Thank you for recognizing your burnout, and being comfortable enough to share it. Love all the videos, no need to apologize to me ever for taking your time on a project Kris, it has done you well.
Great operation that is quality and consistency in process driven; getting back into woodworking as it is therapeutic, but can see easily where you were. Was on a similar path a couple years back, so huzzah to what you shared and where you are now! After watching your work, I need to get my shopsabre cranked up and working!
I get you Bro. I'm trying to wrap my head around a simple maple end grain.. a little on the large side. 18'' x 24'' x 2.5''. Practicing with some old doug fir that I have.
As someone who deals with ADHD (causes me to put too many irons into the fire) as well as severe depression (causes me to not be able to grab any handles of those irons), I get it. It's tough. And sometimes it's too tough and I'll burnout and sit for a week and sometimes weeks at a time at the house not doing anything and getting behind. Glad you're in a better place and I hope you can stay there.
I feel this @dgoddard. I too have those same roadblocks. ADHD can also work for you and be amazing but like you say. It is a constant battle. I wish the best for you. Cheers
Depression sucks, it runs in my family and I've fought it since teenage years. Take some of the pressures off of you, bring in an employee or two. It will decrease the chance of burnout, allow you to do other things like selling slabs and help you expand into other items. I know it's not a question we as entrepreneurs like to face, we think we can do everything, but what happens if you get sick or worse? Love your work, always looking forward to new videos. Take care.
Man that must be hard, wishing the best for you. I have had a couple part time guys in the past. That is a lot of work and added stress. Maybe one day I will give it a go again when things are a bit more dialed in.
@@KrisDeVo my brother had good luck with kids after school to just do some cleanup and some of the back hurting things as he got older. He was a landscaper/gardener.
@@KrisDeVoI would imagine there are some local aspiring woodworkers that are teenagers that would be interested in learning and absorbing information if you are willing to teach them
Kris, I too own my own woodworking business, and have landed a LARGE project building 165+/- Queen size platform bed frames. I have delivered 26, in 2 years, working nights and weekends. And yes, the burn out is real. Thank you for sharing your story, and the struggles we all face. I am too proud most of the time to say that I’m feeling burnt out, or that I don’t want to do the things. But I pull through, and get shit done, because it won’t unless we strap in and do it. Love you man!!!! Best wishes!!!
@@frogman5956 Yes its for Hotel. The owner, and GM want hand crafted furniture throughout the entire hotel. I'm not complaining, but it is a LOT of work.
Man, those are some cool boards. Your work is awesome. Thank you for talking about the struggles we all face. You’re a role model for me, and I’m 65 this year. Cheers!
You are incredibly talented; a master craftsman in his element. Balance is important, take care of yourself so you can take care of that beautiful family. Thank you for sharing your vulnerability and humility. You are an inspiration to the rest of us. Much love from Texas.
Glad things are better for you, Chris. We all struggle at times and the important thing to remember is that as long as our mistakes are not fatal ones, we can keep making new ones until we find a workable solution to our problems. We are social beings which means we can seek out the expertise of others when we need help with anything at all. About your work, I have to say that your designs are simply spellbinding and inspired. The splendid workmanship is the icing on the cake. Your stuff is in the ratified category of things to give as a gift to convey the greatest possible affection. As others have said, you absolutely are a true artist.
Greetings from northern Spain! What an awesome artisan! Beautiful work man, and I can tell it makes you proud when you're showing the finished blocks. Un trabajo precioso, un abrazo!
Kris - Amazing work, brother. The video was outstanding and the boards and knifes are beautiful. My wife is from Anchorage and we have a lot of family still in AK; many are amazing craftspeople similar to you. There must something about the stunning, rugged and overwhelming surroundings and frontier feel of the place that feeds this spirit in folks like you and drives them to do what they do. Many years ago, I spent the better part of a week shoveling snow off of my mother-in-laws roof on Jupiter drive in February, I would clear it day only to wake up to even more accumulation the next! Made a Colorado guy like me slack jawed to see that much snow fall in such a short amount of time. BTW, beautiful shop too.
Kris - That was a monumental amount of work. I'm sure there were a number of other items moving through your shop at the same time. Your ability to see things to the finish line is amazing along with your dedication to the craftsmanship. The knife combination takes your cutting boards to a completely different level... I hope you're able to step away and spend some time with your beautiful family.
Very special work. I always remind myself or the saying " the grass is always greener where it's watered". Take the time to enjoy the fantastic talent you have.
Hey Kris…So glad you prioritized yourself and took the time to do what you needed to bring yourself back from the burnout! Life can be a hard road and it takes courage to stop and seek support to heal. Mad respect 🫡. Great to see you building. Hoping you have found a truck or you will find one. I love seeing your fishing and boating adventures. Peace to you and the fam.
Really appreciate @lindewoodworking. It is hard, and harder to share. Others sharing has helped.... Hope to bring back some Alaska adventures soon! Cheers
Always a joy to watch your videos! As someone else who struggles with mental health I want to say thank you for bringing this issue up to everyone. Glad to hear that you are doing well. I look forward to the day that I can purchase one of your beautiful cutting boards.
Another viewer since the beginning and your creations never gets old my brother. Your craftsmanship and passion is exceptional. Thank you for sharing with us. When you post a new video it seems everything else around me stops for 20-30 minutes until I finish watching it. Then its back to the grind. Much love
Man oh man. Firstly. Thank you for not shying away from mental health. The burnout is real. I've felt it in many projects and realized it was external forces affecting my shop time. Therapy has been amazing and to not bottle these things inside. Thank you for that aspect. AND, thank you for taking us on this board journey. They are amazing. Your attention to detail shows. That end product is top of the line beautiful work. Thank you for all you included in this video.
