Networking

[JoanFrances]

    WOW isnt it amazing what can happen when we just open our mouth and say "I do stained glass"

As many of you know I am President of our land owners association, so I have to meet with many different people in a given week. 

Today I had to meet with the owner of our management firm and his assistant.  When he saw my glass studio, he spoted a sail boat I had done some time ago and said talking about me doing something for him, with sail boats in it.  I showed him the panel I designed a few months ago.  He wants something less busy.  I had been thinking about doing a collection of ocean scenes, so now I am thinking about doing a few different designs and letting him pick from one of those. 

Even easier than that I saw one in one of the old books I got from a studio buy out that has a sail boat and sun set in it that I fell in love with, if he likes that one and doesn't care it came from a an already published book, I have another sail (pun intended)   

[Audrey]

Wow, Way to go, girl!  Looks like you might get very busy.

[Tre V]

Gosh Joan, that's great! 

[Malinda]

AWESOME!

[Kev]

I'll second that awesome!

[JoanFrances]

Thanks everyone.  The super part of this is, it will be going in a home at the beach.  The owner owns a sail boat, so I may just be getting my foot in the door in the New Port area.

[ct4mom]

wonderful Joan...Looks like you may get very busy.

[Graham]

He wants something less busy. 

That is not an unusual thing. We, who do glass, want to design things that are too busy. We try to put in a lot of detail that we see as a sort of "virtuoso" performance, but for Joe Public, it's too busy.

The complicated and detailed design also drives up the price of the project, sometimes enough to drive the potential customer away. I design in rather the same way as a poet writes. Poets write, and rewrite, and rewrite again to reduce and simplify the piece. The first thing I do, when I think I have the final design ready to go - is go back at it and look for ways to simplify. If, in 15 or 20 minutes, I can reduce the production time by an hour or more, I'm ahead of the game. Simplification can be accomplished without loss of the message. In fact it can serve to clarify the message - or picture.

Who was it, King Somebody-or-other, who told Mozart (or some other famous musician) that the music was nice, but there were too many notes. I'm with him.  

 

[JoanFrances]

Yeah, the gentlemen just called me about my patterns.  He has been to busy to get to his cottage, with the drawings.  He is going this weekend and he is going to call me next week.  He wants to measure his windows and get a visual idea as to the size he will actually order.  Strange in the beginning he said nothing to big. 

I told him I have never done an install and really don't wish too.  So we'll see what he comes up with now.

[ct4mom]

Hey Joan thats great,this may turn out to be a great commission. You never know what he means by small,his windows may be big. GoodLuck

[JoanFrances]

, he just called back and is ordering the most expensive of the 3 designs I sent him.  He will call me next week with the messurements he needs and pictures of the window and wood work he will be attaching the chains to.  I am dancing around my studio.  The funny thing of it is this one even though it is the most expensive (due to size) is the easiest one and right out of a book.  

Now, Graham, I must   to you.  It is not my taste because I would like more detail for the clouds and such, but, hey, it isn't for me, right. LOL.

[JoanFrances]

Thanks Di.  When I go on the trip I will be looking for just the right glass to impress LOL

the drawing is 16 x 30 and he says the window he wants if for is about or around that size. 

[Graham]

Yeah, the gentlemen just called me about my patterns.  He has been to busy to get to his cottage, with the drawings.  He is going this weekend and he is going to call me next week.  He wants to measure his windows and get a visual idea as to the size he will actually order.  Strange in the beginning he said nothing to big.  

I told him I have never done an install and really don't wish too.  So we'll see what he comes up with now.

Anyone who has a cottage either is a handy type or he has a handy type, who can install, but you must work with whoever's installing to make sure you're on the same page. Discuss dimensions, tolerances and methods, so that what you make fits the space and works with the installation method.

Could be a nice job for you, and the start of more to come.

Oops! I just read some more posts. Panels are to be hung, not hard-installed. That's a good choice on his part and allows a little more laxity on your part too. Still, get agreement with him on how much space will be around the panels, so that there's proper space for hanging method.

[JoanFrances]

Thanks Graham, if he changes his mind and wants an install I will keep your advise in mind.  He wants the ability to take it with him, if he sells, so that is why he is considering the free hang instead.

[Graham]

Thanks Graham, if he changes his mind and wants an install I will keep your advise in mind.  He wants the ability to take it with him, if he sells, so that is why he is considering the free hang instead.

The only hard installations I have in out house are privacy windows.
The rest are all hanging, for that reason. Portability.
Move them from room to room or house to house, keep 'em or sell 'em.

You'll want to consider framing options. Another reason to be darn sure you have the dimensions right.

It get complicateder and complicateder, huh..

[JoanFrances]

Excellent point Graham.  He indicated he didn't want a wooden frame, but I think in the future I will ask. 

[PiscesGlass]

Big congratulations Joan!  It's always exciting to get a commission!  I'm so happy for you!

De

[JoanFrances]

Thanks De.