TODAYS WORK

12/23-25/2000

As most of the group knows Mark Tinsky and I have known each other for quite

a few years, and were brought together through a little bit of luck (or

fate?) during my quest to become a better pipe maker... Mark's sure has

helped alot of people in this hobby! Since then we've become very close

friends... just like family! We think dangerously alike (that's scary), can

talk for hours (and Mark doesn't like to talk that much!), both love Sushi,

and both have great wives (who are great friends too!) who are still crazy

about us despite our numerous character flaws...

Part of what has made our friendship special, is that we really love working

in the shop together. When we are visitng, we can't wait to get in to each

others shop to work on a new pipe for each other. We come up with a design

and work together on the pipe, refining the shape and conferring with each

other the whole time about this angle or that, the engineering, what kind of

stem, etc. And, we have alot of fun doing it! We've collaborated on many

pipes over the years, each a proud member of our individual collections.

So what does this have to do with the tradition part of the post? Well, I

think it started around 1995 or '96, Mark and I (usually right after the

Richmond show) collaborate on a pipe for each other for Christmas. The

shapes are always different, and are usually a departure from our normal

offerings. I think this is a unique part of our friendship, and something we

look forward to doing each year! This years pipe was a design I had been

working on for a little while, but hadn't made yet. The pipes were cut from

Italian plateau briar, and we thought the shape worked well for a blast, so

that's what they became. Mark (as usual) got the better blast of the two

pipes, but both are *very* nice pipes! I actually had my wife wrap mine, so

I wouldn't smoke it before Christmas! I really like this pipe!! I hope this

is one tradition that continues for a long, long time to come!

I hope you enjoyed my ramblings, and the pipes! My very best wishes for a

holiday season filled with family and friends, and the good times and happy

memories that only this special time of year can bring!

Happy Holidays!

Paul Bonaquisti & Mark Tinsky

Pauls Pipe

Mark s Pipe