Hello dear givers.
My name is Artis. Husband and father of two youngsters. I am from Latvia. Land of beautiful forests, sea and seasons.
In this article i will tell you my story shortly and explain why and for what i ask Your help. So lets start.
I am 34 years old former pro volleyball player. Have been playing abroad for last 7 years. Separated form wife and kids because they had school and work here in Latvia. We met about once a month for a weekend. It was hard. I wasn’t earning so much that i could save reasonably so after finishing my career i could invest or live some time without job to have time to find one. But i was earning good enough to pay bills and send kids to school and to provide for family.
In 2017 i got injured and had to make back surgery. After one year of recovery i returned to volleyball and played for two more seasons. Then i decided to quit and come back to home to be with family. Found a regular job in glass wall mounting company. Had to have some income. Work is not easy especially when everything is new for me.
During my sports career in offseasons i spent my time in my small garage doing woodworking as a hobby. I really love woodworking. Have built a big shelf and a TV stand and couple little projects. I wish i could have bigger workshop and more time.
Right now i am in a situation when i am loosing my dream. I will tell You what my dream is shortly. My job is overwhelming. Also i feel like i am drifting away from God. During my sports career i was faithful to God and was a good example to my teammates and could share how good is God and how he helps me. Now i have started smoking. I don’t share about God anymore. Definitely not good example. Struggling to bring up my boys. Now i am visioning my dream and a way for a better life.
My dream is this – that i could build and set up woodworking workshop. Create beautiful things out of wood. And start woodworking business. Be satisfied of what i am doing. Share how God had helped me through amazing people here. Just want to Create to Give to Motivate others. To be good example for a better world.
I love forests and wood. My father has forest where we go and enjoy the nature and peace and think about God and life. Do some forest works. During all my sports career i was dreaming about my woodworking business, but really never got the time to start making it. But now when i am home in Latvia i can make it.
So the big plan is this. To buy some old solid workshop. Renovate. Set up with all the equipment and tools. (Table saw, Planers, Routers and so on) I will not go in detail because it is long list of detailed business plan. My sister Maija is going to be the marketing specialist. Because she is the best marketing specialist in the region. She is excited about this idea. We make it together. Then we design, and i make wooden projects to completion. You may wonder what type of woodwork. Things out of solid wood. Picture frames, shelfs, tables, chairs, post boxes. Creativity is not the issue. Below You can see some poor (best what i’ve got) pictures of what i have built and in what kind of workshop conditions.
So when the wooden table is going to be completed, it will sell (or be presented as a gift) with the motivational story how dreams come true. I believe it will make me be motivated again and be a good example for people around me.
Finally. The amount of finances we need for this project:
- Solid shop: 40000-60000 EUR
- Renovation 15000-25000 EUR
- Equipment 40000 EUR
TOTAL 120000 EUR
It is how it is. That is why i am here. It is not easy to get this much capital. I believe i can find some amazing and generous people around the world that would like to help us and receive some really beautiful wooden product as gift.
Here is my Paypal.me address where You can donate, invest, give or whatever name you want to call help: paypal.me/ACaics
Now some pictures. Everything is handmade.
Oak/Ash Shelf.
Shelf in progress.
Ash TV stand in progress.
Ash TV stand.
Oak/Ash mallet.
Oak/Ash mallet.
Workbench in progress. Link to almost finished workbench video – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Br37zlxYejz4ABsssDpDDIdE5EKLBBDf/view?usp=sharing
My workshop/one car garage.
Garage shop.
Oak bookmarks for wife’s students.
Still in my small garage shop.
So this is where my dream gets stuck. Now i will add photo or two of how i would like to see my Create Give Motivate studio.
Thank You for Your interest.
God is good. God bless You.
paypal.me/ACaics