I bought an old 14" Hawk which did everything I wanted. Then I bought a used 16" Hawk. I'm using it now and love it. I have also recently purchased a 220VS Hawk Ultra used and in beautiful condition. The Hawks are a high quality saw. I would surely check craigs list for used saws. There are some real bargains to be had.
The only things I have made that my wife uses are refrigerator magnets turned from cutoffs from pen making. I don't think she will hang anything I make. She is a pretty good decorator and I'm a pretty poor scroller.
I got a trophy once. When I was about 10 Annie Bjorenson, owner of the little drug store in my home town, gave all the children all the crepe paper streamers they wanted to decorate their bikes for the 4th of July parade. My home town was only about 400 people. I won $5.That was a trophy for me.
I can get it. I went to three wheels in 2010 (CanAm Spyder RT) Sold it this past June. After a 150 hundred mile I was exhausted. I knew it was time to hang it up.