Always love your videos, Kris. Inspirational in more ways than one. I know I've said it on past videos, but your journey had helped me start my own side business of making/selling cutting boards, snack trays, etc. So I always look forward to any content you put out. Thanks for sharing. And those chaotic fade boards are amazingly beautiful.
Kris, I am also an owner and founder in our small business. After 13 years of doing everything in my department on my own I faced significant burnout (and depression) as well. I had no idea that is what I was experiencing and like many people just powered though for years until coming to a crossroad. I was very lucky to have a mentor that helped me through it. After trying many hobbies I eventually landed on woodworking and woodturning. For the last 10 years it has been a life saver for me for de-stressing and de-compressing. It has always been hard for me to talk about this and try to explain the depth of burnout I had and how it was affecting every aspect of my life. To see others, like you, share the issues they're facing is inspiring for me to do the same. I want to personally thank you for the videos you do, it is everything I strive to be as a woodworker, business owner, and husband. p.s. I received the order for a knife with chaos handle made by you and it is exquisite. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing David. Sorry to hear about your burnout and glad to hear it sounds like you are doing better. Happy to hear you like the knife, thank you.
Thanks for sharing your story. It is not an easy thing to speak about. Your products are some of the best I have seen. I am fortunate enough to own a couple of your boards and I hope you stay in the game.
I didn't expect to sit through this whole video start to finish. I just found you and was going to just take a quick look at the woods you were using from the thumbnail, or video preview. Outstanding amount of work you out into this process. The moment at the end is a good one too. It was less about the words themselves, but the delivery and sincerity of them felt like a very raw and genuine message. We need to enjoy loving who we can, but also find ways to love ourselves in hard times too. Cheers mate
I can honestly say that the video hits home for me. I had a big show that I worked on last year came with the most nice pieces I had ever made. Went to the show and had several days of rain and sales were fair but not as expected and came back burnt out. I need to get back to the lathe. Thanks again for sharing. Love the videos, much respect.
It's never nice to watch someone go through such a rough time, but thanks for sharing so openly. The pride on your face as you show off the finished board at the 22-23 minute mark is why your work (and your videos!) is of such a high standard. It's not for me or anyone else to say whether the results are worth the pain, but it's great to see you've reached a product you can be justifiably proud of.
Your artwork is indescribably beautiful. Any price for your work doesn't do it justice. You are great and thank you for sharing with us. Keep taking care of yourself!
I love the openness in this video, both personally and professionally. There's no hiding of techniques or tricks, you lay it out, here's how it's done. Most people don't have the patience, dedication and attention to detail to produce the beautiful end products you do, and will blame it on other things while they chase short cuts. Wishing you a healthy balance and continued success.
Wow! Everything about you, your products, your work ethic, your dedication to your family, honest sharing about your mental health challenges. You are one fine human being! Thank you for this amazing video. And my God, those are the most beautiful cutting boards I have ever seen. I make some pretty ones myself, but you are on an entirely different level. You have touched my heart!
Watching this video was an absolute delight. The intricate details and the amount of effort you put into each step of making these chaotic blocks are truly remarkable. It's also refreshing to hear you talk openly about burnout and the measures you took to address it. Your journey is not just about craftsmanship but also about perseverance and self-care. Thank you for the beautiful content and for being a source of inspiration to so many. Your work is both art and therapy for the soul.
Kris, your boards are a serious inspiration and I'm glad to see you're doing ok. I've made several boards myself for an upcoming sale. Hopefully they're successful. In addition, I shared your webpage with my family and we all think the same thing: Absolutely GORGEOUS.
Beautiful work from a beautiful person. I struggled all last year as well with some personal things, not to mention my mother’s worsening Parkinson’s disease that finally took her from us last November. Having a creative outlet helps, but counseling got me through it. Good luck to you, and thank you for sharing your creative passions with the world. You help make the world a better place by showing what inspiration and hard work can build. Best to you and your family.
I feel you. Was in a pretty similar position with my own business working from home. Money doesn't come in if I'm not working, pre-orders have people who've spent money and are waiting, getting impatient, and I don't like to keep them waiting, so I push myself to get that batch done, and the next needs to be started asap. All that time I was never really making the sort of money I should with the hours going into what I was doing, so taking a break would hurt. It's a vicious cycle. I felt sad when I saw your family leave to visit family without you. I've gotten a different job, and my business from home is more of a side gig now. But the work/life balance is so much better, I sell out of what I make pretty quickly which helps the pocket much more (and no advertising costs either). It hurt to step back from something I put so much work and effort into, but you don't get back that time with family.
@@KrisDeVo ADHD with the repetative jobs can get hard, spending the entire day doing a single job would get very boring. Worse when I have so many other projects I'd want to do, but never have the time because I was spending all the time making knives, and then have to choose between family and a project that'd been rattling around in my head, and then that project never gets out. I wanted to get the business to a point where I could hire people to step back, and focus on other things, but the profits/consistancy was never there. On the ADHD side, getting diagnosised and on the meds really does help with the long term planning and priorities.
Wow! You have really accomplished a ton in a short amount of time. I watched one of your early videos when you were just starting up. Nice job every step of the way. The end product looks really nice. From one Alaskan woodworker to another -thumbs up!
I was kinda worried when I didn't see a video come out for a while but you having burnout makes total sense.... When I realised how much work you have done over the past few years and how much has changed in your life I is actually a miracle you only got the burnout recently. You are not a machine and no human could have done what you have done without suffering from exhaustion in some way. Is it me or did you loose weight as well? I hope it is due to some healthier eating habits and not due to stress. Needless to say that these boards are again you evolving to a higher level with them. They are so beautiful I could watch that all day. I am very glad to see you doing your art again and happy you have seen the need for help and gotten it. The best way forward is working less, plenty of fresh air, water and healthy food and exercise to keep you from burning out again. Good luck with your recovery and hope you can find the balance needed between your family your art and yourself 😍🤩🥰
Thank you @helgavoorneveld1530 I was wondering if someone would notice. Yes, I was working on my weight before my burnout and that extra 25lbs jumped back on fast! Appreciate the kind words!
