jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 4, 2018 6:42:56 GMT -5
I really like the reactive glass a lot. You should definitely get that part going if you can. Lots of people (including me) are attracted to metallics. Those cabs are awesome and I would be hard pressed to pick out just one as my favorite (another reason I also liked that Greek glass you had). Those cabs have texture in them for your eyes. They may be smooth to the touch, but my brain says texture! We have a show on the square coming up next weekend. We do 2 a year in the booth our club has on the square. They are 2 day affairs. At some point this week I have to find time to glue some bails on some of the cabs you sent so we can put them out. Bought sterling bails and some rubber cord necklaces with sterling clasps. I'll let you know how they do. They will be the less expensive alternative to my other sterling pendants which are wire wrapped or silversmithed. Then we have our big club show the first weekend in August. That's a 3 day extravaganza. We are always totally exhausted at the end of each of them, but that 3 day show is a killer. I don't know how the people who do the craft show circuits do it. It's a ton of work.
The people that do the show circuit are a tough breed. Utmost respect. I have been doing a bit of research on a contractor or partner to sell the glass at the craft shows. I would be glad to supply the finished product if they set up and sell. I would split income 50/50 and show up to help some if they wanted me. 10 hours in a 10X10 is incarceration, can't do it. Phobia issues lol. Have you ever heard of hiring a booth ? Hey, good luck with the glass. Have fun with it. It's easy to stick bails and cord on it. I know you guys do fancy opals/cabs and metal work. Maybe the glass will be light and fun for you. There is more where it came from  The Greek plate acted as if a borosilicate as it had a high melt point. Me not familiar with it but my kiln goes plenty hot enough to cook it. Boro does not expand much which may allow more foreign objects to be melted into it. Purchasing clear borosilicate plate is no problem. Then the goodies that get sandwiched, the fun part. Infamous Swedish blowers that work for Kosta Boda est. 1742 glass works have mastered fusing foreign/reactive materials into glass. Believe a lot of them are family with a ton of experience. They are famous for it. Even coloring glass with raw materials on the fly whilst blowing it. An art in itself. Kosta Boda glass plate #79520  |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 4, 2018 6:57:06 GMT -5
After doing 4 sales a couple years ago, I can safely say you will likely not sit near as much as you are thinking. I thought the same thing, near to the point of dread. Learned quickly the interacting with potential customers kept me real busy. Claustrophobia will be a huge issue Larry. 10/12 hours in a 10X10 ? goose bumps The first engineering boss wanted me to drop the wrench and stay in the office, we discussed severance pay within minutes. Bet you were the same way. |
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Post by fernwood on Jun 4, 2018 7:07:33 GMT -5
Around here people often share booths, especially for the large shows. They often do 3-4 hour shifts in the booth. Gives everyone a break and time to look at what others have, attend workshops, eat, or just get outta there for a while. If you were closer, I would jump on this opportunity.
What is the going rate for a booth there? Here it ranges from free to about $275.00 for a weekend. Many are a juried selection. Potential sellers need to apply several months in advance and provide photos of their goods. If they bring items outside of their examples, they can be asked to leave or banned from future shows.
Size varies from just a 8' table to a 12 x 12 space. Some are indoors, some outdoors. Most that I have done are at least a 10 x 10 space. BYO items for display. I prefer the indoor shows, or at least in a large tent.
Some shows here are in conjunction with a cultural or educational event. Usually, set up is early Friday. Show runs through Sunday. Security is often not provided, so items must be taken down in the evening and set up again the next day for outdoor shows. Or, one can chance it when in a large tent with other vendors.
I like you way of thinking on this, as shows are a great exposure mechanism.
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Post by fernwood on Jun 4, 2018 7:19:16 GMT -5
hummingbirdstones reminded me of something. I need to stop focusing so much on tumbling and get more work done with the glass you sent me. Today, hope to experiment with combo cotton wraps and bails. Have the cabs picked out already.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 4, 2018 7:29:31 GMT -5
Around here people often share booths, especially for the large shows. They often do 3-4 hour shifts in the booth. Gives everyone a break and time to look at what others have, attend workshops, eat, or just get outta there for a while. If you were closer, I would jump on this opportunity. What is the going rate for a booth there? Here it ranges from free to about $275.00 for a weekend. Many are a juried selection. Potential sellers need to apply several months in advance and provide photos of their goods. If they bring items outside of their examples, they can be asked to leave or banned from future shows. Size varies from just a 8' table to a 12 x 12 space. Some are indoors, some outdoors. Most that I have done are at least a 10 x 10 space. BYO items for display. I prefer the indoor shows, or at least in a large tent. Some shows here are in conjunction with a cultural or educational event. Usually, set up is early Friday. Show runs through Sunday. Security is often not provided, so items must be taken down in the evening and set up again the next day for outdoor shows. Or, one can chance it when in a large tent with other vendors. I like you way of thinking on this, as shows are a great exposure mechanism. The festivals are very similar to what you are describing down this way, cost included. And jury systems on the bigger shows. The big shows are in spring and have huge crowds, bands, events, food trucks. Usually encompass 4 to 5 city blocks EW NS. If you are a fast seller you can make a bunch of money. Jewelry is a hot ticket. 10x10 tents or multiples thereof is standard. Best description 8 out of 12 hours every day of festival:  : |
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Post by fernwood on Jun 4, 2018 7:32:37 GMT -5
Any chance you could hire some of the glass ladies or thrift store ladies you have met to set up/run your booth?
