Sizing up - the box issue and other stuff

OMG. Just spent far too many hours measuring, comparing and pouring over websites to sort out what size boxes I need for packing and posting. Regular fold over, snap in place, white or brown is the question and must fit into Royal Mail small/medium parcel sizing. How much is delivery? Do I need to buy dozens at a time? A total slog sorting and sifting.

Of course, it doesn’t help that my sculptures aren’t a regular sized thing. I pulled out the suitcase that had all my pieces from the art fair that already seems like it was years ago. Laid them all out on my workout bench, waved my tape measure around and compared arms and legs to try to figure out a size system. Some are a bit wider, some taller, some need more depth...and nothing quite fits them all. How much space to allow for protective packaging? How much does the piece weigh? How much will the packaging weigh? How do I decide what’s small, medium or large? Finally figured that one out by measuring the heads. It also gives me a starting point to getting the proportions I want when I start new pieces. Okay. Cool. The beginnings of a system.

So, I really need two sizes of boxes. One which will fit the majority and another for those annoying ones that are a bit too big or need a bit more protection around them. And I really like the look of white boxes. So smart and stylish looking. But I can’t get them in the size or price that works so brown it is. I’ll be tarting them up a bit anyway – that was an hour or so on YouTube seeing how others have customised packaging. But a decision has been made on the main type. Finally! So glad to get that out of the way for a while - will ponder on the others when I need to. For now, I’m only going to be putting the small pieces in the shop so I don’t need to think about the awkward sized ones yet.

I’ve also seen some things on some of my older pieces that proper annoy me. They need a tweak here and there; a bit of change in how they’re decorated, a head shape refined a little – that kind of thing. Seems small but if it catches my eye then it needs fixing. My fingers are twitching right now to get on it. Mm, I suppose that means I need to rephotograph them as well. That’s another time consuming job I loathe. The light’s terrible in this room and setting up a back drop which can get me near enough to my teeny lamps to improve things is an exercise in frustration.

I love the arty part of things but it’s incredible how much time you need to take care of more practical aspects of selling. At least once the major bits are done, you don’t need to keep on with them all the time.

I've also dug out a little line drawing I did ages ago and turned it into a logo. I want to try and make a stencil or a stamp or something. We'll see how that goes. Not sure what to do about the script I've been using. I don't have a printer or any fancy stuff to play around with so hmm, have to think about that.

Okay, I’m off to get the scalpel on that head...which sounds very wrong...but she’ll look much better after!