Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Eddie Mayhew. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Eddie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

It definitely felt like a risky move to leave my previous job as an engineer, but we (my wife and I) saved and planned for a couple years of unpredictable income as I got my footing. Sales were slow at first while I gained an audience, mostly through word of mouth. Probably the most recognizable milestones were the time periods where I knew I had work that would sell, I recall my first week where I knew how much I would make, then my first month, and now I have a reasonable sense of job security.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I make high-end kitchen cutlery for food enthusiasts, chefs, and collectors. I have a background in manufacturing, and this has helped drive many of the process decisions I make, and have to some degree defined my product line of no-frills, performance-oriented, aesthetically clean work. There wasn’t any distinct moment I can point to that got this started, I have always made things, and dipped my toes into it from a hobby perspective several times over the past 20 years, but only since about 2018 has it become an obsession.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I’ve had several customers over the years who has presented me with a project, and then really just set me loose with little to no restrictions, and I have always appreciated that freedom.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I have been very intentional about protecting my freedom to make the work that I am passionate about. While arguably financially limiting, I don’t take down payments or discuss details of a build too far in advance. This form of self-direction is very important and valuable to me, where I am free to innovate, and I am intimately connected to the success or failure of my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eddworks.com
• Instagram: @edd_works

Image Credits

Richard Argent