March 2009 Update

There have been some changes at Kestrel Tool that I'd like you to know about. I've come to a point in my life when I needed to slow things down somewhat, and there are lots of fun things that I enjoy that I haven't been finding much time for. For a while I closed the business altogether but then realized I still need to make a little money so I am taking orders again. To simplify things I am doing most of the work myself—that means you might have to wait a bit for your tools! I have mostly been getting tools out within a couple weeks, but I am not taking rush orders. You are welcome to tell me your deadline but if you do, be sure to include a ship by or cancel date.

To keep things as simple as possible, I am only accepting checks, money orders or cash. No credit cards, sorry. Offshore orders may use PayPal. In addition I want to minimize the amount of time I spend on the phone. If you have a question or inquiry about your order please email me at kestrel@rockisland.com and I'll respond promptly. To speed your order, email it when you send off your check and I may have it ready when your payment arrives. If you do this, please include a copy of your order and shipping information in the envelope.

I am sorry to say I have finally raised prices from the catalog #9 pricing. Those prices were over four years old and the cost of many of my inputs have gone through the roof since then. I have resisted raising prices; I want to keep these tools as affordable as I can, but a price hike was inevitable. I have changed specs for some tools to help keep prices down. The standard Straight Knife blades will come without polish and without a logo. They will be functional as ever and they still look good; these tools require a lot of careful hand work! The full polish, bird-etched knives are still available but the prices are somewhat more in line with the custom knives they are.

Keeping in Touch

If you wish to be on our email list you will get news from Kestrel from time to time. You can get off whenever you like; and no, I'll never trade your name to anyone. You are welcome to send me photographs of your art—if it's OK with you I may include your work in the periodic emailings.

I am still making time for carving projects I have some fun art work in progress right now. I managed to finish several pieces last year. I am continuing to work on the tool book, but finding time is the trick. The writing is fun but not fast. I am replacing some of my old literature with newly updated information from these writings. This new work is coming out with the literature package and those sheets that apply are going out with the tools. I have backed the hardness of my tools off 2 points. They will be harder to break, but easier to sharpen.

Let me tell you, this semi-retirement has me as busy as I have ever been. The little farm is undergoing a renaissance. This spring we are adding a 160' planting of wine grapes. New fruit trees (cherries, peaches, pears and plums) are going into the orchard. As our times keep changing we feel more and more thankful to be “on the land” and producing much of our own beautiful organic food. I am so thankful to have the Bush years behind us. I think we need to send our thoughts to our new young and intelligent president. Hopefully he will be able to make some of the changes we so desperately need. I hope he is informed by his heart and that he can stay on track. The ground in Washington is pretty tough to plow—there are so many entrenched interests. The big corporations have not given up on their plan to get the masses to consume ourselves out of a good planet. War of all kinds (terrorists, drugs, ideology, religion, territory) is still our and the world's way of “solving problems.” By now we should be able to see that the world's resources are too valuable to waste them in war (the world's resources include our and “their” children). What a pity!

As of the date of this revision I have what looks like 3 to 4 weeks of tool work lined up. In most cases I fill the orders in the order in which I get payment. Sometimes I have extra items since I work in small batches. Email inquiries are the best way of finding out what's available.

Thank you all for being so sweet and being willing to put up with my un-businesslike behavior. Plentiful Blessings to you all!

Gregg