About Me
🧰 Who I Am
Hi there and welcome to my blog.
I’m David, based in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. I’m a woodturner by trade with my own business, and a blogger on the side. I’ve been crafting handmade items from Irish hardwoods for years, but this blog is where I like to branch out, sharing things I’ve found useful, interesting, or just plain clever.
What started as a suggestion to help promote my business has unexpectedly turned into something much bigger: an exploration of something I never thought I’d be capable of — becoming a writer.
Here I am, I'm notoriously camera shy and it took an awful lot of effort to be in frame here. The bowls in the picture sold overnight after I put this and another image out on a FB page. The larger one went to California and the other to Cork.
I'm immensely proud of being able to create pieces like these and even prouder when they find new homes with delighted new owners, whether it’s down the road or across the world. That photo marks more than just two gorgeous Ash bowls; it captures a moment where craft, confidence, and connection all came together. It’s also comforting to know that those bowls will likely outlive me by a long margin; still useful, still beautiful, long after I’m gone.
Here’s a little more about how the Blog happened, and what you’ll find here...
🧪 Why I Started This Blog
This blog grew out of countless research marathons on my PC, laptop, tablet, and phone. Whether I was hunting for the best circulation booster to help with nerve pain, figuring out how to fix awkward things around the house, or sorting out online issues for my small business — I realised others were probably searching for the same answers.
I was digging up so much information that I couldn’t possibly keep it all in my head. So I started writing it down.
Instead of keeping years of real-life experience to myself, I decided to share what I’d learned through honest, straightforward blog posts. I’d already written a lot on my main website but felt too restricted there — I didn’t want to dilute my core topic in Google’s eyes. So I created this separate space on Blogger to share my personal research, tips, and ideas without limits.
🔍 Why David Condon Finds?
Quite simple really, I write about things I find or things I find out. Some of it is hard-earned knowledge in life, and some comes from digging through page after page of search results and websites.
The title might sound a little odd on its own, but once you land here, it makes sense. This blog is all about the useful, interesting, or just plain sound things I’ve come across and that’s exactly what David Condon Finds is about.
🛒 Why I Became an Amazon Affiliate
I write honest posts based on things I actually use or buy. I don’t do hyped-up sales talk, and I won’t push junk just for clicks. Becoming an Amazon Affiliate lets me link directly to items I’ve tested myself — or seriously considered — and if someone finds those links helpful, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you).
That small commission helps keep this blog ticking over. I didn’t even think about becoming an affiliate until one of my posts on my main website passed 2,000 views — and people started asking where they could get what I was using.
🧭 What You'll Find Here
You’ll find a mix of personal experiences, product reviews, honest guides, and the occasional opinion piece too. I cover topics like:
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Peripheral neuropathy and products that genuinely helped
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Gift guides and straightforward tech recommendations
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Craft supplies and practical everyday finds
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Google Ads headaches and the reality of small business life
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Business advice and bits beyond
If I’ve struggled with it, fixed it, or found something worth sharing, you’ll probably find it here.
I share what works for me — and what doesn’t — so you can decide for yourself
💡 How I Come Up with My Post Ideas
It’s quite simple really, I get my ideas from everyday life. Something I see or hear will suddenly spark a thought, and I’ll think, “Maybe there’s something I could write about there.”A lot of the time, it happens when I’m searching for something online and getting frustrated because I can't find what I need. That rabbit hole often leads to related topics and, eventually, a lightbulb moment.
It’s hard to explain, but I’ve found that the more I write, the easier it becomes to spot potential topics. I guess I’m using different brain muscles and like anything, the more you use them, the stronger they get.
I won’t win the Nobel Prize for Literature (I’ll survive that crushing disappointment 😄), but I’m enjoying the process, and that’s what matters.
🔥 My Business Logo – Why the Phoenix?
I use the Phoenix as the symbol of my business. It was also the symbol of my previous business Idea Phoenix DVD ( my original blog is still here on Blogger). I wanted to buy and sell new and second hand movies but that never got off the ground unfortunately as that medium was already starting to die and the new streaming era was in the works.
Before the economic crash in 2007, I was a carpenter by trade. When the recession hit, I was forced into a different line of work (IT Engineer) for several years. It wasn’t until 2014 that I began laying the groundwork for what would eventually become David Condon Woodcraft (July 2015) and built it up from nothing. I wasn't even a capable novice woodturner at that point in time if I'm being honest. That makes my rise to being an actual woodturner a major achievement in my books.
The Phoenix, a symbol of rebirth and renewal, felt like the perfect fit for my DVD idea and even more fitting for my new woodturning business. It marked the start of a new chapter for me, not just returning to working with wood, but doing it on my own terms through woodworking and woodturning.
There’s another layer to it too: I often work with storm-fallen or discarded hardwood, pieces that would otherwise end up as firewood. In a way, they’re getting a second life too - just like I did.
I’ve been advised by other business people to change my logo to something more “on-brand” like a tree, some wood shavings, or a lathe. But I’ve stubbornly stuck with the Phoenix. It meant something monumental to me when I started, and it still does.
For me, the Phoenix is more than just a logo — it’s a reminder that starting over is worth it, and that every piece of wood deserves a second chance, just like people do.
🤝 Supporting the Blog
If you enjoy the blog content or just would like to support an artisan, you can support me through the Buy Me a Coffee buttons anywhere in my Blog. You’ll find the buttons on the side of the main page or at the bottom of each post. No pressure, I swear.
You can visit my main website David Condon Woodcraft and have a browse around if you'd like too.
