30 projects in 30 days

scottb said:

intro

Off and on, over the past few years I had the idea to try to do a series of projects over the course of a week or so…. like 12 Christmas ornaments in 12 days, or a bunch of pens leading up to graduation time…. I've been pretty good about getting set up to make a bunch of pens, and then not having enough free time or energy to do anything about it… or conversely, having the idea a wee bit too late, and then totally forgetting about it until it was too late again the next year. Sound familiar?

This year we're taking the homemade approach seriously, past years were good intention, but with my wife out of work since last spring, there's no flexibility. Luckily my daughter has a great imagination and my wife and I have some creative ideas… but I digress.

During the process of getting my shop in order for a bunch of homemade Christmas presents I found that I had lots of pen kits just waiting to be made into something beautiful and useful…

Then I remembered the challenge idea, and checked online for ideas, and found a website where artists, writers anyone really can sign up, link their blog, and take on a 30 projects in 30 days challenge. The main goal wasn't to fill your shelves with tons of projects, but rather to force yourself to be creative everyday. Whether or not you think you have the time, you'll force yourself to be creative everyday, and in the process, you might find yourself taking your work in a new direction, or at least develop your abilities beyond where they'd be in a year or two from now if you just casually plodded along whenever time, energy (and the pull of the accursed TV) allow.

So, I have all these pen kits in the basement, I'll make 30 pens in 30 days!... But alas I only have 26 kits, and now I'm kinda into the 30 day idea. So I'll make pens and bottle stoppers! Yeah, that's the ticket. I'll have really nice gifts for everyone, and (thanks to the pen trading swap) I can do this all for free (or rather by only using money I'd already spent.)

Ok, now I know the spirit of the idea is just to practice your craft, and build up your skills and creativity… and I'm adding in the additional challenge of coming up with 30 "gift quality" items… well, pens still are quick, and if I have to make two a day to get one good one, time-wise that should still be OK. Besides which I'll be done on Dec 1st, and will still have 3 weeks to make or repair anything else that gets put on the list. No Problem.

no. Problem. Over the past year, between Christmas, birthdays, and a slew of cousins, nieces and nephews graduating, I've already gifted quite a few pens. Sure I can give more… but I can't really give the same thing two years in a row.

If only there was a way I could sell or trade these with friends, without coming out and having to "sell them", or put them on eBay and cross my fingers. Even though I've had a couple of fine art shows about ten years back (and had moderate success with them) friends and family (except for Mom) never seem to remember that I'm available for hire for interesting and unique gifts - often (cause I'm a sap) for pretty cheap.

Then I remembered reading about a "painting a day" auction that several painters came up with a few years ago. The idea was that they would spend about an hour painting a small canvas and market it to everyone on their mailing lists 24 hours in advance of a very short eBay auction. Most paintings sold for a bit over $100 in a matter of minutes. Most sold out, being collectible one of a kind pieces, that in turn allowed these artists to earn a fairly good living, and still have time to work on larger commissions that might take months if not years to sell.

Ok, how to adapt this idea… A Ha! take advantage of the viral marketing of social networking sites like Facebook, and give my friends (real and online acquaintances) the opportunity of taking part in a semi-private auction, where they can support a friend, and up-and-coming artist, and get something nice for themselves or to gift, that they might not otherwise be able to afford at a higher end art/artisan boutique.

What a win-win. I have the opportunity to get plenty of practice at my craft (without breaking the bank or flooding myself with pens) and my friends (the real ones at least) get to keep their money local. (and I won't have to give my six-year old a pair or matching ball point pens for Christmas. But look honey, it's bubinga!)

I'll be posting the projects here, after I get the ball rolling on my Facebook page. This is a "business page" so anyone on Facebook ("friend" or not)can view it (it might even be viewable by the general public). http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wilton-NH/Blanchard-Creative-Woodworking/32878627365?ref=s

if you're one of the jocks already on Facebook, check out the page, and come along for the ride… or set up a site of your own, and join me with your own 30 day challenge! I'm starting November 1st. Who's with me?

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scottb said:

review

Here's the "class" photos for weeks 2, 3 and 4. check out my projects for more pix/details

2 bowl "box" and pens from Hawaii

pens, closed ended bamboo pen, paper pot making tool, bottle stoppers and a mushroom box

Square bowl, pens and an eccentric tree.
(missing from the last photo is the bing cherry/pecan pen.)

