A Pattern That Cost Nothing
We live in a world where subscriptions have begun to replace ownership and nearly everything sits behind a paywall. Steve Good chose a different way. He understood that making a pattern free did not make it less valuable. Sometimes, it gave that pattern the opportunity to become far more valuable than anyone could have imagined. Steve could not have known everywhere his patterns would go or everything they would accomplish, but somehow he understood that their value extended far beyond the finished piece coming off the scroll saw. Todd’s story is a beautiful example of that truth. A pattern that cost him nothing became something you could never put a price on.
In a Time of Need - Todd Martin
"About 10 years ago, I was unexpectedly laid off from my job. It took several months to find another position, and during that time, unemployment benefits weren’t enough to cover all of our bills and financial obligations.
I was fairly new to the Scroll Saw Workshop at the time and happened to come across the little Nativity box Steve had designed. It was fall, Christmas was just around the corner, and I decided to give it a try.
I went out to my shop, made six of the Nativity boxes, and listed them on Etsy. To my surprise, they sold within two days. So I made six more—and those sold quickly too. I continued making and selling those boxes while I searched for work.
The money I earned from those Nativity boxes was enough to make up the difference between my unemployment benefits and the bills we needed to pay. Something that may have seemed like a simple scroll saw pattern ended up helping keep my family afloat during one of the most difficult periods of our lives.
At the time, I wrote Steve an email to thank him for everything he did and to share my story. I never expected to hear back. I figured he probably received hundreds of emails and simply wouldn’t have the time to respond.
To my surprise, the very next day I received an email from Steve. He thanked me for sharing my story and offered some kind and encouraging words to keep going. I’ve never forgotten that.
Even after all these years, I’m still incredibly grateful for Steve and the Scroll Saw Workshop. What he created and so freely shared became much more than a woodworking pattern for me. At a time when my family really needed some help, it gave me a way to use my hands, earn some extra money, and get us through a difficult season.
I will always be thankful for that."