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I am 60.  I'm female.  Average height and weight.  Not overweight, no real health issues other than the structural damage I've done to my hand, wrist and shoulder...My work table is 30" high.  My sawhorses, I just lowered by eight inches or so last year, so that when tearing down, I'm bearing down with my weight more and not just brute pushing from my shoulder. 
I've started taping an X over my wrist bone..It seems to help.  Seems to take up the slack where tendons have petered out.  I say tendons inside and manmade (elastic tape) on outside.  My friends tell me it looks cool...
After a couple of really hard days in the shop, I wake up with a painful numb right arm and completely numb hand.  All 5 fingers.  Not just the pinky and ring finger.  After some reading and researching, it appears to be TOS. Thoracic outlet syndrome.  Makes a ton of sense to me.  Recommendations are shoulder exercises...and you know that could help, I used to go to the gym and throw around a bunch of iron every day..
A big factor in my day to day assessments is the fact that I am deathly allergic to NSAIDS...that includes motrin, aspirin, naprox, alleve, all the ibuprofen products.  Whenever you go to a doctor for anything, usually the first line of defense is NSAIDs.   I do not like cortisone.  Haven't had that for about 5 yrs now. And of course, I won't even consider something habit forming.
About 10 years ago, I went to a chiropractor who did a lot of good for my hand.  I've had different issues with forearm, wrists, thumb...etc.
Finding help is frustrating.  If they are young or younger than us, trying to keep them off the phone is ridiculous.  One girl, I told her no phone while working, and I swear she went to the bathroom 80 times a day...(so she could sneak and check her phone).  The one that I have right now is pretty good, but I give specific detailed instruction on teardown and damned if he does it his way, which makes more work for me.  He gouges wood terribly, has no finesse with staple puller.  And when he leaves, just leaves stuff and tools laying all over, never picks up behind himself. 
I am in a really poor rural area and the hiring pool leaves a lot to be desired. 
I don't do and don't want to do enough work that I have to pay someone over 20 hours a week.  Hard to find someone that is ok with minimal hours.  I pay 12 bucks an hour, cash.  Better than Taco Bell or Walshit.
Oh well...
This past week has been better than previous weeks...I'm not in as bad of a funk mood as earlier...
Perry

What has been the "last straw" in deciding to close your business?
For me, it has been the health or lack of in my right hand.  It's not carpal tunnel, but my right wrist and hand are KAPUT.  Small wrist bones in back of hand, constantly painfully popping out of place, can't grip anything.  Also, my whole right hand and arm is painfully numb a lot.
Finding consistent good help.  Impossible.

I love to sew.  I love projects.  I love seeing a customer's face when I deliver a piece and I know I got it "just right". 

I'm thinking seriously of giving it up at the end of this year.  Life is too short to not be traveling or enjoying one's self...

Sadly,
Perry

I got this message from a friend, and since this is something I haven't seen, I thought I would post it here.  Maybe one of you's guy or gals has seen it, and has some insight or solution.

We bought two recliners from Lazy-Boy. We got the power lumbar support option.



The chair normally has those springs under the cushions on the back, providing even support, but when they installed the lumbar support option, they left out the springs on the whole back. The area between the lumbar support mechanism and the headrest is like a big hammock with a fluffy pillow on it.



The top edge of the lumbar support feels like a 2X4 across the back.



We are having 'discussions' with Lazy Boy.

Thanks.
Perry

Not *you* being a *new* dog owner, but the *dog* being a *new dog*.  I've had many dogs and most of them have been middle of the road personalities.  Easy to train, and mold into what I wanted.  I have one however, who has been a delightful challenge.  She has pushed all the boundaries, in a good hearted way, but if I didn't adopt a rigorous, no excuses regime, she would rule the roost.  Once she realized that I had everything, EVERYTHING under control, she has been happy to be my back up. 
There is a dog training philosophy called NILIF.  (nothing in life is free)  That can mean anything..sitting on furniture, at your level, sleeping in the bed or the same room with you.  When to bark, when to play or sit, stay.  When to go outside.  You control every aspect of their life. And you have to be a kind, but firm leader.  I have guests a lot here, and I ask my guests to NOT greet my dogs until the dogs are quiet and still.  When company greets the dogs, when the dogs are excited and barking and jumping, it just reinforces behavior that I don't want.
Getting dogs past adolescence, just like kids can be a challenge...
Perry

Very glad to see that obedience training might do the trick. I can come off really non-warm/fuzzy when new dog owners have difficult personality dogs. Once a dog owner of a smart dog or a working dog "gets it", that the dog really needs and really respects and enjoys firm leadership, it is magical to watch the process mature. 

The 5 week slump in behavior backsliding is called, I believe, an extinction burst.  IOW, the dog (without really knowing what they're doing) before they dive into good behavior for good, they will revert extremely to bad behavior, just to give it one more try to work...

And sometimes in obedience classes or training, it's the smallest thing that makes all the difference in the world. A look or a gesture, or a word.  I have a word, that is really a non word, but if the dogs do something that I want to extinguish immediately, it's loud, it's guttural and it means business.  Whatever they are doing, they will stop. Immediately.  I don't overuse it.
A working dog or a smart dog, I think really likes a smart owner who follows the regime...that dog can relax in its environment, because you the owner has set good boundaries.
Hope it continues to go well
Perry

I think that if you rehomed the dog, there is no legal recourse from them other than hot air and threats. Personally, I would damn the torpedoes and dare them. I think the shelter mentality is to instill the martyrdom syndrome and guilt and all sorts of unrealistic conditions.  Fact is, not every dog can be or should be saved.
I adore my dogs.  I treat them very well.  I say all the time that when I am reincarnated, I want to come back as one of my dogs. But, I constantly remind them, they are dogs.  I am the human with the opposable thumb.  I do not reward bad behavior, I ignore it.  I praise good behavior.  I walk them every day on my own 5 acres on a leash.  They have a huge fenced in yard at the house.  My shop is visible to them from their back yard.

