Chris Schafale on fri 15 may 98
Sam-
Thanks for lucid thoughts about the problems of discounts. Would you
be willing to share what's in your "making a mug sheet"? I've
thought about doing something similar.
Also, about special orders -- what do you or others do about taking
deposits when an order is made? Do you refund deposits if the person
changes their mind after the work is done?
Christena (Chris) Schafale
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, NC
candle@nuteknet.com
Judith Enright on sat 16 may 98
Christena: I usually charge 50% of the sales price as a deposit. I've yet
to have someone change their mind after the work is done, but I sometimes
also keep the customer in the loop when designing the form and choosing
glazes (especially for tile tables and dinnerware).
Judith Enright @ Black Leopard Clayware
email: BLeopard@ricochet.net
the cat lady on sat 16 may 98
>Sam-
>
>Thanks for lucid thoughts about the problems of discounts. Would you
>be willing to share what's in your "making a mug sheet"? I've
>thought about doing something similar.
>
WHAT GOES INTO MAKING A MUG?
(so glad you asked!!)
1. Drive to Oakville and pick up the clay - 2 1/2 hour trip
EACH WAY.
2. Unload load clay into basement studio.
3. Weigh out amount needed.
4. Wedge (knead) clay.
5. Centre clay on wheel and throw the mug shape.
6. Remove from wheel and let dry 24 - 48 hours; depending on humidity.
7. Put mug back on wheel and trim.
8. Hand create handle.
9. Let handle dry 1 to 5 hours; depending on humidity.
10. Attach handle to trimmed mug
11. Cover handle in hot wax to slow drying on very dry days.
12. Let mug dry 1 week minimum. If mug cracks at this point,
re-cycle clay and start over at step 3.
13. Take mug upstairs to kiln in the garage and fire to 1850 F -
about 15 hours.
14. Take mug back downstairs to studio for glazing. If mug has
cracked during first firing, discard and write-off.
15. Mix glaze(s). Each glaze require approximately 3 hours to
mix and sieve.
16. Put hot wax on the bottom of mug so it does not stick to
kiln shelf.
17. Choose design and glaze mug.
18. Let mug dry thoroughly.
19. Bring mug back upstairs to kiln in the garage and load. If
glaze scratches or gets bumped on journey, wash with hot water and
start back at step 13.
20. Fire glazed mug to 2400 F. This takes 24 - 28 hours
depending on electricity demands.
21. Hold at 2400 F for approximately 25 minutes. Make sure all
shelves reach the exact same temperature.
22. Wait approximately 14 hours for kiln to cool to under 400 F
before opening.
23. Remove and check mug. If cracked, start over at step 1.
24. If mug has miraculously survived to this point, clean sharp
bits off bottom with grinding stone by hand, and put out for sale.
25. Last, but certainly not least instruction; try not to attack
the foolish person who innocently asks "Why does this mug cost
so much?"
AND, let us not forget all the hidden steps NOT numbered in here.
- Answer phone
- Sell pots
- Pay Ontario Hydro
- Develop new glazes and slips
- Come up with new pots and ideas
- Pay Ontario Hydro
- Put out signs on road
- Have MTO take signs off road
- Pay Ontario Hydro
- Re-cycle clay
- Pay Ontario Hydro
- Attend conferences and workshops
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sam
Feel free to modify to your routine, and hang where everyone
can see it!!
> Also, about special orders -- what do you or others do about taking
>deposits when an order is made? Do you refund deposits if the person
>changes their mind after the work is done?
>
I take 50% upfront to cover costs. While making to orders doesn't
alway goes smoothly (Murphy visits here) to date I've received
nothing but compliments and expressions of delight upon pick up.
(she says knocking wood :)
sam - alias the cat lady
Melbourne, Ontario
SW Ontario CANADA
http://www.geocities.com/paris/3110
Dannon Rhudy on sat 16 may 98
Also, about special orders -- what do you or others do about
taking
deposits when an order is made? Do you refund deposits if the
person
changes their mind after the work is done?.......
Depending upon what the order is, I ask for 1/3-1/2 up front,
so that at least the materials and some of my time will be paid
for. If the customer does not agree, then I don't take the order.
No hard feelings. Just won't do it. No, no refunds if they
change their mind. Then there would be no point in the deposit.
