Back at Last...

Well, we're halfway through February and I haven't posted since December...

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and holiday season. I took a few weeks off from the shop to spend some time with the family and recover from the Christmas rush. Things have been busy nonetheless and so I find myself a bit behind posting some new things.

If you were a Maple Ridge Creations customer last year, or if you have been a regular blog follower, you should be aware of some changes that will be coming (some are already here) this year. Here's a quick breakdown of what to expect:

1. Product changes. From the beginning of June through to December this past year, we managed to turn out at least one new product every week. Some of those were very successful and some weren't. I will continue to experiment with new products this year (since there's a million things you can make out of wood) but the variety will likely not be growing quite as fast as it did last year. So some of the things you might have seen last year will likely not be returning this year, but they will continue to be available as custom orders.

Also related to product changes: Last year a lot of our selection was stained pine. Due to the amount of time involved in properly applying stain to every little hole, I am hoping to use a lot more hardwood this year, so expect to see more in maple, beech, cherry, walnut, mahogany and more. Hardwood is considerably more expensive than pine, but by saving time by not staining I hope to keep costs from increasing too much, while at the same time increasing quality and durability of many products.

2. Prices: I hate rising prices. Absolutely hate it. Sadly, however, some prices will be going up. For one thing, last year was a bit experimental. We have had some time over the holidays to examine a bit more closely our profit margins and the amount of time involved in certain products and we feel that we are still charging a fair price for the products and services being offered. The other factors are, unfortunately, government related. As electricity costs in Ontario continue to rise, and with food prices already going up in expectation of rising minimum wage, I need to make more money to maintain the same standard of living (which isn't all that high).
Shipping prices will continue to be done at estimated cost when made directly by email or phone, but shipping costs have gone up with Canada Post earlier this year.

3. Where to find us: Last year my bread and butter location was the Marmora Farmer's Market, and I will be there again this year on Saturdays through the warmer months. I plan to also spend some Saturdays at the Madoc Farmer's Market. How often I am there will depend on the reception of the community. I will continue to visit other venues as they become available, whether craft shows, fairs, fundraising events, etc. And of course you can find us here on the blog. Custom order inquiries can be done through phone (613-473-5408), email (mapleridgecreations@gmail.com) or in person. Shop visits are by appointment only, but can be arranged. I am always happy to sit down with you and work out what you want before you make a commitment to have me make it for you.

4. A real website (?): Nothing concrete is in the works quite yet, but we would like to have a proper website by sometime later this year where you can browse a gallery, make inquiries and order directly from the website. If there's anything you would like to see, please let me know.

Why am I telling you all of this? Quite simple. You are my fans, followers and customers, and many of you are friends as well and I value you and your input. I want to include you in the (not so secret) workings of Maple Ridge Creations.

Canada Flag $15

On a quick final note: I will be putting another post up almost immediately after this one featuring some new products that I've been playing with over the Christmas break, so be sure to check that out too.

It's good to be back! Thanks for reading!