back of the napkin scribbles vol. 4

Some Thoughts on Perfection

I made a rather custom cigar case this week and the process highlights my thoughts on perfection. I think perfection is overrated.

Way back when I first got into woodworking, late 2019, so not that long ago, I put a website together, as one does, to show things that I made and maybe get a few projects commissioned. That didn’t go anywhere, and I’m good with that, but through the process of making the website, of learning how to work with wood, of figuring out exactly who I was as a woodworker, I determined very early on that I preferred imperfection over perfection. I wrote the following on that website:

Perfection is over rated. Boring. Predictable. Anyone can do it these days. You can buy perfection from a store or make it with a machine.Imperfection, on the other hand, offers texture, character, charm, personality, uniqueness.I choose to celebrate imperfection. I hope you’ll join me.

(The website is still out there, I called it Swing and Whittle, a moment frozen in time. And yes, that’s me there with the beard. The site still features falling snowflakes I put in there via CSS when I first published it. I plan on keeping it. It documents my very beginning with handcrafts. Woodworking was my first love in the world of handcrafts—a time of learning and discovery that ultimately led me to leatherwork.)

I digress.

Where I landed then on perfection has not changed as I now find myself using leather as my material.

Back to the cigar case I made. My customer wanted a meaningful sentence on the case for his soon-to-be father-in-law.

I could get a machine to do this type of work, cut into the leather using a laser, “set the type” using a computer, but, well, like I said above: Anyone can do it these days. I’m not anyone, and neither are they. This cigar case is touched by three imperfect humans: the craftsman, the customer, the recipient. It should reflect the very humanity that we all share.

And it does. I set each letter by hand, then I stamped each word by hand, lining things up as best as I could. Not perfect, but not too bad either. The process seems to have highlighted a few of the words, which works out, and the date of the wedding really pops. I considered doing all of it all over again, but decided to leave it as-is and move on.

Photos below of the process.

Last week I said that I was finished making new things, but... ...I had a runny nose and wanted a way to have tissues in my bag. I know, I know, who cares, right? Just get one of those travel size plastic bag things that has the paper-thin tissues in it. But, have you met me? Do you know me? I must make my own way to do this. And so I did. Crafted entirely of vegetable-tanned sheepskin, I present to you the best most luxurious way to carry approximately 25 Puff’s Plus tissues in your bag (photos below). I’m digging it, have been using it in my bag, in my house (seriously), everywhere. Using it to see what it is like to use it (amazing, by the way) but also because it just looks better than the typical tissue-box or plastic bag thing that you’d otherwise have in your bag. Random? Yes. Unnecessary? Absolutely. But do you need one? Of course you do. Who doesn't need a luxurious tissue pouch? No name or branding process or dedicated website for this one, just a simple travel accessory to add to my portfolio.

Finished another notepad case
This notepad case was hand-dyed in my proprietary leather dye that I call “walnut”. Fits a 3x5 notepad. A simple pen loop fits a standard ‘Bic’ pen or something similar. Will call this one, “Just the facts, ma’am.”

Last one

I also finished and shipped an order for four of my medium sized cigar cases. At the end of it I enjoyed seeing how everything came together really well as far as uniqueness across each piece, but also similarities in various color strokes. Also, packing this order was especially fun—something about lining up each unique piece, wrapping them carefully, and imagining the moment my customer opens it. Would be a fun package to receive!

Alright, that’s going to do it for this week. Next week has a bunch of new things in the works already...eager to see how everything turns out. Until next time 🤙
~ Aaron