I try to make sure that they know what they're asking for,
and the parameters of what they will get in terms of glaze and
so on. I don't like to do special orders, for the very reason
that minds change, households alter, etc.
Dannon Rhudy
potter@koyote.com
Gregory D Lamont on sun 17 may 98
Sam,
I've always liked your "making a mug" sheet. I feel though that, at least
for those of us who have paid someone else for a formal education in
ceramics, the value of that training needs to figured into our product
pricing. Also to be considered are the costs of what it took in labor,
equipment and materials to set up, equip and insure our studios, ourselves,
etc.. These should go even before step 1 or perhaps be considered in the
"hidden steps".
The part about the time (and money) spent learning the craft might provide
a response to those wonderful visitors to our booths who say "My
______________ (fill in the blank with your choice of nuclear or extended
family member or neighbor--especially one under the age of 12 or over the
age of 80) can make pots just as good as these!"
Regards, Greg
At 04:06 PM 5/16/98 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>>Sam-
>>
>>Thanks for lucid thoughts about the problems of discounts. Would you
>>be willing to share what's in your "making a mug sheet"? I've
>>thought about doing something similar.
>>
> WHAT GOES INTO MAKING A MUG?
>
> (so glad you asked!!)
>
>1. Drive to Oakville and pick up the clay - 2 1/2 hour trip
> EACH WAY.
>2. Unload load clay into basement studio.
>3. Weigh out amount needed.
>4. Wedge (knead) clay.
>5. Centre clay on wheel and throw the mug shape.
>6. Remove from wheel and let dry 24 - 48 hours; depending on humidity.
>7. Put mug back on wheel and trim.
>8. Hand create handle.
>9. Let handle dry 1 to 5 hours; depending on humidity.
>10. Attach handle to trimmed mug
>11. Cover handle in hot wax to slow drying on very dry days.
>12. Let mug dry 1 week minimum. If mug cracks at this point,
> re-cycle clay and start over at step 3.
>13. Take mug upstairs to kiln in the garage and fire to 1850 F -
> about 15 hours.
>14. Take mug back downstairs to studio for glazing. If mug has
> cracked during first firing, discard and write-off.
>15. Mix glaze(s). Each glaze require approximately 3 hours to
> mix and sieve.
>16. Put hot wax on the bottom of mug so it does not stick to
> kiln shelf.
>17. Choose design and glaze mug.
>18. Let mug dry thoroughly.
>19. Bring mug back upstairs to kiln in the garage and load. If
> glaze scratches or gets bumped on journey, wash with hot water and
> start back at step 13.
>20. Fire glazed mug to 2400 F. This takes 24 - 28 hours
> depending on electricity demands.
>21. Hold at 2400 F for approximately 25 minutes. Make sure all
> shelves reach the exact same temperature.
>22. Wait approximately 14 hours for kiln to cool to under 400 F
> before opening.
>23. Remove and check mug. If cracked, start over at step 1.
>24. If mug has miraculously survived to this point, clean sharp
> bits off bottom with grinding stone by hand, and put out for sale.
>25. Last, but certainly not least instruction; try not to attack
> the foolish person who innocently asks "Why does this mug cost
> so much?"
>
>AND, let us not forget all the hidden steps NOT numbered in here.
>
>- Answer phone
>- Sell pots
>- Pay Ontario Hydro
>- Develop new glazes and slips
>- Come up with new pots and ideas
>- Pay Ontario Hydro
>- Put out signs on road
>- Have MTO take signs off road
>- Pay Ontario Hydro
>- Re-cycle clay
>- Pay Ontario Hydro
>- Attend conferences and workshops
>
>Thank you for your time and attention.
>
>Sam
>
>Feel free to modify to your routine, and hang where everyone
>can see it!!
>
>> Also, about special orders -- what do you or others do about taking
>>deposits when an order is made? Do you refund deposits if the person
>>changes their mind after the work is done?
>>
>I take 50% upfront to cover costs. While making to orders doesn't
>alway goes smoothly (Murphy visits here) to date I've received
>nothing but compliments and expressions of delight upon pick up.
>(she says knocking wood :)
>
>sam - alias the cat lady
>Melbourne, Ontario
>SW Ontario CANADA
>http://www.geocities.com/paris/3110
>
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