M.I.A.

Greeting to anyone who stumbles upon this far desolate corner of the blogosphere and hello to you faithful friends who have remained to see if this sadly neglected blog would one day again spring to life. It has been far to long since I have brought any kind of update to this page and life has gone in many strange, new and exciting directions. When last I was here my wife and I had just been blessed with our first child who is now beginning to walk, talk and keep use busier than ever imagined. I was posting pictures of the pipes I had made and trying to progress the craft, not to perfection but to at least a point I would feel comfortable letting the pipes see the light of day. I was in limbo as life was transitioning from a good steady job of ten years to a new chapter of self employment and uncertainty along with a great deal of child rearing to which I was a complete novice. I was purchasing and trying new tobaccos with the zeal and fervor of new discovery. And we had recently pulled up our roots and moved leaving behind countless friends and family to chase new opportunities and establish a new home; a new home as a family, not just the husband and wife couple we had been the for the previous thirteen years. As I sit here writing this my wife just put our unbelievably awesome son James to bed. Having a child has changed life in ways I can not even begin to explain but is understood by all who have brought babies into their homes. It teaches one to love on a whole new level and your perspective on everything changes. I once scoffed at these notions, thinking it surely could not bring about such changes but today I humbly retract those arguments as I now live life each day for a little boy that has stolen our hearts. And the family continues to grow because we are expecting our second in early March! We have settled well into our new home in the country and love it. I would find it hard to move back to a city of any size now. Last week my wife and I had to travel to Dallas for a few days and after the horrendous Dallas traffic I was ever so excited to return to my small slice of paradise were the nearest traffic light is at least fifteen miles away. Paradise in every way but the weather, I am tired of the heat, but being a life long Texan I have learned to deal with it for the most part. Pipe making endeavors are going well, just can't seem to catch up; but I suppose that is a good thing. I have now shipped pipes to people over a great deal of the U.S. and to a handful of other countries, along with gaining my first retailer, Big Star Cigar. I now look back at the early ones I have posted on this page and cringe but I guess that goes with all things we try and create. It is the hopeful evolution of the craft. But still, I have far to go and with each one finished I learn something new. My style and taste have gradually changed as I try to find my own niche in the world of briar. As for the collecting of tobaccos, I always desire new things but have slowed down on purchases. I would say that this is to thin down the cellar to make room for blends to come, but that would only be half true for finances these days are pulled in many other directions leaving little room for stacking tins. So I try to be content with what I have a treasure each new acquisition. Along with that I have recently had a thing for dark matured Virginias so feel free to make recommendations to what fills that bill for you. With all of this, and so much more than time allows, I simply say that life has been good, be it busy, hectic, challenging and tiring, but overall good. My desire is to breathe life into this page again staring now and to reconnect with the wonderful friends I have found here. You all add so richly to this part of my life and quite frankly my wife grows tired of pipe talk. I will attach some pics of a few recent pipes for those who are curious. And with that, goodnight.

Broken Dreams of Briar

I was able to finish a couple of pipes this past weekend despite a plethora of flawed briar. If you are not aware of the potential for flaws in a block of briar then consider yourself lucky to be free of such heartbreak. It is not uncommon to have a beautiful piece of briar beaming with all the potential of the fine smoking apparatus that it is soon to be. As you poor your time and labor into bringing forth the form of the new pipe greatly, anticipating the glorious creation to be, you heart sinks as a hole the size of a lunar crater emerges in the middle of the bowl or some other location that is sure to render the piece a lost cause. Now suppliers of briar will tell you that this is simply a part of life and that in the end it will work out that more often then not the briar will be usable. Well strike me twice with lightening and consider me shark bait for these odds seem stacked most unevenly against me these days. Despite such comforting assurance from said suppliers, I scrapped three pieces in row in one night this week. I have defiantly seemed to find more flawed pieces of briar then my fair share theses days. On the other hand if I were to air on the side of the half full glass, then I am assured to never see a flaw again, or at least for a long time, if that is truly the statistical stance of the "briar guys". But in reality I now look at each piece with suspicion bordering on contempt, questioning the briar's true motive, will you yield the pipe of my desires or leave me broken once again. With that I am off to the shop, I have a new shipment of briar to get into. Wow I really need a new hobby! Check out this weeks "successful" attempts.