Thank you for letting everyone see your accomplishments and also your trials. It is important to show the individuals out there that are struggling. that they are not alone. We need to see the bad, good and everything in-between of what goes into these functional works of art, to have an appreciation of the work, hours, labor, skill, sacrifice, tools. caution/safety needed, coordination, and anything else left out. I've been through struggles in my life. What you said about the ups and downs and determination of seeing it thru is the answer. In my opinion just taking it day by day or hour by hour or minute by minute or even breath by breath, is worth it in the end, if you can endure it, and you can! I'm talking 34 years military service and 24 years of fire service here, so take it for what it's worth. I have started my own woodworking shop here in Florida and need to concentrate on it more to get it up and running and with all that I have seen and witnessed, I know I'll see it thru...I just need hope! If you look deep enough into your sole, you can always find that hope!
Thanks for being brave enough to stand up and say you needed help, your words will help many others I am sure. I went through a dark period a few years ago, I always thought that my close friends would be the ones to notice and get me out of it, as that is how we have been brought up. But they didn't notice and I was too stubborn/weak/ashamed/unwilling (call it what you will) to ask for help. I was lucky that I had the support of my wonderful wife but many don't have that luxury. Thank you for your motivation through the years, watching what you have achieved has been truly inspirational. Good luck.
I got into doing European mounts with deer and other animals. There was a gal that did European mounts that I loved to watch and learn from. She hit rock bottom and had major burnout like you did. After a long struggle for her she made one last video of where she had been and her long road to recovery. She needed to get back to what mattered the most to her. That was her last video. I was in tears listening to her story. I sure miss her videos and sharing her journey, but I pray that she is doing well. I guess my point here is you have to take care of yourself first and foremost. Take care!!
Kris, Watching you make these amazingly beautiful works of art. The amount of craftsmanship and integrity you have to make these and take the care to make them perfect. Thank you for your willingness to build such a wonderful product to hand down to generations.
I am so happy you reached out for help. So many people ignore or deny the fact that mental health is health, just like heart health or lung health. Some how mental health is demonized. Glad you overcame the societal stigma. Please keep up with your beautiful work and stay healthy for yourself and your beautiful family. Thanks for sharing.
Very cool stuff. Keep fighting and pushing thru for your mental health. 25:09 the one that’s having a blast in the background needs you so much in their life
Kris, First I wanted to say thanks. You are an inspiration to a lot of people I can honestly say I've been in awe of your talents. I've met a lot of people in my 34 year career with 24 of those years as a business owner. The people who Ive met who I consider successful are not the ones with fancy homes and cars its the ones who are honest with themselves and are not afraid to ask for help when they need it. Let you love of family keep you grounded. Make yourself one of your clients and treat yourself just like you treat your clients.
Well done. You don't struggle alone. Many are with you, many before, many now, many to follow. We are here. Never forget that. Yes, it was MTM where I first saw the Chaotic board being made! He showed the way for many of us. Keep the faith, stay the course, reach out when needed.
You have a blessed family to keeps you moving forward, keep going I was too at the bottom of the Clift my kids where my strength to climb up many years ago and now I'm blessed with 5 beautiful grandkids. God Bless You 🙏.
From Mozambique 🇲🇿 my family and I salute you for your honesty and quality of work. If you ever watch your own video, the giggle of your child will remind you why you work yourself to the ground. I admire your honesty.
Kris, You are an inspiration both in your woodworking and in your design. I am grateful you shared your feelings and recognized the burnout and are taking steps to work through it. We can all only do our best. That “best” is different for everyone. But, after doing our best, we get better and then our best becomes better than it was before. Keep striving for what you dream to do and you will get closer to it. Thank you!
22:24 I'd have to agree with you. Absolutely gorgeous. Plus... you put your little one's voice at the end of this video as your phone's ring tone, it'll make you smile ear to ear anytime someone calls 🙂 All the best.
Amen brother, what you do is an art , those are some of the most beautiful boards that I have ever seen. It's amazing how you can get caught up in the moment and think that you have got the bull by the horns but in your case maybe a moose lol. I would love to come to your shop and see what you can do and learn from you. I'm 63 years old and have a small shop in my garage. I've made a few boards but nothing to the extent that you have. I think it would be a privilege to come and see your work and maybe help you make a couple boards.
Absolutely stunning work and so many beautiful items. At 20:39 in the video-what is the white and black wood (under the mountain on your logo)? Take care of yourself.
First time finding your channel. Absolutely amazing work! Thank you for sharing your struggles, we need to normalize this, especially among men. Looking through your shop, nearly everything is sold out, if you’re barely making ends meet and you can’t keep product in stock, I’d advise experimenting with some higher pricing. Your time is valuable, and your craftsmanship and care is evident throughout this video. Getting creative people to undervalue and question their worth is as old as time itself. Your beauty and skill is worth keeping you and your family well fed and without struggling. Glad to hear you are in a better place. Much love! ❤
Hi Chris, your videos are awe-some! Means we are in awe, and then some... Strength is there when one is aware of one's situation and accepts it/works on it; weakness is ignoring it. Thanks for popping up on my YT, and all the best from Hamburg👊
Accept what life gives you , just look around you’re blessed with a beautiful family and a great tallent ! God bless you and your loved ones ! Enjoy the ride !
Thank you for sharing your story because you truly are not alone. I’m glad that you’re better and that you continue to strive. I’m back to this cutting board that you made. They are gorgeous. I don’t even think I’d want to cut on them. I just have them for decoration. They’re too pretty to use, lol😅
I would wait a year for mine. I would never complain. Your work is built on pride, hard work and dedication. You the man. Keep doing your thing. Shoutout to baby girl for knowing her favorite machine 😂
Your end products is so gorgeous that money is no more can mach its value, meaning you put your heart and soul in to it which makes it priceless. Pride is dangerous in my school of thought but your work is something to be positively proud and that feeling helps at its core to cope with burnouts very effectively. God speed ☘️
What a awesome video, beautiful work, hard work! Worked in a cabinet shop for years, sawdust is the enemy lol. You do excellent and outstanding work, it shows! Take vacations, make yourself do it.
