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Monday, 20 May 2013

Packing puzzle

Hello everyone. It has been grey rainy Monday here in Canterbury. But I didn't mind it. I was too busy to be bothered by the weather today. First in the morning, I woke up, and got dressed straight away. Mike and I pit-patted to the garage to open the kiln. Ta-da! Success! A little dance! Ceramics were still warm; we picked one by one to check them. Glaze tests went well. Now we can carry on finishing bisque pots and sculptures.

I re-fired Miranda's curse 'Garrulous'. Her story is here. 

Miranda's curse, 'Garrulous'

Miranda's curse, 'Garrulous'
After breakfast at the table (the first time in about one month!) I continued packing my ceramics to be posted. In my experience, multiple sales frequently happen on one day for unknown reasons after a couple of quiet weeks. I had four sales yesterday evening. I packed one last night. I needed to pack two this morning. I am waiting for a confirmation from the last one. Packing the first order took a bit longer than one hour. But the second one took me a whopping two and a half hours!  He is the reason.

Triton
I asked Mike to make fitting polystyrene forms to protect a plinth. Luckily to me, he is on leave this week. I packed him like a cocoon. But I was not able to find a suitable box. I have tried two boxes, but neither fitted well. In the end, I had to make one specially. I made it from a large box; It became like a cradle for it. Now I just hope it will travel well. All my fingers crossed.
     
Triton Packed!
I usually think packing as a puzzle or a game, 3D free cell, so to speak. My sculptures are all different in shapes and sizes; they often give me real challenges. I don't charge my customers for my time for packing although Etsy told us to do it. I must get better at it! As far as there are suitable boxes, it's stress free. A problems is that I can't have all boxes of different sizes and shapes. About a half of customers purchase multiple works, so this makes even more complex than it is already.

I think packing is quite similar to making sculptures. You have to have three-dimensional planning and imagination. So I am making the most of the opportunities to train my brain. Who knows when I am eighty, I might be able to say 'I kept young by packing various sculptures in all sorts of boxes for decades.'    


  
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8 comments:

  1. Mark Smalley21 May 2013 at 10:04

    I agree that packaging can be alot more difficult than one would think! But when I see a really well packaged parcel, it gives a nice sense of satisfaction at the end :)

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    1. Midori21 May 2013 at 11:34

      Indeed. It is real satisfaction when it is done nicely! : )

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  2. LeeAnn at Mrs Black's 21 May 2013 at 11:50

    I agree, packing is an art. I love Triton and am glad he has a good home now, he was temptng me greatly on Etsy. How wonderful that you have a kiln in your garage, it is so ncie to be close to your art. You have a great imagination too, Miranda is amazing! Minerva x

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    1. Midori21 May 2013 at 12:48

      Thank you, Minerva. Triton went to a lovely lady in a coastal city. The ocean is calling him! : )

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  3. Jo Potter21 May 2013 at 16:14

    Hi Midori,
    It is lovely to stop by at last and leave a comment, thanks to Mrs Black leading me here! :-)
    I love your ceramic work and Triton is awesome. I also worry about packing ceramic pieces because they are so fragile.
    Thank you for following my page.
    Best wishes,
    Jo May.

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    1. Midori22 May 2013 at 09:55

      Hello Jo. Thank you! Yes, cheers to Minerva! : )

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  4. Willow23 May 2013 at 20:10

    Oh Midori, yes you are creative from start to finish I would say, right down to the shipping! Hmm an acually that is also what you just said basically ... I am now parroting what I hear it seems ~ perhaps I am spening too much time with Buttercup ;)

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  5. Midori23 May 2013 at 22:01

    Hi Willow, it is more like my positive thinking. : ) If I have to do it, I make the most of it. Buttercup is so lovely. I have neglected our parrots for a while. I kept telling them that once my course finishes, I will make up for it. They listen, so I hope they understand! : )

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