There is a word called "anthropomorphize"..It means assigning human values to an animal...your statement about how "he lays his head in your lap and looks up at me" indicates that's what's going on.  So many people mean well but think in human emotions regarding dogs.  My girls are quite content and I think that is because I recognize and treat them like *dogs*.  They are allowed to be comfortable being dogs. And I work with them, within their capabilities and breed specifics to keep them happy and engaged dogs.

I never said "JUST" dogs.. I said dogs.  Big difference.
Like I said.  Good luck.
Perry

Sounds like to me you're going to go through the martyrdom of keeping a dog that may (maybe not) be suited to your environment.  I see good intentioned animal saviors like this all the time.  And I just walk away, shaking my head.  I do, believe me, think animals are important.  But they are dogs.  And should not be the be all, end all. They are dogs.  My decision would be to return the dog, with an objective assessment of his personality and your best efforts...geez, that would be valuable information to the next owner, who might just turn out to be just right.  You also have no idea of his genetic background, these may be behaviors that you will never change.  If you do return him to the shelter and they opt to euthanize him, you've done all you can realistically do. It's a dog.  Yes, you're attached, but honestly you don't have a long history with him. Only expectation of what you hoped for.
I don't think you would be a failure at all if you turned him back in...that's what the system is for.  Sometimes happy endings, sometimes not.

And that bullshit about HAVING to take him back to the shelter...it's your dog. A dog, but your dog.  You could just tell them that you're looking for a foster until your older dog dies.
Perry
yes, I'm warm and fuzzy like this all the time.

I think you would do the new dog a favor by taking him to a location where his energy and exuberance will be appreciated.  And I'm not being snotty.  I see people all the time, that get dogs that, by their very breed, are inclined to certain behaviors.  If you rehome, now you know what kind of home he needs so you can be very selective and I think that would give you a GREAT deal of satisfaction knowing you matched up a new family with a dog that suits their environment.  Having a new young dog with your old bad hip dog, seems like it creates a tense environment...seems like you would constantly be on edge that "something's about to happen"... That's not good for you or the dogs.

I think that when you have two dogs in the household, you also have to work harder to be the boss..because rather than keeping each other company, the dogs are talking amongst themselves about the best way to blow you off and ignore you.  Seriously...

I have two dogs now, one is a Jack Russell mix and the other is a Boston.  The Boston is the dominant one.  She is very clever and is always wanting to negotiate with me for everything....I say sit and she looks as if "yeah, what's in it for me?"  The JR is very cute, but not really all that bright...she is very food motivated, as opposed to the Boston who is very praise motivated.
good luck.
Perry

Virginia,
I am in total agreement with Lizzieb's advice.  Too many people get a working dog for a companion and although you may beat him (physically or training) into submission..it is not fun for the dog.  Better to get a dog that is bred to do what you expect of him..whether it be herding, cuddling, taking down wild pigs, leading the blind....etc.  I personally think it is a huge dis-service, especially for what sounds like a demanding high energy level this dog possesses, to keep a dog in an environment that is not suited to their trait.
With a husband who has bad hips, and you, working in your shop all day, may not be the right environment for the dog to keep him occupied enough.  A tired dog is a good dog.  Too many people also anthropomorphize (assigning human thoughts and reasoning to canine thinking) and it just doesn't work.
Have I learned all this the hard way with previous dogs,  yes I have.
Perry

I am having trouble logging in to forum discussions.  I sign in, id and password, get the screen that says welcome "cajunpedaler", but then when I go to forum to post or reply,  I am listed as "guest" and not allowed to post or reply.  I've tried all the different boxes to log in...Anything I need to know or do?
Perry

OK...so what is YOUR world's record for working with the most band aids on fingers?  Today, I'm working with both thumbs and left index finger front pad with band aids.

If anyone would see me, I wonder what they think? And why does it always happen when you are working with a light colored fancy cotton or linen?


Perry

I'm in South Louisiana. Both of my tables are saggy.  Need to do the angle iron fix.

one thing that I didn't see mentioned was to note where the optimal start up sweet spot is for the needle eye...All the way up, partially up, partially down...if it is the right place, then on stitch start up, it doesn't have to take up any thread..
I know on my Pfaff, that's what I have to look for...it's automatic now..
Lucky you, new machine..
PErry

I don't think I'm going to want to do upholstery for the public much more than a couple of more years.  I am 60.5 yrs young, but my hands and wrists are beat to hell and back..just like the rest of us.
I want to continue doing projects till they put me in the ground, but these will be fun projects for myself and family and friends. 

Has anyone ever decided to pull the plug on the business and then told the public?  How much notice?  I'm also thinking it could backfire a couple of ways..one, I could get so overwhelmed that I would really burn out, OR...it would be a ghost town, because customers would just start looking for their new upholsterer now..

Perry

Seems like I've seen this discussed before..but here goes my rant anyway.  I've been using BEA staples and lately they are breaking. whenever you have to lift one that's misplaced...and they ALL break.  So I bought a box of Empire staples and same thing.  So I am wondering if there is a common denominator in my staple gun...I looked at the driver (the tongue that pushes the staples out of my Rainco gun) to see if there was wear, uneven, etc that could be affecting the staples.
I've asked both my suppliers if they were getting complaints about staples being weaker and from both suppliers I got no comments from other upholsterers.
Anybody else?
Perry