Thank you for another amazing video!! Seeing the massive efforts you go to to create your products!! Blows me away!! You are a huge inspiration to a little Maker on the other side of the world!! Thank you!
Great workmanship! I’ve never seen anyone take so much care finishing a cutting board.. they are beautiful! Kudos from a fellow woodworker! I have liked and subscribed! ☮️♥️
Kris, thank you for all you do, and thanks for sharing the fact that there are low points. I have heard about people who become successful, but then hit the wall. When you are finally able to do what you want, and as much as you want, it can be really hard to put limits on yourself before you run the tank dry. Photography was that way with me, and I got close to burnout as well. Now I try to take it in small doses, trying to keep monitoring my passion level, and creativity. I would hate to see you lose your love for woodworking, and the magic that you create. I sincerely hope you connect with your "bliss" every day, you deserve the best. You have helped me, and inspired so many, and I appreciate you generously sharing some of your secrets.
Amazing craftsmanship! Stunning pieces that are beautiful artworks in their own right. You are a very talented young man, and you have every right to be proud of your achievements. Power to your creativity, and please remember that what you do has worth and value, because you have unique skill and talent. You are a special man!❤❤❤
I am inspired by such stories. Whatever you do, it is important to love what you do. You can never stop. Thanks for the video, I wish you luck in this work🙌🏻
Kris Thank you for sharing your story it help me a lot. Glad you are doing better now. You are a true artist and craftsmen you cutting boards are just amazing and the knifes are absolutely stunning. Keep up the amazing work.🙏🏻🙏🏻
I just discovered your channel today, and it's amazing to see the progress from you working out of your garage shop 3 years ago to seeing what you have now. I'm really happy to see your success. I hope you continue to find ways to push your limits. you're a fantastic craftsman.
Hi Kris! I just came across your channel because I am just beginning my woodworking journey. I too suffer from depression and am seeing Drs regularly, but getting help is the hardest part of getting better. Anyway, I love your work and the products are incredible! More inspiration for me! Looking forward to more videos!
Semi-local Alaskan... do got to say I did enjoy seeing the slabs you had for sale on FB marketplace! They were some nice looking Walnut! If financials were different I would have picked some up. Glad to see a new video from you!
There is something beautiful in watching an artist get teary-eyed while proudly holding their finished pieces.
🙏🙏🙏
I was having the same thought... So much work, and then finally the beaming smile from the result.
As a return customer I can honestly say, "you might find cheaper but you won't find better"
Much appreciated @ditryn! Love hearing this!
Thank you for recognizing your burnout, and being comfortable enough to share it. Love all the videos, no need to apologize to me ever for taking your time on a project Kris, it has done you well.
Was a hard share for sure. Hope it helps someone else too. Cheers
@@KrisDeVo Depression and burnout affect everyone. Asking for help can only make you stronger. Thank you, Kris, for sharing your journey.
You do beautifully awesome work! Hang on to those you love and those that love you!! Blessings!!!
Great operation that is quality and consistency in process driven; getting back into woodworking as it is therapeutic, but can see easily where you were. Was on a similar path a couple years back, so huzzah to what you shared and where you are now! After watching your work, I need to get my shopsabre cranked up and working!
I've watched your chaotic videos 100 times and I still don't understand how it's done.
Will have to work on trying to explain things better, cheers.
I get you Bro. I'm trying to wrap my head around a simple maple end grain.. a little on the large side. 18'' x 24'' x 2.5''. Practicing with some old doug fir that I have.
As someone who deals with ADHD (causes me to put too many irons into the fire) as well as severe depression (causes me to not be able to grab any handles of those irons), I get it. It's tough. And sometimes it's too tough and I'll burnout and sit for a week and sometimes weeks at a time at the house not doing anything and getting behind. Glad you're in a better place and I hope you can stay there.
I feel this @dgoddard. I too have those same roadblocks. ADHD can also work for you and be amazing but like you say. It is a constant battle. I wish the best for you. Cheers
exactly, sending dopamine your way
Much RESPECT Kris. That giggling at the end is sweeter after the depths. Thank you
Happy to hear you liked that part too @fixinanddoinstuff2134
Depression sucks, it runs in my family and I've fought it since teenage years. Take some of the pressures off of you, bring in an employee or two. It will decrease the chance of burnout, allow you to do other things like selling slabs and help you expand into other items. I know it's not a question we as entrepreneurs like to face, we think we can do everything, but what happens if you get sick or worse?
Love your work, always looking forward to new videos. Take care.
Man that must be hard, wishing the best for you. I have had a couple part time guys in the past. That is a lot of work and added stress. Maybe one day I will give it a go again when things are a bit more dialed in.
Those are all great ideas! Even just having someone cleanup and empty dust collectors and restock glue etc.
@@KrisDeVo my brother had good luck with kids after school to just do some cleanup and some of the back hurting things as he got older. He was a landscaper/gardener.
@@KrisDeVoI would imagine there are some local aspiring woodworkers that are teenagers that would be interested in learning and absorbing information if you are willing to teach them
@Krisdevo for this kind of work women are much better to hire. I haver a small business of wood products in Brazil and Just hire women
Kris, I too own my own woodworking business, and have landed a LARGE project building 165+/- Queen size platform bed frames. I have delivered 26, in 2 years, working nights and weekends. And yes, the burn out is real. Thank you for sharing your story, and the struggles we all face. I am too proud most of the time to say that I’m feeling burnt out, or that I don’t want to do the things. But I pull through, and get shit done, because it won’t unless we strap in and do it. Love you man!!!! Best wishes!!!
