SSC Woodturning
Origins...
I'm Steve. I'm the second "S" in "SSC". I own and operate SSC Woodturning (legacy products), Steve's Turn - Pens & More, and a private practice Income Tax Preparation and e-File business, known online as "Your New Tax Man", all from my home. I was born, and raised north of Boston, and am currently raising my own two children as a single parent in Southern Massachusetts. While we were both born and raised in Massachusetts, Cheryl and I lived in North Carolina for a six year stretch, (with Cailey & Nicholas joining us during our final year there, post adoption), and then we moved back to her old stomping grounds of North Attleboro, MA in 2003. As of this writing, we have made our home here for the past 13 years, and during most of that time, we enjoyed the companionship and antics of our two black labs, Ally-Oop and Pongo, who literally grew up with our kids - they were 3 when the kids were adopted at just over a year old. They both lived long full lives, and in recent years have both crossed the Rainbow Bridge to join their ancestors and await our eventual reunion. We are certain they are watching over Cheryl, or at least chasing her around, and she in turn is watching over us. In 2014, we took that indescribable, explosive, punch to the jaw as we faced cold, hard reality in Cheryl's sudden death. We were recently joined by an unlikely member, considering our proud status as a DOG family. We brought a feisty, inquisitive, ball of energy into our family back in September '16. Mylo the 8-week-old kitten somehow captured all our hearts, especially Cailey's. Since that time, he has been VERY curious, VERY active, VERY affectionate, and since being neutered, has calmed down a bit. Still not out of the kitten phase, but thankfully fewer leaps up and over the couch, or three-pounce trips down the stairs.
To step back a bit in time, my interest in Woodturning and Penmaking specifically, began in 2005 after watching some PBS specials. It soon became an excellent venue for mentoring three young, pre- and teen relatives. My Godchildren [niece Kara (9) and nephews Corey and Sean (10 and 16)] had lost their father Shaun, Cheryl's 1-yr-younger brother, to a tragic accident in 2001. I had the unfortunate circumstance of discovering and recovering his body from the accident scene - immediately after arriving at the Massachusetts family homestead, at the end of a long-planned, "straight through" sixteen-hour drive from North Carolina. We were anticipating my brother's wedding the following week. Instead, we were thrown headlong into planning a funeral that should never have happened. Yes, the two oldest siblings of six met their Maker way-way-WAY too soon. They passed at 37 and 51, thirteen years apart. Way too soon.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Needless to say, Shaun's passing triggered a bonding cycle for myself and his kids. We all needed to search out avenues toward healing, and found exactly what we needed when we came together with a common vision. We took on the name SSC Woodturning at that point. I said earlier that I was the second "S" in "SSC". Let me explain: those kids mean the world to me, as did their father. They have since the very moment they entered my life - long before they were born, in fact. Sean and Corey had been by my side basically from the beginning of their time, frequently spending weekends with Cheryl and myself from the age of six weeks. That bond extended literally from their infancy to the infancy of our venture together. Hence, one to my left (S) one to my right (C) S-S-C.
From the beginning, they were very hands-on with the whole process, being involved in every aspect of selecting materials, supplies, and even equipment, and planning the process flows in our garage/workshop. Being the youngest sibling, Kara still had every opportunity to join us at that level, but seemed to prefer a more casual "I'll make a few for myself and gifts" interest. That's totally OK.! People like us need people like her to buy and promote our products! And she did promote. She took a cue from me and wore a pen in as visible a way as she could think of. Most times that meant in the "V" of her polo shirtfront - her Catholic Middle School Uniform - Shirtfront. Not exactly fashion forward but it gets people curious. And talking. and BUYING! We all got some great one-on-one and group time, which was therapeutic all around. We all wish the circumstances that led to it all were different, but they cannot be changed. I count myself Blessed nonetheless. "I Could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss The Dance" - Garth Brooks, The Dance
Now, in 2017, my original three apprentices are all in their twenties and are living their own lives, making an occasional cameo appearance to get their taxes done, or "spin one" as a new "carry" (daily-use demonstrator) or for gifts. Kara is a brand new mom, Corey the Godfather. Her new little nugget Tobi is precious and multiple family members separately stated how much he resembles a newborn Corey... who in turn is the spitting image of his late father, Shaun.
And so life goes on , , ,
To step back a bit in time, my interest in Woodturning and Penmaking specifically, began in 2005 after watching some PBS specials. It soon became an excellent venue for mentoring three young, pre- and teen relatives. My Godchildren [niece Kara (9) and nephews Corey and Sean (10 and 16)] had lost their father Shaun, Cheryl's 1-yr-younger brother, to a tragic accident in 2001. I had the unfortunate circumstance of discovering and recovering his body from the accident scene - immediately after arriving at the Massachusetts family homestead, at the end of a long-planned, "straight through" sixteen-hour drive from North Carolina. We were anticipating my brother's wedding the following week. Instead, we were thrown headlong into planning a funeral that should never have happened. Yes, the two oldest siblings of six met their Maker way-way-WAY too soon. They passed at 37 and 51, thirteen years apart. Way too soon.
But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Needless to say, Shaun's passing triggered a bonding cycle for myself and his kids. We all needed to search out avenues toward healing, and found exactly what we needed when we came together with a common vision. We took on the name SSC Woodturning at that point. I said earlier that I was the second "S" in "SSC". Let me explain: those kids mean the world to me, as did their father. They have since the very moment they entered my life - long before they were born, in fact. Sean and Corey had been by my side basically from the beginning of their time, frequently spending weekends with Cheryl and myself from the age of six weeks. That bond extended literally from their infancy to the infancy of our venture together. Hence, one to my left (S) one to my right (C) S-S-C.
From the beginning, they were very hands-on with the whole process, being involved in every aspect of selecting materials, supplies, and even equipment, and planning the process flows in our garage/workshop. Being the youngest sibling, Kara still had every opportunity to join us at that level, but seemed to prefer a more casual "I'll make a few for myself and gifts" interest. That's totally OK.! People like us need people like her to buy and promote our products! And she did promote. She took a cue from me and wore a pen in as visible a way as she could think of. Most times that meant in the "V" of her polo shirtfront - her Catholic Middle School Uniform - Shirtfront. Not exactly fashion forward but it gets people curious. And talking. and BUYING! We all got some great one-on-one and group time, which was therapeutic all around. We all wish the circumstances that led to it all were different, but they cannot be changed. I count myself Blessed nonetheless. "I Could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss The Dance" - Garth Brooks, The Dance
Now, in 2017, my original three apprentices are all in their twenties and are living their own lives, making an occasional cameo appearance to get their taxes done, or "spin one" as a new "carry" (daily-use demonstrator) or for gifts. Kara is a brand new mom, Corey the Godfather. Her new little nugget Tobi is precious and multiple family members separately stated how much he resembles a newborn Corey... who in turn is the spitting image of his late father, Shaun.
And so life goes on , , ,
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