OCT 30 day challenge

[gambitglass]

So I started a new thread. I was inspired by Frankie to do one of these and give him props and thanks for the idea.

My challenge is to work every day and produce some product. I also want to improve my skills as I go. For october my goal is to make at least 50 holiday ornaments per week. My other goal is to improve the efficiency of my shop. The last goal is to keep pushing my abilities in pipemaking so that I would like to make 2-3 nicer pieces per week as well.

So far I have prepped all of my 1" heavywall into ornament pods, I have started to organize my shop (waiting on my respirators from amazaon before I sweep it out) and I have made about 10 amazon bronze and deep sea blue ornaments (1st run) I'm working on my color offerings for the 11' season. 2 cracked in production due to the fact that my claw grabbers were not a good tool to use on these.

I'll throw up some picts when I have more time and will keep you al posted.

Also the goal is to maintain a balance between my glass goals and my work and family life repsoncibilities.

I also have an art show near the end of the month that I need to out a piece in so that will go with OCT as well.

I invite anyone who wants to share there own challenge to join in on this thread.

Happy Blowing

Gambit

[gambitglass]

Yesterday I made 9 ornaments and one demo pipe, compiled my next glass order, and started teaching my possible new apprentice.

I am still working out the colors for ornament production, made a bunch already with amazon bronze frit and a little deep sea blue mixed in. made one with silver strike and purple lustre frit that I didn't care for, made a handfull with white and purple lustre that were frit that were OK.

I think I need to try some with blue, and blue and white together.

I'll let you all know how it goes

[Husky]

Cool dude Ill join a fellow mass flameworker on this. I'm goin for over $100 everyday

[gambitglass]

So here is the report for those who care....?

Last week a made a bunch of ornaments 30+

Failed at a vac stack ; (

Need to order some more glass.

I cleaned my shop over the weekend w/ new respirator, I've experimented with some ornament color combos, I've started training a possible apprentice.

I've also spent a bunch of time with family and need to rethink my daily goals. I need to make some bead stuff and some crafty contemporary stuff for holiday orders.

I also need to get my marketing in order quick and get my etsy site running again.

I need to promote the hell out of my ornaments to friends and family alike

I need to order glass, like now.

Pictures to come

Refinement of goals as well

I also have an art show to enter a piece in by the 22nd of this month, I want to make a glass orchid for this one so I need to crank away at that as well.

Wish me luck

Sorry for the delays in posting, no internet at me casa

peace

[somberbear]

get a white board near where you work and keep updating it... its the only way i know where i am in multi stage multi day projects....

i just find outta all the ways i can do that info with all the technology and stuff... doesnt help if i cant use my hands. i can glance up and see what i should be working on...

[gambitglass]

Nice tip somberbear.


Well I am failing at my challenge a little. Its hard to try and be committed everyday with all the other reponcibilities of life constantly intruding.

I am making progress though.

I have 6 marbles made for my art show, I have glass coming for ornament production, I havenot really advanced my pope making abilities though.

Trying to sell my wares takes a lot of energy as well.

I think I need to change my focus to one event/deadline at a time. My first deadline is this art show (which I vend at as well as enter works) that comes up saturday and runs till Nov 5th. Next deadline is a trunk show at a bead store where I will sell some pendants ect. That I will plant for right after the art show. After that it will be marketing and selling of ornaments as much as possible and possibly another trunk show for late Nov.

I promise I will post a few pictures soon.

I'll also be posting some questions on the marble page bacause I have a couple about marbles.

Thanks for the support

[gambitglass]

So OCT is almost over, and I sucked at my challenge for the most part. I did make some nice marbs for an art show and did get a jump on my ornament production. pipes took a little bit of break for now. OCT flew by and my other responcibilities will take away from my torch time and I'm OK with that. Its good to push yourself but not good to kill yourself. Working at the torch while tired is unproductive, foolish, and dangerous. I burned myself pretty good over the summer learning that lesson. I'll be posting picts of my OCT progress soon. Maybe summer is a better time for a challenge

[Stable]

hey gambit,
love this thread!
maybe you can continue it on and make a new challenge for november or give us some of those pics you promised? :P
I like the idea of setting a goal for production. I just just started my torch almost two weeks ago (still dont even have a kiln) and im already feeling the effects of trying to produce while im tired, groggy or just feeling crap.
I think it's always a good time for a challenge!! If you dont mind me asking, how much did you end up producing (ornaments? pipes? ) ? 50 a week is a high goal to set, you shouldnt get down on yourself It sounds like you got a bunch of stuff together no?

[gambitglass]

I did OK. Like I said, its all about trying to set goals that are realistic. I pulled off my first vac stack with gold fume and clear rods. That was fun. I made around 40 ornaments all month but I got into a pinch when I needed to order more glass. I spent a bunch of time trying to make some nice pieces for an art show, I made a total of 9 marbles, one got a stress fracture on the surface but overall 7 of them I'm happy with. I spent about 8 hours or so trying to make a scupture of the liberty bell for the art show, my first 2 attempts ended up breaking so I never tried for the third but I imagined I learned a bit in the process. I'm not going to post another challenge because I found it difficult to keep up with posting. I dont have an internet connection at my house. I also made 6 wine stoppers and a few pendants and a few pipes. It wasn't an unproductive OCT but it wasn't the production I was striving for either.

[VertigoGlass]

I set goals for myself all the time at the shop and rarely do i accomplish them but it gives me something to work towords and stay focused on. I might try this month goal thing this upcoming month

[gambitglass]

Heres the display I set up at the art show. I tweaked a few things so it looks a little neater than this picture shows. I'll post some picts of my marbles in the marble section soon, just gotta take some better pictures of them