Thank you for sharing @Jonathan_Grider! 165 bed frames sounds like some serious work! Best wishes!!
For a hotel or something? Just curious cause that’s a lot of beds
@@frogman5956 Yes its for Hotel. The owner, and GM want hand crafted furniture throughout the entire hotel. I'm not complaining, but it is a LOT of work.
@@Jonathan_Grider 26 in 2 years? so you'll be done 10 years from now?
@@ChoooChooo something like that… 😂
Man, those are some cool boards. Your work is awesome. Thank you for talking about the struggles we all face. You’re a role model for me, and I’m 65 this year. Cheers!
Were all in this together brother, thank you for the kind words. I wish the best for you John.
Man. Well said!! I hope you’re doing well.
By far my favorite channel and maker. I get so excited when I see a new video out. Makes my day every time.
That means so much to me, thank you @Taylorisafarmeryo!
You are incredibly talented; a master craftsman in his element. Balance is important, take care of yourself so you can take care of that beautiful family. Thank you for sharing your vulnerability and humility. You are an inspiration to the rest of us. Much love from Texas.
Much love @fourpressmedia2674
Glad things are better for you, Chris. We all struggle at times and the important thing to remember is that as long as our mistakes are not fatal ones, we can keep making new ones until we find a workable solution to our problems. We are social beings which means we can seek out the expertise of others when we need help with anything at all. About your work, I have to say that your designs are simply spellbinding and inspired. The splendid workmanship is the icing on the cake. Your stuff is in the ratified category of things to give as a gift to convey the greatest possible affection. As others have said, you absolutely are a true artist.
Very well said, and thank you for the kind words.
Great to see you Kris. God bless you and your beautiful family. Pace yourself my brother.
Much appreciated Omar
I truly appreciate all you put into your craft. Absolutely amazing !😎
Thank you so much 😀
Greetings from northern Spain! What an awesome artisan! Beautiful work man, and I can tell it makes you proud when you're showing the finished blocks. Un trabajo precioso, un abrazo!
It sure does, thank you @roberlucas
Kris - Amazing work, brother. The video was outstanding and the boards and knifes are beautiful. My wife is from Anchorage and we have a lot of family still in AK; many are amazing craftspeople similar to you. There must something about the stunning, rugged and overwhelming surroundings and frontier feel of the place that feeds this spirit in folks like you and drives them to do what they do. Many years ago, I spent the better part of a week shoveling snow off of my mother-in-laws roof on Jupiter drive in February, I would clear it day only to wake up to even more accumulation the next! Made a Colorado guy like me slack jawed to see that much snow fall in such a short amount of time. BTW, beautiful shop too.
Thank you Dan! You would have liked the record snowfall we had this year. Was impressive and brutal.
Kris - That was a monumental amount of work. I'm sure there were a number of other items moving through your shop at the same time. Your ability to see things to the finish line is amazing along with your dedication to the craftsmanship. The knife combination takes your cutting boards to a completely different level... I hope you're able to step away and spend some time with your beautiful family.
I have been watching you since the beginning. You are a true artist. God bless❤
Appreciate you sticking around since the beginning @cinm9565!
Very special work. I always remind myself or the saying " the grass is always greener where it's watered". Take the time to enjoy the fantastic talent you have.
Hey Kris…So glad you prioritized yourself and took the time to do what you needed to bring yourself back from the burnout! Life can be a hard road and it takes courage to stop and seek support to heal. Mad respect 🫡. Great to see you building. Hoping you have found a truck or you will find one. I love seeing your fishing and boating adventures. Peace to you and the fam.
Really appreciate @lindewoodworking. It is hard, and harder to share. Others sharing has helped.... Hope to bring back some Alaska adventures soon! Cheers
Always a joy to watch your videos! As someone else who struggles with mental health I want to say thank you for bringing this issue up to everyone. Glad to hear that you are doing well. I look forward to the day that I can purchase one of your beautiful cutting boards.
Thank you @ericheberling8066, thank you for sharing, I wish the best for you!
Another viewer since the beginning and your creations never gets old my brother. Your craftsmanship and passion is exceptional. Thank you for sharing with us. When you post a new video it seems everything else around me stops for 20-30 minutes until I finish watching it. Then its back to the grind. Much love
Much love @tdg911, thank you.
Man oh man. Firstly. Thank you for not shying away from mental health. The burnout is real. I've felt it in many projects and realized it was external forces affecting my shop time. Therapy has been amazing and to not bottle these things inside. Thank you for that aspect. AND, thank you for taking us on this board journey. They are amazing. Your attention to detail shows. That end product is top of the line beautiful work. Thank you for all you included in this video.
Love ‘em all, but really appreciate all the layers in this one brother!
Means a lot to me brother! Your a good dude and I appreciate you.
Gosh, those Blocks are really beautiful. ❤ I hope you are getting better soon! Please take care...
Always love your videos, Kris. Inspirational in more ways than one. I know I've said it on past videos, but your journey had helped me start my own side business of making/selling cutting boards, snack trays, etc. So I always look forward to any content you put out. Thanks for sharing.
And those chaotic fade boards are amazingly beautiful.
Thank you @davebaker1325
Great video. Glad to see you are doing better. Beautiful work!
Kris, I am also an owner and founder in our small business. After 13 years of doing everything in my department on my own I faced significant burnout (and depression) as well. I had no idea that is what I was experiencing and like many people just powered though for years until coming to a crossroad. I was very lucky to have a mentor that helped me through it. After trying many hobbies I eventually landed on woodworking and woodturning. For the last 10 years it has been a life saver for me for de-stressing and de-compressing. It has always been hard for me to talk about this and try to explain the depth of burnout I had and how it was affecting every aspect of my life. To see others, like you, share the issues they're facing is inspiring for me to do the same.
