a week of work

Well, I haven't completely forgotten how to do what I do. We've done several quick little sandblasting jobs since November but these two jobs are the first 'real work' we've had since then. This used to distress me, not having any real work for months but now that I consider myself semi-retired, I don't worry about it especially since I have no intention of going out and beating the bushes for new contacts. Some things have seemingly come around full circle though. There is a company that at one time wanted an exclusive relationship with us and promised us all kinds of work. What she didn't understand is that I had already built up my company, and while I would welcome any jobs she brought to me, I didn't see how she was going to put me on the map so to speak. I agreed to bring some samples for her showroom and not sell directly to her customers as long as they were her customers. Suffice to say, we eventually had a disagreement over one customer and I eventually heard through the grapevine that she was using our work in her showroom to sell jobs and was getting another etched glass outfit to do them. I sent my (then) installer pronto to pick up all my work. I shouldn't have been surprised since she had already done the same thing to the previous before me glass etcher. Anyway, my now installer has bought out her company and so once again those jobs will come my way. 

So, this is the first week in many months that I've put in a full week's work. Most the work we've been getting just required a day or two or three here and there. I made a big effort to finish the residential job this week and I still have another two solid days on it but all the sandblasting and cream etching is done and the glass is waiting to be cleaned off and sealed. The door panel still needs the applied clear textured glass (3 pieces) but I can't do that part until I get the adhesive I need which I will do on Tuesday.

7 of 8 cabinet lites (not in order)

door lite and 8^th cabinet lite

I've also been working on the renderings of the line drawings I made from the photographs they sent me for the A&M job. These help me figure out how to translate the drawings into the glass...which areas will be carved, which will be shaded, which will be airbrushed and all sorts of combinations. These are small, the size of a regular piece of paper. The next step is to make similar line drawings from the photos enlarged to 2' x 3.5'...about half size of the finished work. I'll be able to me more concise and detailed with my levels of etching though some of it won't be decided until I have full size drawings. That's what I'll be starting on next week, that and finishing the door lite.

Tomorrow though, it's work at the antique store and then Sunday get the azaleas in the ground.