• July 2025 Turning Challenge: Turn a Multi-axis Weed Pot! (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to James Seyfried for "NE Red Oak II" being selected as Turning of the Week for July 21, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

A Handmade Life

Donna Banfield

Donna Banfield

TOTW Team
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
625
Likes
2,079
Location
Derry, NH
A Handmade Life

Almost two years ago, I spent, I think, nearly 11 hours in my studio in Derry, NH with a film crew who was hired to create a series of short films that were distributed to schools across New England and beyond. I was one of ten makers they filmed, spanning multiple mediums: clay, glass, print making, bladesmith, fiber/weaving and more. The purpose was to increase awareness and inspire more young people to consider a less traditional path and career; that it can and is still being done.

The film crew took the footage from those 10 short stories, and put together a documentary, titled “A Handmade Life.” It was chosen to be included in the NH Film Festival, happening in Portsmouth, NH on October 17-18.

Below is a YouTube link to the film trailer. I appear in several spots in the trailer: in the beginning, opening my studio in the morning, along with my two assistants, Ollie and Lacey (large red barn); seated at my carving bench, in a light blue smock; and my voice over, (which segues to me seated), sharing why it was necessary for me to work with wood. I’m hoping to make it to the Film Festival for one of the screenings.

This film crew were all recently out of school, friends who decided to follow their own paths and create their own production company, Wildwood Productions. I’m really excited and hope that this helps all of them, onto their own journey of being full-time makers. I am also grateful to the League of NH Craftsmen, who made this series possible, securing grants to cover the cost and production of this project.


A Handmade Life - Film Trailer
 
That would be interesting to see. Do they have plans to release it for world-wide viewing? It seems it would be a great PSA-like piece for anyone looking for a new, or another path, yound or old.
 
Wow, it looks really well made, I really hope it gets released from everyone to see.

I never did want to take the traditional route, and I am very glad I did not. At 21 years old it's great to be different, more skilled, and have the experience of people much much older than me. Of course there's nothing wrong with the traditional way, each person is unique in their God given abilities and talents!!
 
Isaac Litster said:
That is amazing! Especially as I am in my last year of high school, thinking about what I want to do with my life, I am excited to see it!
Click to expand...
Isaac,
Be careful. This is all somewhat of a fairytale. Unless your family is wealthy the decisions you make now regarding your life will have long term consequences.

At your age I had to make a decision about college. I followed family advice to go into the sciences where I would never have to worry about finding a well paying job. That was a life defining decision. After graduating I worked in high tech for a few years.

After the few years in high tech I left to pursue the "handmade life" more working with my hands than my brain. Life was good, I made enough to support the family. Cost of living was reasonable with 2 kids and a stay at home wife. When our oldest was 10 talk about the kid's college came up. No way could we afford their college. So I had to make another life decision. I started an engineering business that went well.

As I got older and could afford it I veered a bit back into the handmade life again.

Now days cost of living is so high I don't know if my journey could be repeated. We still live in our starter home since the neighborhood has improved so much. Our new next door neighbors paid 130 times what we paid for our house decades ago. It's a tough world young people are going into.
 
Last edited:
Donna, looking forward to seeing this movie. As a NH resident (I'm in Peterborough) and VP of the Monadnock Art Tour. I'm all for things that promote the amazing arts community that lives in NH. For those of you who live near by, but aren't aware of the Monadnock Art Tour, 65 open studios on Indigenous Peoples weekend and a great time to drive around and enjoy the foliage.
I'm in Studio 54. Come on by and talk turning!
arttour2024-brochure-cover.JPEG.jpeg
 
Bryan Field said:
Donna, looking forward to seeing this movie. As a NH resident (I'm in Peterborough) and VP of the Monadnock Art Tour. I'm all for things that promote the amazing arts community that lives in NH. For those of you who live near by, but aren't aware of the Monadnock Art Tour, 65 open studios on Indigenous Peoples weekend and a great time to drive around and enjoy the foliage.
I'm in Studio 54. Come on by and talk turning!
View attachment 67250
Click to expand...
I'll be on that side of your world the same weekend, in Northampton, MA doing the Paradise City Arts Festival. I know a lot of those artists who participate in your Open Studios Art Tour. Here's hoping that we all have good weather and great sales.
 