I want to personally thank you for the videos you do, it is everything I strive to be as a woodworker, business owner, and husband.
p.s. I received the order for a knife with chaos handle made by you and it is exquisite. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing David. Sorry to hear about your burnout and glad to hear it sounds like you are doing better.
Happy to hear you like the knife, thank you.
Thanks for sharing your story. It is not an easy thing to speak about. Your products are some of the best I have seen. I am fortunate enough to own a couple of your boards and I hope you stay in the game.
Thank you @maccer16! Really appreciate all the support🙏
Your attention to the detail of every aspect of these boards is unmatched. Kudos to you brotha.
I really appreciate you man, thanks!
I didn't expect to sit through this whole video start to finish.
I just found you and was going to just take a quick look at the woods you were using from the thumbnail, or video preview.
Outstanding amount of work you out into this process.
The moment at the end is a good one too.
It was less about the words themselves, but the delivery and sincerity of them felt like a very raw and genuine message.
We need to enjoy loving who we can, but also find ways to love ourselves in hard times too.
Cheers mate
I can honestly say that the video hits home for me. I had a big show that I worked on last year came with the most nice pieces I had ever made. Went to the show and had several days of rain and sales were fair but not as expected and came back burnt out. I need to get back to the lathe. Thanks again for sharing. Love the videos, much respect.
It's never nice to watch someone go through such a rough time, but thanks for sharing so openly. The pride on your face as you show off the finished board at the 22-23 minute mark is why your work (and your videos!) is of such a high standard. It's not for me or anyone else to say whether the results are worth the pain, but it's great to see you've reached a product you can be justifiably proud of.
Much appreciated @philiphowie5301
Excellent video Kris - on so many levels. As always, thanks for sharing.
Thank you Frank!
Your artwork is indescribably beautiful. Any price for your work doesn't do it justice. You are great and thank you for sharing with us. Keep taking care of yourself!
Thank you very much!
I love the openness in this video, both personally and professionally. There's no hiding of techniques or tricks, you lay it out, here's how it's done. Most people don't have the patience, dedication and attention to detail to produce the beautiful end products you do, and will blame it on other things while they chase short cuts. Wishing you a healthy balance and continued success.
Thank you @tomascanny5048
Your work is beautiful! As a woodworker myself YOU are amazing! I hope to one day own one of your pieces.
Wow! Everything about you, your products, your work ethic, your dedication to your family, honest sharing about your mental health challenges. You are one fine human being! Thank you for this amazing video. And my God, those are the most beautiful cutting boards I have ever seen. I make some pretty ones myself, but you are on an entirely different level. You have touched my heart!
Thank you for the kind words @danieldalcorso3474!
The amount of effort -time and effort - you put into your boards is amazing. I don't know HOW you do it, but you do.
Best thoughts to you.
Much appreciated @paulkelly1702
Watching this video was an absolute delight. The intricate details and the amount of effort you put into each step of making these chaotic blocks are truly remarkable. It's also refreshing to hear you talk openly about burnout and the measures you took to address it. Your journey is not just about craftsmanship but also about perseverance and self-care. Thank you for the beautiful content and for being a source of inspiration to so many. Your work is both art and therapy for the soul.
Kris, your boards are a serious inspiration and I'm glad to see you're doing ok. I've made several boards myself for an upcoming sale. Hopefully they're successful.
In addition, I shared your webpage with my family and we all think the same thing: Absolutely GORGEOUS.
Beautiful work from a beautiful person. I struggled all last year as well with some personal things, not to mention my mother’s worsening Parkinson’s disease that finally took her from us last November. Having a creative outlet helps, but counseling got me through it. Good luck to you, and thank you for sharing your creative passions with the world. You help make the world a better place by showing what inspiration and hard work can build. Best to you and your family.
Thank you for sharing @johnp.9725 Best to you and your family as well.
Glad to see you have been getting the help you need, mental health os so important. Take care, Kris.
Thank you @GlennMartinPhotography
I feel you. Was in a pretty similar position with my own business working from home. Money doesn't come in if I'm not working, pre-orders have people who've spent money and are waiting, getting impatient, and I don't like to keep them waiting, so I push myself to get that batch done, and the next needs to be started asap. All that time I was never really making the sort of money I should with the hours going into what I was doing, so taking a break would hurt.
It's a vicious cycle. I felt sad when I saw your family leave to visit family without you.
I've gotten a different job, and my business from home is more of a side gig now. But the work/life balance is so much better, I sell out of what I make pretty quickly which helps the pocket much more (and no advertising costs either). It hurt to step back from something I put so much work and effort into, but you don't get back that time with family.
Man this hits home, thank you for sharing. Pre-order dept can be so brutal at times as well as our ADHD. Cheers
@@KrisDeVo ADHD with the repetative jobs can get hard, spending the entire day doing a single job would get very boring. Worse when I have so many other projects I'd want to do, but never have the time because I was spending all the time making knives, and then have to choose between family and a project that'd been rattling around in my head, and then that project never gets out.
I wanted to get the business to a point where I could hire people to step back, and focus on other things, but the profits/consistancy was never there.
On the ADHD side, getting diagnosised and on the meds really does help with the long term planning and priorities.
Wow! You have really accomplished a ton in a short amount of time. I watched one of your early videos when you were just starting up. Nice job every step of the way. The end product looks really nice.
From one Alaskan woodworker to another -thumbs up!
Thank you John!