Unspoken For!

While I have been busy trying to complete pipe orders, makes me sound busy when in actuality I'm just a slow worker, I was able to complete a couple of pipes this weekend that are available now! In the future I will list pipes that are "unspoken for" at the following site; http://www.christopherpipes.com Thanks, Chris

Pipes Made This Week

Yes this is a lazy attempt at an update but I have been on the road traveling with the wife for her job and trying to wrangle a two month old along the way. Next week we will be in Houston then hopefully stay home for a while. In the mean time I just wanted to share with all of you wonderful readers of my blog the pipes I finished this week! If you are interested in ordering a pipe from me you can contact me at: cmccartor@yahoo.com or conect with me at: http://www.facebook.com/christophermccartorpipes

Pipes Around the Globe

Its is quite possible that in my wanderings this last weekend, that I may have stumbled upon what is surely the coolest pipe rack ever created. Yes that does sound like an overly bold statement but sometimes a thing is created that surpasses those other vessels of similar purpose. In the end I guess it simply comes down to form and function but with "function" being so elementary in it's en devour we are left with "form" alone to express itself so eloquently. So, can I truly try to "wax poetically" on such a simple vessel as a pipe rack? Why yes I can. In a small antique shop in an even smaller town that lies a short drive from my current abode, I walked into this most marvelous piece from the glorious pipe smoking past. Now if I were to be completely honest then I must say that my dear wife was first to spot it and bring it to my attention, for she too saw it as a thing beauty and that was key in my acquiring it. To the point now, it was a pipe rack in the shape of a globe that made to hold eight pipes. Now to add even more function to the already outstanding form, the globe opens to reveal a humidor within. The only markings on the piece is a small stamp on the bottom that reads "Old world globe, made in Italy". The owner of the shop told me that it was a family piece to her and it came from Germany where it was bought as a wedding gift from the bride to her groom. The two "blue hairs" running the store where quite delighted, though a bit of haggling first ensued, that I would be giving it a new loving home but were then a good deal dismayed to learn that I planned to use it and that I partook in the use of tobacco.

New Pipes

In all of the things going on in life these days I have failed to post any pics of recent pipes that I have completed so here are a few of them.

A New Addition and Much More

Greetings all you disciples of the briar, hope you have all been well this past couple of months and enjoyed many good smokes. After a brief absence for reasons to be explained I am back to this small corner of cyber space to rant, rave and discuss all things pipes in general and pretty much whatever else is on my mind. I have so many things to share. Several new pipes have been made and leaving for their new homes, many great new tobaccos tried and lots reflecting on the everyday, mundane and extrodinary things of life but this must all wait for I have news of much greater relevance. On November the sixth of 2012 my wife gave birth to our first child, our son James Langston McCartor! It was not an easy entrance into the world by any means. Arriving a week early by means of an emergency c-section, we spent a roller coaster week in the hospital dealing with unstable blood sugars, jaundice, a heart murmur and a small whole in his heart known as vsd. We experienced new levels of stress and concern like we had never known. We spent five sleepless nights in the hospital making constant journeys to the special care nursery where he was under close supervision and monitoring. And we once again experienced the miracles of our most gracious God when we went home with a happy and healthy baby a week later. James is doing fantastic today. We still have to follow up this month with a cardiologist to monitor the vsd but the doctors feel confident that it will heal on its own over the next year and have no concerns of any complication from it. He entered the world at a whopping five pounds twelve ounces and just a few weeks later we have already gained three pounds which the doctors said was outstanding, this kid can seriously eat. As told to me by countless friends and family members, life has changed in ways one can not express in mere words alone. At first I was fearful of this "change" but now I have that understanding that only fatherhood can bring. I have joined that fraternity of proud dads world wide whose purpose in life has re-focused to the raising of such a precious gift.

Doing a fathers duty!

Playing with Rustication

Made this little poker the other night and decided to play around with the rustication, so give me you thoughts on it. Tomorrow is the last day, for real this time, of my old job and the end of the nearly four hundred mile a day commute to work. So those of you patiently waiting for pipes shall see them soon. The only thing that could side track me now from filling pipe orders is..... the baby is due in ten days!

