Cane and Walking Stick Heads

Models and prototypes are important. They record what you like about a product, and offer a guide for improvement on the next iteration.

When I did boat shows, most of my sales came from larger ticket items like eagles, transom banners, quarter boards, and boat portraits. But a significant amount also came from selling wooden kitchenware and a line of canes and walking sticks. These were cash on the barrelhead items. No long drawn-out process of estimates, renderings, and deposits. That evening the money paid for dinner with friends, or the hotel bill.

I still use some of my canes and sticks—they were made to be sturdy and last. Last night, I was rummaging around the basement workshop and found these models that I used as guides for carving. The rabbit was a favorite with the kids.