I was kinda worried when I didn't see a video come out for a while but you having burnout makes total sense.... When I realised how much work you have done over the past few years and how much has changed in your life I is actually a miracle you only got the burnout recently. You are not a machine and no human could have done what you have done without suffering from exhaustion in some way. Is it me or did you loose weight as well? I hope it is due to some healthier eating habits and not due to stress. Needless to say that these boards are again you evolving to a higher level with them. They are so beautiful I could watch that all day. I am very glad to see you doing your art again and happy you have seen the need for help and gotten it. The best way forward is working less, plenty of fresh air, water and healthy food and exercise to keep you from burning out again. Good luck with your recovery and hope you can find the balance needed between your family your art and yourself 😍🤩🥰
Thank you @helgavoorneveld1530 I was wondering if someone would notice. Yes, I was working on my weight before my burnout and that extra 25lbs jumped back on fast! Appreciate the kind words!
Thank you for letting everyone see your accomplishments and also your trials. It is important to show the individuals out there that are struggling. that they are not alone. We need to see the bad, good and everything in-between of what goes into these functional works of art, to have an appreciation of the work, hours, labor, skill, sacrifice, tools. caution/safety needed, coordination, and anything else left out.
I've been through struggles in my life. What you said about the ups and downs and determination of seeing it thru is the answer. In my opinion just taking it day by day or hour by hour or minute by minute or even breath by breath, is worth it in the end, if you can endure it, and you can! I'm talking 34 years military service and 24 years of fire service here, so take it for what it's worth. I have started my own woodworking shop here in Florida and need to concentrate on it more to get it up and running and with all that I have seen and witnessed, I know I'll see it thru...I just need hope! If you look deep enough into your sole, you can always find that hope!
Thank you for sharing @alanleitschuh993 Best of luck to you with the new woodworking shop!
Thanks for being brave enough to stand up and say you needed help, your words will help many others I am sure.
I went through a dark period a few years ago, I always thought that my close friends would be the ones to notice and get me out of it, as that is how we have been brought up. But they didn't notice and I was too stubborn/weak/ashamed/unwilling (call it what you will) to ask for help.
I was lucky that I had the support of my wonderful wife but many don't have that luxury.
Thank you for your motivation through the years, watching what you have achieved has been truly inspirational.
Good luck.
Glad to hear you pulled out of it. Sure is hard to talk about sometimes. Cheers
Great video glad you come out the other side keep going life does get better
Much appreciated @kevinhowarth7651!
I got into doing European mounts with deer and other animals. There was a gal that did European mounts that I loved to watch and learn from. She hit rock bottom and had major burnout like you did. After a long struggle for her she made one last video of where she had been and her long road to recovery. She needed to get back to what mattered the most to her. That was her last video. I was in tears listening to her story. I sure miss her videos and sharing her journey, but I pray that she is doing well. I guess my point here is you have to take care of yourself first and foremost. Take care!!
Kris,
Watching you make these amazingly beautiful works of art. The amount of craftsmanship and integrity you have to make these and take the care to make them perfect. Thank you for your willingness to build such a wonderful product to hand down to generations.
Much appreciated @ericschantz4198!
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kris.
Much appreciated @MrTolcher
I am so happy you reached out for help. So many people ignore or deny the fact that mental health is health, just like heart health or lung health. Some how mental health is demonized. Glad you overcame the societal stigma.
Please keep up with your beautiful work and stay healthy for yourself and your beautiful family.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you @richardkelleher1711
Amazing work as always. Good for you for recognizing you needed help with your mental health and taking care of yourself
Very cool stuff. Keep fighting and pushing thru for your mental health. 25:09 the one that’s having a blast in the background needs you so much in their life
Kris, First I wanted to say thanks. You are an inspiration to a lot of people I can honestly say I've been in awe of your talents. I've met a lot of people in my 34 year career with 24 of those years as a business owner. The people who Ive met who I consider successful are not the ones with fancy homes and cars its the ones who are honest with themselves and are not afraid to ask for help when they need it. Let you love of family keep you grounded. Make yourself one of your clients and treat yourself just like you treat your clients.
Thank you @philrader2016
Love the videos. Great content...love the time-lapse. Like you said keep on truckin.
Those are absolutely beautiful!
It’s insane the amount of work that goes into making them!
Well done.
You don't struggle alone. Many are with you, many before, many now, many to follow. We are here. Never forget that.
Yes, it was MTM where I first saw the Chaotic board being made! He showed the way for many of us. Keep the faith, stay the course, reach out when needed.
Brilliant video, beautiful and amazing creations, hope all is ok now, take care
All is well now, thank you @peterdnreynolds777!
You have a blessed family to keeps you moving forward, keep going I was too at the bottom of the Clift my kids where my strength to climb up many years ago and now I'm blessed with 5 beautiful grandkids. God Bless You 🙏.
Again, absolutely stunning! Thank you sir. 👍👍
From Mozambique 🇲🇿 my family and I salute you for your honesty and quality of work. If you ever watch your own video, the giggle of your child will remind you why you work yourself to the ground. I admire your honesty.
I appreciate the kind words @matthysjherbst8250
Kris,
You are an inspiration both in your woodworking and in your design. I am grateful you shared your feelings and recognized the burnout and are taking steps to work through it. We can all only do our best. That “best” is different for everyone. But, after doing our best, we get better and then our best becomes better than it was before. Keep striving for what you dream to do and you will get closer to it. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing. Keep up the good work, love your woodwork. Take care! 🇳🇴😊👍
Thanks, will do!
You are an inspiration to myself and many others working out of our garages. You are appreciated!
22:24 I'd have to agree with you. Absolutely gorgeous. Plus... you put your little one's voice at the end of this video as your phone's ring tone, it'll make you smile ear to ear anytime someone calls 🙂 All the best.
Thank you @monkeybarmonkeyman! Thats a great idea!
Amen brother, what you do is an art , those are some of the most beautiful boards that I have ever seen. It's amazing how you can get caught up in the moment and think that you have got the bull by the horns but in your case maybe a moose lol. I would love to come to your shop and see what you can do and learn from you. I'm 63 years old and have a small shop in my garage. I've made a few boards but nothing to the extent that you have. I think it would be a privilege to come and see your work and maybe help you make a couple boards.