Briar in Idle Hands

Got in the shop tonight with no ideas or direction trying to think of something constructive to do with these idle hands and picked up a piece of briar. Now actually I should have started on a few furniture projects being that a couple of store fronts have offered to carry some of my items but this night the briar was calling. No mark ups, no lines and no ideas, just picked up a block and started shaping. No sure of the shape, kind of dublin-esk I would guess but I like it so all is good.

Fruits of This Weeks Labor

Well now that we are pretty much moved I have been able to get back into the shop a little bit. Next order of business is to expand! The property our new house is on already had a "crude" but workable shop measuring about 2oo square feet which houses most of my equipment but does not leave space to move, literally. So the next major undertaking is to expand. But in the mean time I sacrificed comfort in order to try to get a few new pipes out. I will try to remember and keep you all posted with the ever so exciting expansion of the new shop, yes, yes, I know all are gripping the edges of their seats but you must contain yourselves and in the meantime check out the new pipes!

She Does it Again

Well I have just noticed that a new pipe of mine, one of great distinction, has not made an appearance hear on my blog. This simply can not remain and must be corrected at once! If you were to go back some time in this here blog space you would find an entry relating to an extraordinary gift form my dear wife to commemorate our twelfth anniversary, it was my first meerschaum pipe. A beautiful CAO Beckler. That brings me to the next point, I was recently making comment on my youtube channel, I believe discussing the fact that there were many brands of pipe that would probably never grace my collection solely based on their hefty price tags. I could not see myself dropping such money on a pipe. Well a couple of weeks ago the time came again to celebrate our anniversary, this time our thirteenth. Being that we have just moved and purchased a new house and with all the expenses related to doing so, it was agreed to keep this celebration quaint and most of all inexpensive, you know the sweet and simple remembrance of our love and union. I traveled to see her that night, remember she had already relocated and I was soon to follow, it was to be a sort of surprise. We had reservations at a special place for dinner and upon returning to the house I would give her the sweet but simple gift that had accompanied me. But before we left from diner she throws in the proverbial "monkey wrench". I was preparing to leave and suddenly there before me was a small humbly wrapped box in the middle of the table. The proportions of the box instantly brought forth my speculations of its contents. To myself and many of you who read this page, a box in such a size leads one to conjor the possible contents, not wishing to jump to conclusion but at the same time optimistic of its nature. I slowly removed the wrapping to reveal the words Cavicchi C. . To say the least she had outdone herself, once again. The wife I have been blessed with loves to give like no other. I can honestly say that her greatest joy is in giving to others. As I looked upon this marvelous piece of briar with its tulip wood band a feather-like feel, I looked to her and said "You know, two years in a row sets a presidence so I can only imagine what next year will bring", lol. But in all seriousness it is awesome and heart felt and I will let the picture do the talking. So Kayla, hears to you and thirteen years of bliss!

New Pipe Finished

Just wanted to show you all my latest pipe, it is finished and en-route to the Northwest Youtube Pipe Presenters Conference along with my previously completed one. I have several more in the works but slightly delayed due to getting my shop move to the new house. And on that subject... I have finally got moved into the new house!

Couldn't Pass on Sharing this Pic!

So if you are a reader of this blog, which would probably make you an all around glutton for punishment, then you are familiar with my love of Mark Twain. Often people ask who is your favorite pipe smoker? Well it goes without saying that mine is Twain. Twain embodies so much of my childhood romanticism with classic americana that extrudes coolness with a smattering of eclectic distinguishement (yes I may have just made that last word up, or at least spell check says so). Anyhow to the point now, I came across this picture of the man today that I have never seen and found it way to good not to share. Come on it is Twain in a bath robe with pipe and dog in tow. That's good stuff!

Check out some of my Twain ramblings at: http://thedailybriar.blogspot.com/2011/08/two-fathoms-or-safe-water-or.html

Getting Back to Work

So I received a new shipment of briar about four weeks ago and was anxious to get at it but it was just this week that I found the time. Anyhow enough of my complaining, it's time to get back in the shop and get busy. I am going to try to get several cranked out this week in order to fulfill a couple of commitments to some good people who have patiently waited on me. This is the first pipe from the new briar and I finished it late last night. I already have a few other blocks prepped and drill so hopefully by next week I will have more to show. So check out this sweet little nose warmer poker with its tortoise shell lucite stem and check back later for more to come.