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 4, 2018 7:46:43 GMT -5
hummingbirdstones reminded me of something. I need to stop focusing so much on tumbling and get more work done with the glass you sent me. Today, hope to experiment with combo cotton wraps and bails. Have the cabs picked out already. Let's get on the stick and get er done . As mentioned, there is more where those came from. Have fun. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 4, 2018 7:59:23 GMT -5
Any chance you could hire some of the glass ladies or thrift store ladies you have met to set up/run your booth? Every one seemed to be perfect candidates. They have enough patience to work a cash register. The bump and grind of a festival booth may overload their circuits, not sure. We call them Carni's down here. Spent time with them over the years. My fire pit competitor(S&S Fire Pits) does shows everywhere. Hail and hearty rascal, keeps a couple of coolers full of beer to his right lol. I think he did 40 shows last year. Tough as a ten cent steak. I set up and sold in a past life. Maybe 4 shows one year. Had to take nerve pills. May have a photo of the booth, industrial with rock hybridized in  |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 4, 2018 8:42:51 GMT -5
By the way you Etsy sellers, some states are beginning to collect taxes.
The state collects it thru Etsy but your customers may accuse you of collecting the money.
So far Washington state, Florida and Pennsylvania.
Before long Ebay Etsy and Amazon if i had to guess. amazon may collect as is.
Curious how they will collect from small operations.
Bit of a conflict collecting from some and not others.
At least the big guys are easy to collect from.
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quartz
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breakin' rocks in the hot sun
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Post by quartz on Jun 4, 2018 23:50:31 GMT -5
Maybe I'm softer than you, never got very bored doing a show/sale whatever you want to call it. Can't do it alone though, need a partner so as to allow breaks. I know what you mean about being cooped up on a job. I had a potential employer tell me I'd be running one machine, no machine variety, no wrenching, no welding, which to me meant no real thinking. I said no, and thanked him for the time and cup of coffee; he shook my hand and thanked me for my honesty.
My compliments on the booth you showed from a past life, like the stuff.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 5, 2018 5:50:07 GMT -5
Maybe I'm softer than you, never got very bored doing a show/sale whatever you want to call it. Can't do it alone though, need a partner so as to allow breaks. I know what you mean about being cooped up on a job. I had a potential employer tell me I'd be running one machine, no machine variety, no wrenching, no welding, which to me meant no real thinking. I said no, and thanked him for the time and cup of coffee; he shook my hand and thanked me for my honesty. My compliments on the booth you showed from a past life, like the stuff. That would be a waste of a great mind. Companies like to hire robots. Check Japan out sometime, they know how to use technically creative minds and praise such people. They are a world force. Us Americans give praise to the sales force, better to spend resources on the technically capable. Politicians don't normally make great products. A scrap metal man started yesterday. Hauling off the remnants of years of chopping up found steel objects from repurposing them. Maybe 2 tons per trip, guessing he will get a dozen loads. Will save the useable steel, reorganize it. Going to keep the long stuff to add on a ground level space to the house here soon. For when me and her get too old to do the stairs. I remember you guys rebuilding your house. Hope it all worked out for you. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 6, 2018 6:26:41 GMT -5
Took another route thru Atlanta stopping at thrift stores. 4 vases at about $5 each and totaling 15 pounds. All hand blown. The blue one is a signed lamp shade. The multi-color is thick and weighs in at 8 pounds, loaded with colored glass.  |
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Post by fernwood on Jun 6, 2018 6:29:37 GMT -5
Great patterns in the yellow one. Curious on how the texture of the green one is going to work.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 6, 2018 7:12:00 GMT -5
Great patterns in the yellow one. Curious on how the texture of the green one is going to work. The light is wacked Beth, the lower one is very yellow. I hope it melts well. For some reason clear yellow glass cracks. Maybe this vase will be a source. Clear yellow is handy because it mixes to make so many colors. The blue lamp shade, has a signature and dated 2004. I believe it is Matt Jenke's, the blower I get scrap from. He would get a kick out of the $3 I paid for it. He would charge ~$120 for that shade. Going to make a desk lamp out of that one. Even the cold work(bored hole for the pendant fitter) looks like Matt's work. The colorful one may be a real productive if it behaves in the kiln. |
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Post by fernwood on Jun 6, 2018 8:05:04 GMT -5
I like the shade as well.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jun 6, 2018 10:21:34 GMT -5
Glad you're keeping the lamp shade. It's too cool. That multi-color one is a monster!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 6, 2018 13:39:18 GMT -5
Glad you're keeping the lamp shade. It's too cool. That multi-color one is a monster! Funny the machine made pieces often have a thin layer of color. Some of the blowers, probably the more experienced can lay a thin layer and get the job done. One of the blowers I get glass from does the thin, the other the heavy color. easier to work with the heavy color layers. the color is a good bit more expensive. the shade looks great when a light build is under it. one of the blowers I get scrap from uses recycled clear glass because he does lamp shades primarily and likes the cloudy recycled clear glass. Cloudy not so good for jewelry. Lots to learn. New territory and all that. |
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 7, 2018 9:14:02 GMT -5
Happy lips from a new vase ready to hit lap and tumbler  Sci Fi melts 1/4" thick also ready for processing   |
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Post by MsAli on Jun 7, 2018 9:17:11 GMT -5
Those bottom 2 pictures are outrageous
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 10, 2018 5:32:51 GMT -5
Those bottom 2 pictures are outrageous It doesn't take much know how to make pretties out of that glass. Unfortunately that glass comes from $250 vases. Of course I only buy them at thrift or used on the internet. High end and made in China brand and hands down coolest glass to work with. China was way advanced in ceramics and porcelains and centuries ahead of Europe. They may have been working glass before the Europeans too. Maybe they have advanced formulas Alison. |
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