Much appreciated @user-wp5qy6mg6t
Absolutely stunning work and so many beautiful items. At 20:39 in the video-what is the white and black wood (under the mountain on your logo)? Take care of yourself.
First time finding your channel. Absolutely amazing work! Thank you for sharing your struggles, we need to normalize this, especially among men. Looking through your shop, nearly everything is sold out, if you’re barely making ends meet and you can’t keep product in stock, I’d advise experimenting with some higher pricing. Your time is valuable, and your craftsmanship and care is evident throughout this video. Getting creative people to undervalue and question their worth is as old as time itself. Your beauty and skill is worth keeping you and your family well fed and without struggling. Glad to hear you are in a better place. Much love! ❤
Thank you @busomite much love
Hi Chris, your videos are awe-some! Means we are in awe, and then some... Strength is there when one is aware of one's situation and accepts it/works on it; weakness is ignoring it. Thanks for popping up on my YT, and all the best from Hamburg👊
Much appreciated 👊
The dipping of the boards in the mineral oil, and seeing the boards come alive has made my day…simply beautiful!
Glad to hear!
Accept what life gives you , just look around you’re blessed with a beautiful family and a great tallent ! God bless you and your loved ones ! Enjoy the ride !
Thank you for sharing your story because you truly are not alone. I’m glad that you’re better and that you continue to strive. I’m back to this cutting board that you made. They are gorgeous. I don’t even think I’d want to cut on them. I just have them for decoration. They’re too pretty to use, lol😅
Thank you @saundrawilson3950
Hope you are not burnt out now - brilliant episode, those boards are just amazing. The colours when they were put in the oil - 😍😍😍😍 respect, Jako 👍🙏
Thank you Jako🙏
Awesome that you address the issue, I had similar but due to medical issue. Awesome that you feel better and take care!
you create a pieces of usable art with you great handcraft techniques. thanks for sharing and open talk about how you feel.
Great job! You make amazing videos, super fun to watch! Thanks for being open and sharing struggles, its truly helpful for everyone! Love you man!
I would wait a year for mine. I would never complain. Your work is built on pride, hard work and dedication. You the man. Keep doing your thing. Shoutout to baby girl for knowing her favorite machine 😂
Stunning craftsmanship! Congratulations!
Your end products is so gorgeous that money is no more can mach its value, meaning you put your heart and soul in to it which makes it priceless. Pride is dangerous in my school of thought but your work is something to be positively proud and that feeling helps at its core to cope with burnouts very effectively. God speed ☘️
Appreciate the kind words @crapbage
It's a long drive but I'd work for scraps 😊 You do amazing work! Enjoy this season of life, it goes way too fast!
What a awesome video, beautiful work, hard work! Worked in a cabinet shop for years, sawdust is the enemy lol. You do excellent and outstanding work, it shows! Take vacations, make yourself do it.
Thank you for another amazing video!! Seeing the massive efforts you go to to create your products!! Blows me away!! You are a huge inspiration to a little Maker on the other side of the world!! Thank you!
Great workmanship! I’ve never seen anyone take so much care finishing a cutting board.. they are beautiful! Kudos from a fellow woodworker! I have liked and subscribed! ☮️♥️
Thank you for the kind words and sub!
Thank you for keeping it real and addressing this difficult topic - and of course for the gorgeous things you make!
Much appreciated @murtoz5628
The amount of work is massive, but the outcome is amazing!
Kris, thank you for all you do, and thanks for sharing the fact that there are low points. I have heard about people who become successful, but then hit the wall. When you are finally able to do what you want, and as much as you want, it can be really hard to put limits on yourself before you run the tank dry. Photography was that way with me, and I got close to burnout as well. Now I try to take it in small doses, trying to keep monitoring my passion level, and creativity. I would hate to see you lose your love for woodworking, and the magic that you create. I sincerely hope you connect with your "bliss" every day, you deserve the best. You have helped me, and inspired so many, and I appreciate you generously sharing some of your secrets.
Much appreciated @chaseplace772
Amazing craftsmanship!
Stunning pieces that are beautiful artworks in their own right.
You are a very talented young man, and you have every right to be proud of your achievements.
Power to your creativity, and please remember that what you do has worth and value, because you have unique skill and talent. You are a special man!❤❤❤
Much appreciated @sueglendinning4059
Chris, your work is Majestic!!! Love it
Very Nice Work Kris, Take Care !!!!!!!!
Thanks 👍
I am inspired by such stories. Whatever you do, it is important to love what you do. You can never stop.
Thanks for the video, I wish you luck in this work🙌🏻
I appreciate you @YuriiYurkiv-pm8nj, thank you.
Awesome video...
Thanks for sharing all...
Live instead of being lived, love you man
Much appreciated @piratiniwood547
Kris Thank you for sharing your story it help me a lot. Glad you are doing better now. You are a true artist and craftsmen you cutting boards are just amazing and the knifes are absolutely stunning. Keep up the amazing work.🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you🙏🙏 @jimrosson6702
Much respect to you for continuing on your journey and fighting the good fight. Thank you for speaking up about the struggle.
Thank you @bluelickleather
Great content and amazing message. As always thank you for sharing your journey with us.
I just discovered your channel today, and it's amazing to see the progress from you working out of your garage shop 3 years ago to seeing what you have now. I'm really happy to see your success. I hope you continue to find ways to push your limits. you're a fantastic craftsman.
Fantastic video and so glad you shared your story…thank you…
Hi Kris! I just came across your channel because I am just beginning my woodworking journey. I too suffer from depression and am seeing Drs regularly, but getting help is the hardest part of getting better. Anyway, I love your work and the products are incredible! More inspiration for me! Looking forward to more videos!
Semi-local Alaskan... do got to say I did enjoy seeing the slabs you had for sale on FB marketplace! They were some nice looking Walnut! If financials were different I would have picked some up. Glad to see a new video from you!