The weeks where I had some pen blanks pre-prepped made for easy days, regardless of when I got home from work, and still had to turn, take photos and post the projects online. (Facebook, here and at the actual 30 in 30 site.)

Am I glad I did this? You bet. I've gotten a much better handle on my turning (though I know I'm using the skew wrong), and I'm much better at sharpening.

Surprisingly, there were very few projects that didn't work out. I had a much better success ratio than I would have guessed. The lilac bottle stopper was an experiment in the first place, so that wasn't a surprise. Getting the hang of the Bic pens took a bit, my first one in Bamboo exploded when I was turning it. The spalted maple/blackwood one, was a "fix" that didn't quite work, a fix only necessary because I reversed the bushings my accident. A fix that would have worked perfectly if I had a collet chuck, or pin jaws for my 4 jaw chuck. - however the fix on that enabled me to get that last pen turned to successful completion, the blood orange one (Osage and bloodwood) the bloodwood makes up for where the osage root tore out beyond repair. (following the previous osage atlas pen that cracked just as I was assembling it. I was bound and determined to make a functioning pen out of that beautiful wood.

Financially was this event a success? Kind of. I'd already had all the kits from previous excursions out to woodcraft last April, and before. So in a manner of speaking I didn't have to spend any money to get things out there. I did buy a few more bottle stoppers to make sure, if the bowls and boxes didn't work out, that I would still be able to make 30 items. I was doing this just as much for practice, as I was for getting friends and family some top notch pens for cheaper than at the higher end art and craft fairs. So, yes I did make some money (in the end, profit exceeded double cost if I remember correctly - which I wish was all to be reinvested in my lathe, but went towards Christmas and/or life expenses… at least all these pens were made and found great homes and I didn't have to give them all to my little one in lieu of other things. And while I could dwell on what my hourly rate could have been (not too bad actually if you only count the time spent turning - I spent much less time turning than I did with all the pix and blogging). I remind myself that I couldn't have paid for the knowledge I got from this experience. I couldn't have picked this up (and retained it) from a class at any price. (Though I still am hoping Santa gives me a certificate for a class. I took a five-week spindle turning class, but I've had to figure out faceplate turning on my own.

At present, I have very few of these projects left. (Just three of the stoppers, and three of the pens) Most sold during the auction, or when family was here for my Birthday or Thanksgiving. Just seeing them really helped. I did put two of them in the LJ pen traders swap box that I just shipped off today, and two were slated to be Christmas presents (if they didn't sell) so I quickly pulled those two off the table as soon as the timer wound down.

Did this turn me off from wanting to use the lathe, or be in the shop? I did take a few days off after 12/1. but I have been back at the lathe several times in the past week or so. Still had a few Christmas presents to take care of (can't post them yet, but they are done!). and I'm even working on a couple projects for fun, possibly prototypes for future gift giving, but it's nice making some things, for no reason, while I'm still in "lathe mode."

Did I really make a mess of the shop, (going from work to lathe to camera to computer?) I'd spent many weekend last winter trying to get the shop clean enough to get to work in. I never quite got to the point where I wanted to… and cranking out all these projects hasn't helped matters. I feel like I'm back to square one on that score. I have tools, shavings and wood all over the place. Come to think of it, if I can get all the wood organized (again), it won't be so bad. (Some days I think I'll never be ready for my shop inspection from Ms Debbie P)

I expect I'll be doing this challenge again next year, but I'll be trying some more ambitious designs and kits. I wonder about the sales aspect (if the economy isn't any better) because I'll have to be selling at a higher price point. Anyhow, between now and then I'm going to tackle another 30 days project leading up to Easter - making Eggs. But those will be for me, for "fun." So they'll be a bit less pressure on myself with that challenge. In the meantime I'll be collecting some interesting woods to make a bowlful of eggs from.

Anyone up for joining me next time for their own 30 day challenge?

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scottb said:

week three in re-view

new photo… but it otherwise looks about the same as the beginning of the week, eh?

