now check out just a few of the other awesome vendors!

My new crocodile mug from my show neighbor danmade. Incredible talent.It was cool to meet New Duds in person after only seeing them online. Sweet threads!

Erinn from Urban Farmgirl is incredible with a hook. Her work speaks for itself!

To see who else was there check out the complete vendor list.

And of course, a very enormous thank you to the incredible Kacey of Subsixstudios who not only produced the event, but found me, encouraged me to apply to the show, and is responsible for this photo and blurb making it into our local paper, Seven Days. THANK YOU!!!

-Coob
PS- Are all crafty people so damn nice?!

Coob Buckles Down

On Saturday, May 8th, I will be kicking it at my first craft fair. Rather awesome indie craft extravaganza known as The Queen City Craft Bazaar. So, I've been hard at work, covering myself and everything in my life with skateboard sawdust. Think of Linus from Peanuts but with a multicolor sawdust cloud instead of a dirt cloud. That's me. So while my shop looks slightly sad and empty I'm up to over 75 new items that I've created for the show this far. Yeah, over 75! Since I plan on selling them all ;) here is a preview of the new belt buckles I'll be bringing along with me. My favorite is the pigeon king from a 5boronyc deck. Now back to work!

-Coob

Vote For COOB!

That's correct, I need your vote! I was lovingly nominated by ArtTales and my swallow pendant made it into The Daily Green's Trash-to-Craft Challenge Etsy Voter! The article here tells a little more about it. The items with the most votes will be featured on TheDailyGreen.com. Help expose Coob... hmmm, that came out wrong. You get the point. So go and vote! (Make sure you're logged into Etsy and click submit after voting.)

I'm Alive!

You may think to yourself: "Self, where has Coob gone?". Well, Self, wonder no more! I'm here. After an exhausting winter of work and frying my computer, I'm still alive and kicking. In fact, I'm rolling out quite a few new items, so if you're patient you just might see them. The proof is in the sawdust! I'm building up my stock for my debut craft show which is a few weeks away (more on that later). So, once I'm convinced I have enough, I'll post some online too. Keep an eye out. Big things are on the horizon. Tell your homies too!

Peek for the Sneak

Curious about what's going on in that new apartment of mine? The sawdust is flying, and a new stack of decks with some AWESOME new colors are being demolished and reconstructed as we speak... well, not literally. Man, that would be dangerous! But, seriously, keep your eyes peeled. Some of these bad boys are gonna show up in my Etsy shop real soon.


Happy Thursday Coob-Stalker ;P

-Coob

New Diggs, New Decks, New Year

I have successfully made the move into my new place, and though still unpacking of course, it's AWESOME. From all the great space to the energy efficient appliances, I couldn't be more stoked. The pup and I both find the high efficiency front loading washer and dryer pretty fascinating as you can tell.

Talent, my local skatepark and skateshop recently lifted the ceiling on their park. (Yes, it's indoors!) So, they had to close the park for a few weeks. This meant no one was really coming inside to break their skateboards. Luckily, the renovation is complete, looks awesome, and now, decks are being destroyed once again. I have some new decks with some awesome new colors. Be on the look on for the new guys coming soon in my Etsy shop.

Finally, I just turned the big 2-5 a week ago. And, I'm hoping that this year will be a good one! Last year sucked, and I'm overly excited to put it behind me. So here's to an awesome new year. A great start, I received THREE of my favorites prints from artist Kill Taupe. They are even better in person. Now, they're just sitting in their protective envelope home while they await framing.

To an awesome 25th year, here goes nothing ;)

-Coob

Featured on the Front Page

I've been pretty terrible at posting. And, I'd like to work on changing that! Just wanted to share that the Sunday before last, my skull skateboard pendant was featured on the front page of Etsy!

To see the archive and the other items it was featured with, click the link!
Featured Etsy Front Page Archive
Until next time,

-COOB

A Coob Introduction

It doesn't seem there are very many places I am willing to fill out an 'about me', so perhaps it's best I do it on my own terms. And, if you are reading this, it's likely that I am not twisting your arms behind your back and pressing your face to the screen to get you to learn about me. So, that's on you!

A bit about me and why I started with all this 'COOB' business. After getting hurt and work, and subsequently being unable to work because of said injury, I had disgusting amounts of free time on my hands. I should mention that this is not the time of free time one desires. This is the sit still, with no one around, can't go anywhere, pull out your hair kind of free time. And, since I sometimes like my hair, I decided I'd better find something to keep myself busy.

It started with collecting bottle caps, a few here and there, and now it seems that I have an army of bottle cap collectors. Since they can't be recycled, I figured might as well try to do something with them. Thus, earrings, cuff links, magnets, and a few interesting other items were constructed with bottle caps. Bottle caps led to LEGO's, which were also fun. But, then I have always enjoyed LEGO's.

Yet even with what I suspect is thousands of bottle and LEGO's, there was still something I desired more: Skateboards. Yes, skateboards. Particularly, the kind that no one wants. I have two perfectly good working skateboards, and of course I can't use them because of my injury. So why in the world would I want more? I contacted my local indoor skatepark Talent in South Burlington, VT and proposed that I we help each other out. Every week I make a visit to Talent and pick up the broken, abused, and sometimes mind blowingly old skateboard decks that are headed for the trash. As you may imagine, skateboards aren't small, and aren't breaking down any time soon in the landfill. So, acquiring these broken decks has been a way for me to combine passions.

With the broken decks I tear them apart further to create new things, everything from jewelry to furniture (see lightning bolt pendant photo). I love working with the decks, and finding the life that's still left in them. The seven-ply wood layers that make up most of the decks seem to create many opportunities for me. In my opinion, the scars that tell the story of the life of the skateboard deck already offer some incredible art. And, I often find myself wondering what exactly 'this deck' has seen.

So there you go, that's why I do what I do. But you can check things out for yourself at http://cooboriginals.etsy.com/

And if you're wondering what's up with the name...? A friend of mine came up with it in attempt to turn my initials into a nickname : Coob. Upon giving my first pair of bottle cap earrings as a gift, my friend responded "My first pair of Coob Originals!" And, the name was born.

That's more than enough about me for now.

-Coob