mel jacobson on sun 20 dec 09
had my mini sale yesterday.
just one day, just before christmas, a month after
my big holiday sale.
it was busy.
yes, very busy.
and the folks were alive and chatty. i sold a great
many pots in 5 hours.
i was very surprised in fact.
got a set of dishes commission...place setting of 16 and
all the serving pieces. they want it done in variety...several
glazes. so, that makes it much easier. they want anything
but `crate and barrell`. (god i love pottery collectors, they are
easy to deal with.)
so, january and february is full. also have to do
a set of dishes for my nephew and new bride.
family chipped in, and i will do it for half price, as my
gift. but still, it will bring in a nice batch of dollars for me.
so, i can do them side by side.
you know:
35 plates
35 smallplates
on and on. then pick and choose. it will take three firings.
both couples love the chinese temmoku...so will do one firing of
just that in oxy for serving pieces. and even the chinese knew
a thousand years ago...black, shiny pots make food look great.
colleen, my apprentice almost sold out at her show, and she
got a gob of commissions, so we will be busy. her eyes got very
wide as folks stopped at her home and bought lots of her pots.
(home sales are easy...they just set her pots in the kitchen and
dinning room, nice display. two days...and the pots were gone.)
interesting to do two home shows, back to back. it worked,
at least this time. so. something more to think about.
had a lot of people tell me they could not make the last show,
but the timing was perfect this week. but, if you get only 30-50
people, and they all spend money...the bank balance leaps forward.
my list is about 750 active pot buying people.
if over the two shows, 80 people show up
and spend between 80-100 bucks. you know, that is
a few bowls, couple of mugs, an oil bottle..hmmm, do the math.
i don't sell hundred dollar pots, i sell four 25 dollar pots. they
stream out the door, and everyone thinks they got the bargain of
the century. no, it was me.
but, for sure, i can make a hundred bowls in a day. you know, soup or
larger, glaze them simply, load the kiln...it is only ten feet from my stud=
io.
quick, no fuss. they sell. by the way, all the steps are done by hand. m=
y
hands. it is called craft, with a touch of art. small touch. but, focused
production, with knowledge of your materials is really easy and fun. i lis=
ten
to the radio, some music, look out the window at winter, it is always
67F degrees in my studio. winter or summer. but, if i want to pretend i
live in south florida, i turn up the heat, splash water all over the floor
and work in a t shirt. sweat like a pig. fun to pretend. the life of the
solo crafts person. it is a delight. as tony says, no one can fire me.
(and, not in the kiln)
mel
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
Ingeborg Foco on sun 20 dec 09
Well Mel, today we are not wearing t-shirts and sweating in south Florida.
It is 57 degrees and very windy - cold not balmy.
A very Happy Holiday and the best New Year to everyone from SW Florida
Ingeborg
On Sun, Dec 20, 2009 at 8:22 AM, mel jacobson wrote
i listen
to the radio, some music, look out the window at winter, it is always
67F degrees in my studio. winter or summer. but, if i want to pretend i
live in south florida, i turn up the heat, splash water all over the floor
and work in a t shirt. sweat like a pig. fun to pretend. the life of the
solo crafts person. it is a delight. as tony says, no one can fire me.
(and, not in the kiln)
mel
:
Ingeborg
http://www.thepottersworkshop.com
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