Hello, my Lovlies! I know it’s been awhile, but I’ve been super busy with gardening (the greenhouse is doing great, but I’ve been having trouble ridding myself of a Mephistophelean weed, known as “vetch” – more on that later *grumples whilst muttering unclassy-like vocabulary), landscaping, doing mummy things, and getting ready for some upcoming shows! Art & craft shows, that is – no operas or theatrical performances in this mompreneur’s near future – le sigh.
Anyhoo, I just wanted to pop by and share a little more of my, hopefully helpful, if not a smidgen inspiring e-clutter!
Today’s e-clutter is brought to you by, you probably guessed it! Craft Test Dummies! The following article is about working in a series, or creating your own one person assembly line, as I like to think of it. Here’s the link!
Now, I don’t imagine that all of this is a great revelation for many of you, but I tend to find things like this a nice reminder , as sometimes we can forget what we already know ;) I also wanted to share this because it seemed like a good way for me to lead into sharing one of my favorite methods of doing what I do!
The “one-person assembly line”, is something that I started doing the moment that I realized that I wanted to “mass market” Christmas Guin (the first thing and only thing that I created for the first few months of me getting into polymer clay) and I actually find it quite difficult to do it any other way (years if conditioning). What do I mean by that? Well, let me start off by explaining how my one-person assembly line usually goes down: First, I figure out how many of whatever version of Guin I would like to make, usually 5, or if it’s a first-time creation, 6 (one for me and 5 to sell). Then, I make all of the “bowling pins”, which is how Guin’s body starts (after seeing 10 bodies, which I had unconsciously arranged in such a fashion to be not unlike pins at a bowling alley – I’m a little OCD setting that way when I set up my bits – my husband pointed this out to me, while passing by and the reference became “proper” terminology). If I want 5 or 6, I usually make 10; if I’m not too pressed for time – although the over-whelming compulsion to make the 10 (something caused by years of doing the same process), usually takes hold and I’ll make them anyway ;p Then, I set out the white balls of clay (I measure all of my clay out for each piece. For that reason and practice, is why many people think I use molds), the pupils, beak, tongue (I usually have a stock pile, so it’s just a matter if picking one out), the wings, feet, stomach (if Guin’s not dressed up), tail, and then whatever accessories/additives that goes with him. The order if my process is typically the same, but some steps change order, except for the bowling pins – that’s always first. Then I make all the faces, wings, feet, tails, stomachs, and then the accessories. The order of this part of the process is something that never really changes, unless I get distracted, or an accessory or what have you makes it so I have to change a certain step. Trial and error, trial and error ;)
Now that I’ve explained how I go about making Guin and that this is how he’s been done for years, this is why I have yet to make just one. My hands just begin carrying out their own will and I find myself setting up my 10 pin bowling alley.
Well, that’s all for now. Hope you enjoy the article and the little behind-the-scenes sneak-peek of what I do!
Have a Guintastic day!
~Amanda~
PS ~ I actually started writing this on June 15th, had to take care of the Little Miss and forgot about it until now – sorry! Better late than never ;)
Mompreneurial Musings 