How this all came about
About 15 years ago I was looking for a way to get out of freelance computer programming... it pays well but I was getting pretty burned out. I was writing a blog about digital fabrication - was very interested in 3D printers and laser cutters and such.
And then I discovered this site called Ponoko.com - who offered a laser-cutting service, which also had an online shop where you could sell your creations.
So I played with that for a bit... then made some golden ratio calipers (the 180mm ones here)... and someone bought them.
So I made some more - and someone bought those. Then Kevin Kelly mentioned me in his "Cool Tools" blog and I sold loads of them - so set up my own site, and found a more industrial-scale laser-cutting service.
And then some sort of Stock-Exchange Day-Trading guru mentioned that he used them, and I sold enough to buy my own laser-cutter.
An it's just sort of grown from there. Started out as a hobby, turned into an income, became a job, then a nightmare. Had to employ people... people copied my designs... had to lay people off. The swings and roundabouts of outrageous fortune.
Now it's just me again, in a huge workshop filled with robots and "things that might come in handy one day". Also a carnivorous plant. Am thinking about getting cats.
