Last update: 6/3/01; 11:59:29.


Thoughts and ideas as they occur to me.


Permanent link to archive for 01/04/11. Wednesday, April 11, 2001
 

Getting back into the swing of things. (04/11/2001 10:19 EDT) Everything was set to get back into smiting metal on March 5th this year and then the weather turned cold and rainy, again. As I've mentioned, I find it very difficult to be creative when I can't feel my fingers.

April has been wonderful! We've had a nice stretch of very warm weather and I've been in the smithy every day.

The first couple of roses I made turned out terrible! I was very disappointed and more than a little apprehensive that I'd lost the touch for making roses. But, this week I made three roses that I'm very happy with and shipped them out to some very patient customers yesterday afternoon.

I have several more on order and then I'll be caught up again and will start building a little stock so nobody should have to wait so long to get a rose when it's ordered.

I'm feeling much better than last year and I think I'm going to get lots done. I have a couple of people interested in crowns and coronets, so I'll be working up some prototypes. I'm hoping it will be an interesting year and I'll be opening up my product line to include many items other than roses.

I'll be participating in the Murphy, North Carolina Spring Festival in early May and the Appalachian Heritage Crafters' Spring Show in early June. We have now taken possession of our new store and hope to open sometime in late May with a Grand Opening in mid-June. I have some roses committed to a show in Connecticut in July, so I have to get them made and shipped sometime in May.

It's going to be a busy summer, and I'm looking forward to it.

As I get in the supplies and materials I need, I'll be making some new jewelry products, too.

Today, I'll be taking a short break from smiting metal. I've recently discovered the beauty of etched and engraved glass, and I'm going to spend the rest of the day engraving designs on glass using the new diamond burs I just received. I'm hoping to be able to create items in wood, leather, glass, and metal that share the same, or similar, designs. As usual, I'll announce my successes here. Hopefully I won't have any serious failures to complain about! (grin)

Gotta run!

** JD **

   9:40:11 AM


© Copyright 2001 John L. Dilbeck, jd@johndilbeck.com.