Jarita Thomson on thu 5 jun 08
Hello, Everyone,
=20
I am kind of new to the whole concept of reaching out to the world and bein=
g a part of a ceramic arts community even if it is only a virtual one. Brie=
fly, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Jarita and my interest in=
ceramics started 18 years ago with an MWR Craft Center on a military base(=
my husband is in the Army). Originally, I learned slipcasting from manufact=
ured molds. I enjoyed it so much that I even opened a small business sellin=
g finished ware from a concessionaire stand at the Exchange. It did quite w=
ell, but I felt a need for something more challenging and personal. I atten=
ded a ceramics program at a local college about 10 years ago and fell in lo=
ve with the coiling process. I created many dozens of pieces over the next =
few years selling them to people I knew or giving them as gifts or simply k=
eeping them for personal pleasure. I no longer live in an area with a lot o=
f friends or even a lot of people. I now live in south central Missouri and=
no longer have contacts or resources for the selling of my pieces. I also =
have added slab work to my endeavors and have freed up my time a little so =
I am now creating more pieces than before. I have noticed many of you on th=
is list have stores at the Etsy website. Will you please share some of your=
experiences, good, bad and in between? I am quite curious regarding succes=
sfulness and also pricing. Although I have owned a small slipcasted ceramic=
s business (and even a flower shop) before, my previous work was not of the=
same artistic quality and it was a long time ago. I have never tried selli=
ng over the internet. Also since I have not sold my current style of work o=
ver any distance, I am insecure about packing and shipping. The pieces that=
I create are usually ranging in size from about 6" tall up to about 24" ta=
ll, averaging about 12". My coiled work is usually the tallest and I design=
bottles with long elegant goosenecks. All of my pieces include delicate le=
aves and vines or branches. These usually protrude slightly from the piece.=
My concern is regarding protection from breakage during shipping. I alread=
y know to double box everything and I have heard that vermiculite makes a g=
ood packing material for delicate breakables. Does anyone have comments reg=
arding the cost and effectiveness and/or other suggestions?
=20
Thank you all in advance. I am looking forward to being an active part of t=
his community and getting to know you better through future communications.
=20
Sincerely,
Jarita
_________________________________________________________________
Instantly invite friends from Facebook and other social networks to join yo=
u on Windows Live=99 Messenger.
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Karin Givon on fri 6 jun 08
I've sent my (very fragile) pottery to Europe and found that using
that weird foam stuff they use in sealing up cracks in building is
perfect--you can make
a sort of form around your bubble-wrapped pot much like you get when
you buy a computer and they ship it to you. It's not green, as it
comes in a pressurized can and it foams out and expands all over the
place so it's probably strange chemicals--even stranger than the ones
we're used to--but I've never had a pot arrive broken when I use it.
Of course I also double box and all that. And I insure, for a buck or
two it's well worth it, I think. Good luck!
Karin
DancingDragonPottery.net
Lois Aronow on fri 6 jun 08
I would skip the vermiculite for larger, heavier pieces, as it could settle
a lot. It may also move around, leaving the little sticky-offy parts
vulnerable. Stick with packing peanuts, and lots of them. Leave a bunch of
room about the piece for bubble. In the wall between the inside and outside
box, fill with peanuts. I mean REALLY FILL. These babies settle, so shake
'em down and put more in until there is no more room.
Don't forget to mark up the price of your items (or shipping, whichever you
prefer) about 5% to cover the costs of your time and shipping materials.
Send a piece to yourself or, better yet, a friend in another state. This
will give you an idea of how it will ship, and a sense of security that
you've done it right.
important: spring for the insurance on your shipping. It is very
inexpensive, and worth it.
Hope this helps.
**********
Lois Aronow Porcelain
Brooklyn, NY
www.loisaronow.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of
> Jarita Thomson
> Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 9:56 AM
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Subject: Questions about Etsy and also needing advice on shipping
>
> Hello, Everyone,
>
> I am kind of new to the whole concept of reaching out to the
> world and being a part of a ceramic arts community even if it
> is only a virtual one. Briefly, I would like to introduce
> myself. My name is Jarita and my interest in ceramics started
> 18 years ago with an MWR Craft Center on a military base(my
> husband is in the Army). Originally, I learned slipcasting
> from manufactured molds. I enjoyed it so much that I even
> opened a small business selling finished ware from a
> concessionaire stand at the Exchange. It did quite well, but
> I felt a need for something more challenging and personal. I
> attended a ceramics program at a local college about 10 years
> ago and fell in love with the coiling process. I created many
> dozens of pieces over the next few years selling them to
> people I knew or giving them as gifts or simply keeping them
> for personal pleasure. I no longer live in an area with a lot
> of friends or even a lot of people. I now live in south
> central Missouri and no longer have contacts or resources for
> the selling of my pieces. I also have added slab work to my
> endeavors and have freed up my time a little so I am now
> creating more pieces than before. I have noticed many of you
> on this list have stores at the Etsy website. Will you please
> share some of your experiences, good, bad and in between? I
> am quite curious regarding successfulness and also pricing.
> Although I have owned a small slipcasted ceramics business
> (and even a flower shop) before, my previous work was not of
> the same artistic quality and it was a long time ago. I have
> never tried selling over the internet. Also since I have not
> sold my current style of work over any distance, I am
> insecure about packing and shipping. The pieces that I create
> are usually ranging in size from about 6" tall up to about
> 24" tall, averaging about 12". My coiled work is usually the
> tallest and I design bottles with long elegant goosenecks.
> All of my pieces include delicate leaves and vines or
> branches. These usually protrude slightly from the piece. My
> concern is regarding protection from breakage during
> shipping. I already know to double box everything and I have
> heard that vermiculite makes a good packing material for
> delicate breakables. Does anyone have comments regarding the
> cost and effectiveness and/or other suggestions?
>
> Thank you all in advance. I am looking forward to being an
> active part of this community and getting to know you better
> through future communications.
>
> Sincerely,
> Jarita
> _________________________________________________________________
> Instantly invite friends from Facebook and other social
> networks to join you on Windows LiveT Messenger.
> https://www.invite2messenger.net/im/?source=TXT_EML_WLH_Invite
Friends=
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