Revisiting a Pipe shop in D' Town

So now that I am trying to tie up the final loose ends at my soon to be "old" job, I am trying my best to use all remaining vacation time. This has been easily accomplished by simply following my wife on all of her "official" business travel for work. So far it has been Houston, Dallas and soon to San Antonio. This has also given me the delightful opportunity to peruse out of town pipe shops. Now all I need is to convince the wife of a "New pipe acquisition allowance". Well I can dream right? Though I should not protest to much due to the fact that I have come home with a new pipe from the first two cities and there is still San Antonio to come! While in Dallas I visited a familiar shop called Up in Smoke. Now it is a shame that such a classy shop first conjures up images of a "head" shop with its unfortunate name. The shop does not quite live up to "Cheech and Chongs" high brow standards but a nice quaint pipe and cigar shop it is. So as I looked over the inventory of briar goodies searching for something new but budget conscience, I spied a delightful little Stanwell. It just so happened that up to that juncture in time, I did not own a Stanwell and the price was choice. So a Stanwell it was to be. The particular model is a Stanwell Statement, it is lightly sandblasted with a short bit and a nice nose-warmer length. All and all a great looking pipe and equally great smoker.

Quick Vid

Just a quick, and mostly pointless, video to show pipe number twelve to my youtube pipe community friends. Smoking my Peterson Aran with a little Blackney's Best Latakia Flake. Cheers!

New Briar!

Just got a shipment of new briar so it's time to make dust again! With a whole twelve, lol, pipes under my belt I am anxious to get back in the shop this week and get some more rolling out the door. It has been hard to find the much pipe making time lately with the slow move and training my replacement at work but alas things are slowly clearing out and I itching to further my endeavors at pipe making. I was was very pleased with the last one but have so much more to learn and hone. But as I said, I have more briar,so off to the shop! Cheers!

Oh, and Brad one of these has your name on it!

Road Noise

Lately I have spent a lot of time on the road traveling back and forth from the old home to the new in preparation of eventually getting moved. There is still a lot of work to be done on our old house but I am getting thing finished up at work and almost ready to make my exit there at least. But in the mean time all the traveling gives me good opportunities to make more pipe videos to keep up with my youtube pipe community friends and then drag over here to share with you wonderful blog readers... or blog viewers as I guess its a video. Anyhow if you find yourself in a aromatic kind of mood let me suggest Cornell & Diehl's Autumn Evening!

Twelve And A Move

So in the mix of all the craziness that life has dealt in the last couple of months I have managed to finish pipe number twelve. To bring you all to date if you have not been following, the last couple of months have brought a new job for my wife which in return brought a move (in the process of) along with us anxiously expecting our first child this fall. Busy to say the least. My lovely wife began her new job almost three months ago and we have been traveling back and forth to spend the weekends together, fortunately it is only a two and a half hour drive. I in the mean time have been trying to tie things up at my job and help find my replacement while at the same time pondering the ever daunting task of getting our house ready to go on the market. Now if a new job, new city and new baby were not enough, lets throw in a new house to the mix! Yes we unsuspectingly stumbled upon a house that we fell in love with, two months later, countless head aches and miraculously coming up with the down payment we own a new house. I while soon give you a virtual blog tour of the new home but in the mean time my short description will have to suffice. It is about one mile out of the city limits of Buffalo Gap Texas sitting on roughly two acres. The location and property is awesome and added bonus of a shop already on site and a cool room above the garage that my wife says can be my indoor smoking lounge! Anyways enough of that, more to come so stay posted. As mentioned earlier I finished my twelfth pipe, a free hand dublin from a plateau with a lucite stem. This one was requested by my wife as a Fathers Day present for her dad. I am pretty happy with the results so check out the pics. And with that I leave you with promises of more pipe and pointless ramblings to come.

The Next Best Thing to Smoking a Pipe

Pipes are not the only thing that I love to smoke! Weather its a virginia, english, beef or pork, its all good! Must just be something about smoke that makes all the world right. Well, unless its that Shiner Bock Smokehaus beer, that was just wrong. Cheers to all things born of smoke!