Doug Rasmussen said:
Isaac,
Be careful. This is all somewhat of a fairytale. Unless your family is wealthy the decisions you make now regarding your life will have long term consequences.

At your age I had to make a decision about college. I followed family advice to go into the sciences where I would never have to worry about finding a well paying job. That was a life defining decision. After graduating I worked in high tech for a few years.

After the few years in high tech I left to pursue the "handmade life" more working with my hands than my brain. Life was good, I made enough to support the family. Cost of living was reasonable with 2 kids and a stay at home wife. When our oldest was 10 talk about the kid's college came up. No way could we afford their college. So I had to make another life decision. I started an engineering business that went well.

As I got older and could afford it I veered a bit back into the handmade life again.

Now days cost of living is so high I don't know if my journey could repeated. We still live in our starter home since the neighborhood has improved so much. Our new next door neighbors paid 130 times what we paid for our house decades ago. It's a tough world young people are going into.
Click to expand...
I don't disagree, Doug. I spent more than 20 years in the legal profession before I discovered working with my hands and wood. I was discouraged from doing anything like that as a child, so my discovery began as a stress reliever, which led to the cross-roads leap in the beginning of 2004. It is not an easy way to make a living or earn income, but I sure didn't hate to get up and go to work every morning.
 
Isaac Litster said:
That is amazing! Especially as I am in my last year of high school, thinking about what I want to do with my life, I am excited to see it!
Click to expand...

Get as much education as you can and build marketable skills.
I know dozens of turners who make nice livings from turning. It’s difficult to make it.
A couple went through some near homelessness for a while.

The economy is cyclical. We get inflation, wages go up, it balances out over time. Then it starts again.
If your wages are the last to go up it can be real painful.

Two guys I know pretty well decided to go into turning full time both left the turning behind. one when the economy crashed in 2008 - the other when the economy crashed in 2020. Both tough times to find other jobs but they had skills and connections that let them find decent jobs. They still turn but without the stress.
 
hockenbery said:
Get as much education as you can and build marketable skills.
I know dozens of turners who make nice livings from turning. It’s difficult to make it.
A couple went through some near homelessness for a while.

The economy is cyclical. We get inflation, wages go up, it balances out over time. Then it starts again.
If your wages are the last to go up it can be real painful.

Two guys I know pretty well decided to go into turning full time both left the turning behind. one when the economy crashed in 2008 - the other when the economy crashed in 2020. Both tough times to find other jobs but they had skills and connections that let them find decent jobs. They still turn but without the stress.
Click to expand...
I'm going to college, and have considered the difficulty of self-employment. My brother loves working on his truck, and when encouraged to pursue being a mechanic, he declined by expressing that he wanted to keep it fun, not to make it a job. I love turning, it is my passion, but do I want to make it my career? I don't know.
 
Isaac Litster said:
I'm going to college, and have considered the difficulty of self-employment. My brother loves working on his truck, and when encouraged to pursue being a mechanic, he declined by expressing that he wanted to keep it fun, not to make it a job. I love turning, it is my passion, but do I want to make it my career? I don't know.
Click to expand...
I would also suggest to diversify your learning and pursue trade certificates in different topics that interest you.

I did this, I currently have my certificate in Home Inspection, Residential Plumbing, Residential Electric, and am currently working on Small Engine Repair certification.

This means I can pursue any of these fields and also have a heads start on learning.

It also helps with securing a job quicker as the workforce now is looking for quality younger workers to replace the retiring ones!
 
