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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Wait, it's 2009? - Carnival



Okay, so I'm a little slow coming to this resolution/goal thing. I know the month is half over. For one thing, I'm a little resistant to resolution (it's the nonconformist streak in me... I refuse to resolve to lose those lbs. along with a million other people, and then fail with them). But I do have goals for the shop, and even if I bore you with them, it's good to have them out there in the public eye if only to remind me throughout the year. Besides, the alternative was talking about taxes, and you don't want that, it'd be a whiny post. So here goes.

1) New techniques, new materials. I'm not bored with chainmaille. I keep coming back to it. But wire intrigues me. I have a box of cabochons that beg wrapping. I have new books and tools. So these will include:
  • Lots more cab wrapping using new techniques
  • More precious metals for the new shop
  • Viking weave
  • Braided and woven wire
  • Soldered wire filigree
  • Bezel making
  • Branching into some metalsmithing
  • Peyote and other bead weaving
  • Maybe some micro-macrame
It's a lot of directions, in some ways, and I fear I will never have that distinctive "style" that lets you look at something and know it was made by me. I think I've decided that's okay. I'll never enjoy making lots of the same or even very similar items. It has to be done sometimes, though.

2) Craft shows. I'd like to go to some bigger/more expensive ones and work on building an inventory for the 2010 Renaissance Faire.

3) Website. It needs work. It needs to be easier to order from. And maybe a new look entirely. By the same token, I intend to increase my web presence and make better use of social networking sites. You like my social networking avatar?

4) Time management. This is the big one. I want to get my "real" work done in some sort of time that lets me create in those normal off-time hours most people have at the end of the day. People have those, right?

5) Manage inventory and "the books" better. You might be getting the idea that I'm not that great at this "management" thing. You'd be right.

6) Develop some leads on local distributors.

7) By the end of the year, I'd like to have the business where it makes (even a very small) profit, rather than costing the family money. I'm making significant strides here.

There, I committed!

8 comments:

Beaderjojo said...

SOME people have those hours at the end of the day. After dinner/laundry/dishes/chores I'm very rarely one of those people! Sometimes though you just gotta let the laundry pile up and create!

Athena's Armoury said...

Sounds like you've got some decent goals (some sound eerily familiar). That whole having a few hours at the end of the day thing. . . I don't get it and am kind of with Beaderjojo on this: By the time I get home from work and do everything that has to get done, I'm exhausted and just want to crash. I think I am going to have to make an effort to say screw it, the laundry will still be there tomorrow. I, too, need to find a way to have that creative time just for me. Good luck!

Deanna Lack said...

I suspected there might be a few others who don't want to move from the couch when the bill-paying work is done. :)

I've taken to weaving maille in the car, while visiting in-laws, while watching TV or movies.. heck even while eating lunch (crap there goes another ring into my spaghetti). My husband calls my ring bag my "blankie" cause I take it everywhere like Linus. What I really want is time to learn my new stuff (and new weaves) though.

Thanks for the comments guys :)

KnotGypsy said...

Very ambitious! Actually, I need to get better at the management stuff as well...

Want to try micro macrame? Try one of my free patterns...links at top of my website - www.knotgypsydesigns.com

storybeader said...

I like your whole website, and how it flows. Also, your avatar is great, and I think will get people clicking because it's so much fun. Trying out new techniques is always a good idea - if nothing else, you can see how much you like what you do!

:-) MaryLou said...

Nice set of goals. I didn't set any, but I sure do need to work on that time management thing!
:-)

Youniquely Chic said...

wow, that is quite a list! I still haven't done mine!

Thanks for visiting my blog and thank you so much for your kind words about my valentines creation!

panoptica said...

Time managment... i have that same resolution because I never know how to organize myself in school...