Help us start a new life in the Andes

The plan is set to make the move to the Andes, more precisely Cuenca, Ecuador.

Our timeline has moved up due to various factors.. economic, health, …political climate…. The need for family, caring for my aging parents and a slower pace of life where one can work to live - not live to work.

Part of my “origin story” began in the Andes, where as a little boy I grew up surrounded by baroque art and history and the people who have always had a piece of my heart…. Moving back to the states I used what I absorbed -simply by being- into a career where I explored and grew somehow rooted in this history and art and memories of a rich childhood…

I always wanted to return.

Iris and I got married there and the wonder in her eyes as she saw the mountains, volcanoes, the ancient parts of the city and the love of a huge family, so big there’s many we’re yet to meet. Life is slower, fuller and for what we make in the states and barely scrape by, down there we could do quite well and actually get more done because of that.

She fell in love with the Andes and I saw her bloom, her mind create and hunger for this to become our home. So we decided.

And now, how to get there…

Because of what we do, we can work from anywhere. The only issue is in fact, getting there!!

We realize that it’s a great fit for us, setting up-once done- will allow us a great life/work balance. I’d be able to just concentrate on a quicker turnaround on my projects without scrambling to barely make it and have to take on all these side things which push back other projects… and Iris can put together a fabrication team and offer more sizes, allowing her to further develop her fashion line and explore the beautiful textiles made in the region.

We’d like help to get our respective shops set up, ship our tools, machines, and other equipment, furniture etc as well as a foundational nest egg for funding a home and workshop space until we get on our feet, source local supplies and solidify our contacts and connections in our fields there.

This is the part that that just feels so awkward but it’s what we’re here for.. help.

The goal is to save/find funding for 40k,(between other endeavors and this campaign) ten of it being for incidentals of relocation and transport via container of our workshop and home goods. Found a company that can do it, door to door, deal with all the customs etc.

Then the remaining 30k as a nest egg and head start for setting up and finding a workshop space and living situation, cover bills, source local supplies, etc while we get on our feet.

One hope is to find a nice old colonial building with courtyard so I can give classes, hopefully have guests fly down. Imagine checking out old Incan ruins and artwork both native and from the conquest, old churches covered in baroque art and metalwork.. enjoy the food and beautiful culture of the region. Then heading to my shop and chiseling away on designs inspired by everything surrounding us… that would be down the line, but your help would make this dream possible!!

Even if we don’t make the whole pie in the sky amount, any help would get us a long way towards our goal of starting a new life where we can just work on our respective careers.

Thanks for making it this far, and for any funds you can help with, if all goes well there’ll be a guest room and some beautiful sights to share when you visit!!