If only work was more considerate of my personal time plans. I had to head off to the wilds of Boothbay, Maine this week. The good news is I was gone and back in one trip. The better news, I "had" to stop by Woodcraft on the way there. The bad news, I couldn't exactly get any projects done in the hotel room, so I just read turning magazines. I say hotel, twasn't quite that… barely a step up from camping really. If there's a cheaper room, they'll book it. Ah, the joy's of not getting a per-diem. Good seafood though.

Anywho, I got a good jump on the past several days worth of projects last weekend, and tomorrow, in addition to actually posting them, I'm back on the 30 projects in 30 days horse. Gotta get crackin', only 10 days left. - it's not like I get an extension or anything.

The long and the short - it's looking like 30 projects in 25 days, but at least I have a few projects to try that I didn't have last week.

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scottb said:

round III... TBD

So, of late I've been wondering if I should start gearing up for another 30 days challenge in November. Prep some stock, glue ups and make lists of ideas (which makes the most sense). or rather be lazy and enjoy the nice fall weather, and just wing it come November.

Well the fates have answered in the form of getting an offer on our house! Closing date mid month. Yay, we get to move! Crap we have to move.

Needless to say I have a whole new set of challenges and logistics, not only moving house, but also moving shop. At least my wife doesn't question the value of a huge pile of hardwood, including such gems as this Walnut milled back in the 50's

and just a bit of oak from the 50's

So, that said, I'll be bowing out of next months 30 days challenge - hopefully not to the disappointment of friends and family hoping to snag a few special Christmas presents (though I still have a few things left on Etsy!). We'll likely also be bowing out of a few other scheduled events as we look for boxes to fill, and a place to move said boxes in short order.

Though this time were not as picky with our choice of digs… A shop, with two bedrooms and whatever kitchen and family room that comes with. (And yes my wife has my shop high on the list!!!!) Maybe there will be enough left after closing for a nice new tablesaw, if thats not pushing my luck

in the meantime, anyone willing to pick up the challenge and let me live vicariously?

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scottb said:

obligation blogging

is not much fun. Nor, is obligation anything - even woodworking.

OK, so I was ITCHING to get this next challenge going when time was free, though temperatures and overall shop readiness just did not permit… So I gave myself the option of April, or June as a fall back. April saw the shop almost ready, but time was fleeting.

Last June we had at least 40 days of rain, so shoptime was easily found. This June is looking nicer, and time might be OK.

BUT…

One lesson I've learned from the previous months immersed in the shop was that, while I learned loads, the photographing and blogging took as much, if not nearly more effort than making the projects, and SADLY, the shop would then remain idle for a while afterwards, as I caught my breath, and caught up on things I'd been neglecting. Weeks or (gasp) months, depending on work, and life. You know how it is.

Having FINALLY gotten my new shop to 95% ready to go, I've decided to put it through it's paces SLOWLY and ENJOY my time there. Rather than dive in whole hog, and miss June as it passes by my dusty shop window, leaving me worn out, and desperate for a summer of beach and mountain time - only to get the woodworking bug back in time for the temperatures to plummet. Thereby driving me and my chattering teeth back into the house for a big bowl of homemade soup, pining for next spring when the sawdust can fly again.

Wait, did I just gloss over an entire year? Hmm, I've already been without a proper shop for months now, lets not give up any more time.

Methinks having a nice Summer and Fall to make sawdust, and give a whole new shape and life to that pile of wood that moved across town with me sounds a lot better than a 30 day sprint. I'll be a rainy day woodworker, at least for now.

So to that end, I'll be making my third (and perhaps final - cause things happen in threes) round of 30 in 30 this coming November - a last minute rush of projects, before I retire my energies for the Holidays. Hopefully a nice slew of Christmas presents to give, or sell (to further finance my turning habit). Then, I might as well take a break when the world wants me to, right?

For now, I've got a toybox to put the finishing touches on (well, just the finish), and I've started laying out a puzzle and perhaps another box. The sawdust will still fly!

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scottb said:

Make art everyday

or at least try to.

In the past I've taken a couple of stabs at turning out 30 projects in 30 days. My first attempt was the most ambitious, trying to churn out, not only a project a day for 30 days, but to make them also be a sellable one every day. In the end I created more than 30, and spent about as much time on the photographing and blogging as I did the actual work. Quite the busy month - perfect cover for my wife to catch me off guard with a surprise birthday party - one in which I sold several of said projects as Christmas presents.