The biggest issue with doing this for a ‘living’, is that most of your time will be spent doing all the other things that have nothing to do with the actual turning, or making of inventory. If you make it your business, you will need to do the business portion just as well, or better than the turning portion.

Just one example, deciding to start doing craft fairs. So many newer turners make that leap without doing their homework. It’s not like the woodturner’s version of the Kevin Costner movie, Field of Dreams’. It will not be ‘If I turn it, it will sell.’ You need to know your market, your competition, the cost of doing the fair, whether you are comfortable marketing yourself to potential buyers, and doing it every opportunity that presents itself. These are just the initial considerations. Because it is a job.
 
Last edited:
Donna Banfield said:
I'll be on that side of your world the same weekend, in Northampton, MA doing the Paradise City Arts Festival. I know a lot of those artists who participate in your Open Studios Art Tour. Here's hoping that we all have good weather and great sales.
Click to expand...
Donna, I saw that you were at Paradise Arts, I confess a conflict, I love Paradise arts, such great work (including yours) on show there. If it weren't for the Art Tour I'd be in Northampton.
 
Isaac Litster said:
I'm going to college, and have considered the difficulty of self-employment. My brother loves working on his truck, and when encouraged to pursue being a mechanic, he declined by expressing that he wanted to keep it fun, not to make it a job. I love turning, it is my passion, but do I want to make it my career? I don't know.
Click to expand...
I've heard variations of this for years. It never made sense to me when people said they turned their hobby into a business and it ruined the hobby. What could be better than making a living from your hobby?

I always liked to do metal working as a hobby. I turned that into a business that justified buying all sorts of expensive machinery that couldn't be justified for a hobby.

In college I was fascinated by solving difficult mathematical problems on the computer (numerical analysis) almost a hobby. I managed to turn that into a job as a mathematician at Boeing.

The key to this is a reality check. The hobby has to be something enough in demand to make a living off of it. Woodturning may not be a field with a high enough demand to make an easy living. Look at the stars of woodturning, some supplement their income by selling tools. Others teach, some will say they're teaching to pay it forward, no. More likely they're in that situation we used to say about some university profs, if you can't make a living at your chosen profession, teach.
 
Donna Banfield said:
A Handmade Life

Almost two years ago, I spent, I think, nearly 11 hours in my studio in Derry, NH with a film crew who was hired to create a series of short films that were distributed to schools across New England and beyond. I was one of ten makers they filmed, spanning multiple mediums: clay, glass, print making, bladesmith, fiber/weaving and more. The purpose was to increase awareness and inspire more young people to consider a less traditional path and career; that it can and is still being done.

The film crew took the footage from those 10 short stories, and put together a documentary, titled “A Handmade Life.” It was chosen to be included in the NH Film Festival, happening in Portsmouth, NH on October 17-18.

Below is a YouTube link to the film trailer. I appear in several spots in the trailer: in the beginning, opening my studio in the morning, along with my two assistants, Ollie and Lacey (large red barn); seated at my carving bench, in a light blue smock; and my voice over, (which segues to me seated), sharing why it was necessary for me to work with wood. I’m hoping to make it to the Film Festival for one of the screenings.

This film crew were all recently out of school, friends who decided to follow their own paths and create their own production company, Wildwood Productions. I’m really excited and hope that this helps all of them, onto their own journey of being full-time makers. I am also grateful to the League of NH Craftsmen, who made this series possible, securing grants to cover the cost and production of this project.


A Handmade Life - Film Trailer
Click to expand...
That looks really interesting, I would love to see it. This whole conversation is interesting to me... my arc has gone university, to working in a museum conservation lab, to cabinetmaking school, to professional woodworker, to college woodworking instructor, to teaching adult high school and running a Habitat chapter, to (currently) teaching adult high school, with as much time in my woodshop as I can manage, but mostly as a hobbyist now. I wouldn't change any of it. The choices people make and their relationship with craft and trades always draws me in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top