The bow trade can put some odd stresses into your usual process, that's for sure. Not being there to see the look on the person's face is certainly one of them, Neo. For some of us that have turned out a few bows, the one for the trade often acts like the first bow we ever tried to make, everything going wrong or just making freshman mistakes. My last trade bow was a heartbreaking event for me, I lost a lot of confidence in myself and my skills over that bow.
It was down to gut-check time, I was standing in the shop with a busted bow, a huge knot on my head and eyes that would not focus correctly. I nearly pulled out of the trade, but did an overniter to chase a ring, find the profile, floor tiller, long string tiller, and final tiller all in one overnight push. I tweeked final tiller and put the "lipstick on the pig", as they say over the next few days. I was not fully satisfied with the tiller, but was happy with the rest of the bow. Mostly, I was confident that the bow would shoot.
Ye Olde Bowe Trayde. It gives you a chance to rise to the occasion and show your stuff, or else it exposes your weaknesses. Maybe both.