Anyhow, I followed the success of that attempt, with another the following June. This time, not out to make something sellable every day for 30 days, just to make 30 projects within 30 days time. Again, the photographing and the blogging were the real time killers. This time, I had the company of 2 fellow Lumberjocks, joining me with their own 30 projects in 30 days challenge.

I know I learned loads, despite the pressure on myself. I got really good at sharpening my chisels (as most of my projects came off the lathe) as well as the photography aspect. It had been sooo many years since I'd lived in the highschool and college darkrooms.

There was to be a third attempt at 30 projects, but with moving the following November, that was not to be. Coupled with setting up a new shop, and a really cold garage shop at that, the April and June stabs were put on hold for want of getting things situated and running. Still need myself a new tablesaw. One that turns on 100% of the time, and turns off any amount of the times I throw the switch… but I digress.

This month (Yes not a 30 day month, but whatever) I'm getting back to the original spirit of the 30 projects in 30 days challenge - in where fellow artists of every stripe, painters, writers and so on - were merely challenging themselves to get out and PRACTICE their craft everyday for a month. (if you want to take a good picture, you have to burn through a roll of film.)

What with spending half a year without a working shop, I'm really itching to just get out there and do anything. I've got a notebook full of some creative ideas, but really should get back into the swing of things before attempting new and different things. I really should just get out there and make some sawdust with no agenda or end product in site, before another over the top attempt at 30 sellable projects in 30 days come Fall. Or even before attempting anything remotely planned out. Get into the groove, get a feel for things - or at least get the chisels all nice and sharp (and pick up some new toys while I'm at it)

Anyhow…

with little or no plan or agenda, here are the first 3 stabs at turning out something, or nothing this month.

July 3rd - 5th

Attempt at making a 7.5 inch plate or small platter:

Salvaged Cherry board, before.

Bottom of plate, with sister board. Cleans up really nice, don't you think?

Side/top view, mounted on lathe. Need to mount this on a glue block, buy or rig up some cole jaws to trim off that middle portion… OR… I could use this as the bottom level of a 2 or 3 tier candy/dessert rack. Yeah! Oh the fun of being able to run with design/project changes!

Attempt at a small maple bowl with a walnut stripe.

Profile of small bowl. approx 1.5 cup capacity.

Got a little tooo close to the bottom when trying to clean up the inside corners. well… it's surely neither a bowl or colander now. I imagine I can sand the bottom smooth, glue up another layer and still make something out of this… A notch in the original glued up blank forced me to make this bowl a bit smaller than I would have liked anyhow.

Apple vessel:


And finally, I had this chunk of applewood. A baseball sized, somewhat triangularish piece, cut from the intersection of three branches. Not good for much, with some cracks in it, but surely home to some fascinating grain.

Approx 2 3/4 inches across, 2 1/2 tall. Hole bored out with a 1 3/8 forstner bit and cleaned up with a scraper - that is some tough, hard wood inside. Outside sanded to 220 and finished - wood and bark - with Howards Orange oil and beeswax.

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scottb said:

Unofficial? three-peat.

So here I am on Day 8 of what may, or may not be a run of thirty projects in 30 days. 30 new projects from scratch all started, and completed within the span of a month. This time, not limiting myself to a standard "30 day month" (April, June, November…) but just starting when I happened to begin, and will ride it out for as long as I can.

More to the point, I'm getting a new batch of salable projects ready for the gallery, plus a little backlog for the following shipment. ALSO doing what I can to get the shop cleaned up a bit. and in very little time devoted to that, I've already moved out a carload of well seasoned firewood to my sisters house (and came home with a new (to me) scroll saw!.. I also have a significantly cleaner space than I ever had in the past six months. Is that really floor space?! It's also nice to get out in the shop in defiance of the weather. Last year I just pretended the shop didn't exist… it worked for a while, then I got really antsy. So far, a radiant quartz heater, new sock liners for my boots, and layers of sweatshirts and fleece are keeping me perfectly comfortable.

The "week" so far, yes its a bunch of the same (but when the gallery sells stoppers, and asks for more. Well…










(is the "instant gratification" of the lathe ruining me for other projects?... well, I suppose I'll take what I can get when the days are short and the temps are very LOW. Still not cold enough yet to get me to throw in the towel!
But I am running low on stopper hardware. Something else will be on looming on the horizon very shortly!

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