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Qotw: Did You Do What You Wanted To Do In 2015?


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The minuses:

 

A series of health issues, including surgery/recovery time

Production of planned items was almost nil

Ongoing physical problems with wedging (might have to find someone I can pay to assist with that...we'll see).  

Got seriously discouraged

 

 

My production was perhaps 10% of what I wanted. I'm finding that working up new products is extra slow and difficult with lots of setbacks. So I'm there too and I feel your pain! 

 

Have you tried slam wedging? My dad and I both have a problem with our shoulder/wrist so regular wedging is super rough on us, we take our clay cut off the block and throw/drop it onto a table using its own weight over and over until it's soft enough to shape into a nice ball. It ain't pretty but it doesn't hurt us either. 

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Many people have wedging tables that are way too high. Lowering the wedging table to be the height of your knuckles when your arms hang loose may help.

 

 

In 2015 I moved from New Zealand back to Alaska. Winding down is hard in pottery. Shipping overseas is hard on pottery. Moving and starting up again is hard too. But it all happened. I didn't get a puppy dog so I guess not all was accomplished.

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I feel like I accomplished a lot in 2015. 

  • continued a wholesale relationship with a local business
  • made new work
  • spent 2 weeks at clay camp and learned so very much (and made new friends!)
  • changed up my work schedule
  • explored new techniques/tightened up old ones
  • gave myself permission to make what I want
  • learned to use a planner!!  :)

Things I did NOT complete

  • website
  • branding
  • new shows for a summer venue (I was too busy playing!)

So.....on to 2016........

 

Roberta

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A friend built me a wedging wire set up that fits on my table (bolted to wall so it doesn't shake) and I am now doing cut & slam...so far seems to be doing the trick. Actually, I suspect I just hate wedging and will use any excuse to avoid it LOL.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Pulled this up from last year.

 

http://community.ceramicartsdaily.org/topic/7610-reflections-and-resolutions/?hl=resolution&do=findComment&comment=72607

 

So ... here's what I got done on my list.  "Not planning on working more but am undertaking a step saving remodel and am hoping this yields more production" and "and a door to the kiln area."

 

No door to kiln room but a ramp instead.    Definitely a step saver.   Added the rolling bakers racks, carts and a wagon to take merchandise to the showroom.

 

1) Original house;   2) House today with covered porch area to store racks and closed in Garage with 2 doors (Note the added building on the right!);   3 Ramp;   4) Carts and racks for moving wares to and from kilns   5)Kiln side access!

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Continuing .... "I have a few interesting ideas for my retail space ... I'll post pictures as they get done."   Well finishing ran over into 2016 ... but they are done now.

 

Converted a shipping cargo container to an extra showroom for summer and fall when we have lots of inventory.  It's a storage solution that will also be viable for retail.    It was important to me that it didn't look like one of those  white containers just stuck on the property.  So here it is ... snuggled between the other show rooms.  We also closed up the fresh air showroom and are using it for storage.  An additional shipping cargo is behind all of the buildings (completely out of sight for customers) and it is used for storing bags and other items used in the stores.

 

1) Shipping cargo between the 2 buildings

2) Added facade to front and joined it to side of the carport that is there

3) Doors open, decorative open and closed.  

4) See the white cargo door, we just push it up out of sight.   We are finishing up whitewashing the interior to make it brighter and will put in a few florescent lights.  No air or heat.  In the winter we won't have the inventory and it will be used for pick up orders.  We will leave the door open everyday when weather is warmer so hopefully it won't feel like an oven.  It will be used for back up inventory and customers can go in if they are wanting 10 or more of the same item.

 

Anyone in the area, please stop by!

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And the last "retail improvement."  Look to your far right.   A horse shoe pit.  My brother said people are not going to get this.  One of his employees asked him "what is that thing for?"

 

For some reason I have always seen this in my vision for the Dirt Roads compound.  Finally got it done.   I'm thinking it would be something for kids to do while parents shopped.   Really just another contribution for my retail atmospherics.    My nephew pointed out it will probably end up serving as a litter box for the cats.

 

Oh well cheers.  On to my next building!

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Well 2015 was interesting. After coming home from AZ for the winter my wife wanted to try pottery. She found a wheel and kiln on crags list, so it came home. ( paid too much for them ) She started to play with the wheel, shortly after she cut her hand and had me give it a try.

Now I do all the throwing, never thought I would get involved. She introduces us now as  Potter (me) and her as the painter. Darn stuff is addictive. The local cable company in town ended up doing an article on us.

I like to build stuff so now we have to get rid of it, time to build a sales studio.  Three weeks later it was done except for a few finishing things outside but will have to wait for the snow to be gone. Shaw cable found out about the new studio and did another article on us. Great free advertising. 

Just found a great deal for 2 kilns and assorted stuff so I replaced the old kiln with 2 almost new condition ones. Just have to sell the old one now.

Did one 3 day show in the fall and sold $2,500  with about ½ again on custom mail out orders for christmas. Have 3 shows planned for this year. I better be careful or this will become work, the commute to work is not bad, only 50'

Phew.... been a busy year with starting a new horse and broken ribs.

 

Plans for 2016,  Hopefully sell more from the studio and winter again in Arizona

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We camp with the horses mostly around Apache Junction  and Wickenburg, have been to Tombstone area as well as southern Utah.

 

Stayed home this winter to see what it is like in Merritt. We moved here 3 years ago and have not winter here yet, has been great. The weather in AZ has not been good this winter and the $$ exchange is a killer now.

 

Check out our website  http://www.campingandhorses.com  

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