Let’s see, what, if anything, did I get accomplished last month?

MAY GOALS:

1. Create wholesale pricelist.  Not only will this go towards the Maine products program, but I’ll also be able to send out some mailings to bead shops.  Not yet, but I’m getting there.  See goal 2.

2.  Create new glaze sample tiles to photograph for the website in preparation for adding a shopping cart to the site.   I was a few days late, but I did unload the kiln yesterday and have about 30 glazed samples to photograph.

3.  Get studio functional!  I need to get my workspace functional so that I can work when Isaac naps and not have to pick up everything each time.  This was a big one.  And it’s done!  It is sooo nice to be able to drop what I’m doing and walk away.  I can walk in and glaze 3 pendants before bed if I want to, and not have to worry about picking up!

4.  Develop a streamlined production.  Naptime is getting shorter and I need to make the most of what little time I have. The plan is ready, now to implement it.

5. Convert all my etsy listings to finished necklaces.  (with the option to order the pendant separately).This is done, although I admit I cheated a little.  I made a number of pieces inactive and will add them back to the shop as I retake photos. 

6. Take at least 10 minutes before bed each night to sketch out new designs. Wishful thinking.  My carpal tunnel flared up this month, so I tried not to do anything extra to aggrevate it.

7.  Submit 4  earring designs to publications. Again, the hands issue.  I did manage to submit one necklace design to a magazine and made one pair of earrings, but for the most part I did not do anything extra. 

Oh, not on the list, but did get accomplished: I sent out a number of necklaces and pendants to a consignment shop on Route 1 in Wiscasset (Dalton Heritage Arts).  Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

Getting the studio set up was the big one for me, so even if I didn’t accomplish anything else last month, that was a biggie.

OK.  June goals:

1. Offer shopping cart on my website.  I wanted to wait until I knew what I was doing before undergoing yet another overhaul of my site.  I have an ad coming out in Creative Jewelry and would like to offer my work on my website along with Etsy, so I better get to it!

2. Decide on which designs I’m going to keep in stock, and prepare the bisque pieces for them.  That way I can just glaze and fire and cut the wait time for orders in half.

3. Get my slip reclaimer working.  I discovered recently that along with about a million ceramic molds I also received a slip table thrown in.  I found some fantastic molds as well that I’d like to play with.  Perhaps offer some new pieces in my store??? (not a goal, just wishful thinking).

4.  Submit designs for publication.  I’m not attaching a number this time.  I’ve decided not to sweat this one, although it is fantastic guerilla marketing.

5. Do I want to have a table at the town festival in August?  Hmmm, need to mull that one over.

6. If my fairy godmother is listening, would having a dependable computer be too much to ask?   (I guess that’s not really a goal, but it’s darn hard trying to have a computer based business when my laptop is ready for the nursing home).

And, um, how the heck did it get to be June?  I made up some pendants with ‘09 on them for graduates, and I’m afraid I’ve missed the boat!  Geesh, get with it, girl!