Northwest to Northeast

Hi KK4-ites!

I hope this fins you all very well. I just wanted to leave a little note here updating you as to recent MFA activity. Its been a difficult decision to make, but my family and I have chosen to completely uproot ourselves and make the move from little ole Tumwater, WA to little ole Middletown, CT.

Our lives have been completely consumed by the preparation and coordination of this move for the past couple months, but we definitely think it is a step in the right direction for our family and myself as a maker.

I've joined Dragon's Breath Forge, which is home to three other talented craftsmen, Peter, Jamie, and Matt, whom specialize in building reproductions of historical weapons as well as culinary knives. My joining the shop also brings DBF's Forged in Fire Champion total to 4!

I look forward to working along side these gents as well as growing my knowledge base. They also have a lot of fancy tooling here that I otherwise would not have the opportunity to play with.

Another great bonus about being up here is that I live 15 from Andy Billipp, whom I also look forward to getting to know better and spend time with.

If you plan on being in the area or near by, please drop a line, I would love to meet you and give a little shop tour.

Aslo to put a little bug in your ears, I've been talking to Mr Billipp and perhaps there's an opportunity to coordinate a KKF Gathering, NE Edition. Nick Anger, Nick Rossi, Bill Greulich, Geoff Feder, Marko Tsourkan, Joel Bukiewicz, Greg Cimms, Moriah Cowles and many other culinary focused knife makers are up here in a very tight and convenient place. It would be cool to get as many of them and forum members together for a gathering.

Thank you for your time!

Kindest regards,
Mareko

 

Congrats on completing the move, and best wishes for a success going forward. It sounds like a very good plan.

 

Wow, big move. I did the West to east move two years ago and have not regretted it one bit. You are going to love it!

 

Congratulations Mareko on your move.
Looking forward to what comes next.

 

Congrats. sounds like good things in store.

 

Congratulations, Mareko!

 

Thanks you guys! While this is a big move for us, it's definitely for the positive and some serious personal growth that'll lead to some really great things in the future!


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Good luck with the changes.

 

Thank you my friend!


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WOW!!! Big move. Best of luck. Artistic talent translates anywhere, sure you will be extremely successful!

 

Sounds like a smart move. It's great that you have support from your family. Good luck!

 

Sounds like a good move. Not only the access to more equipment, but the ability to discuss problems and ideas with peers is invaluable. Best of luck to you and your family!

 

wow, I missed this. Good luck on the new place.

 

Thank you all! @Lucretia you're 100% right on. It's already been really fun and handy working with the other guys and getting their input.

 

@Mareko Maumasi any update on the move or what you have been up to?

 

Thanks for reachin out @Jim! The move east all went smoothly. We showed up in mid July and it was balmy as all get out, of which we did not expect. It felt as though I was back in ATL for Blade Show in early June.

All in all after the move, getting settled in to our new home and into the new shop, I was and have been set back a couple months on my work list of which I'm unfortunately still behind on, but am working long days to get caught up with.

Winter is definitely different here in CT. The quantity of precipitation is similar to the NW, but because of the colder temps most of it ends up being snow.

It's been great working in a space with other talented makers, especially ones who's work varies so much from mine. I've been getting better results bouncing ideas off of my fellow shop mates vs them bouncing around in my dome.

I haven't spent much time outside of the shop or my home, so we haven't had many opportunities to get out and explore much. We have have had a couple adventures in the past few months though. We went peach picking at a Lyman's Orchards. In September, we took the commuter train from New Haven, about 30min south of us, down to Manhattan for a day trip, on my wife's birthday.

Once I'm better caught up to my list I look forward to getting to know New England a lot better and getting out on more adventures.

Warm wished to you all in the new year!

--Mareko

 

Nice it’s only 1 1/2 hours drive from me...makes me excited.

 

Mareko you know we need photos!

Glad to hear you are settled in ok and cracking on.

 

Very happy for you!

 

Good to hear from you, Mareko. Glad all is going well.