I guess it’s the time to look back on the previous year and make some goals for the year ahead.
2013
Highlights
- My website has finally reached a state with which I’m happy. The blog is cranking along pretty well. Even some of the galleries are finished.
- New and exciting directions for my pottery including decals and new glazes.
- 1st wood firing experience.
- 1st attempt demonstrating and selling at a festival.
- Accepted into my first juried show.
- Put together my first ceramics camp/class.
- Attended a fantastic pottery workshop.
- Made some connections: met some local potters and I’ve started to connect to others through social media.
- Got to hep with a stop at the Michiana Pottery Tour.
- Successfully defended my fantasy football title.
- Was part of the winning team in the first WNP staff dodgeball extravaganza.
- Purchased a slab roller for the clay studio.
Lowlights
- My primary sales outlet left town.
- I still can’t grow a beard.
- My teams: more disappointment than success?
So, looking back, it was a pretty fantastic year. I hope to ride this wave  into 2014 and beyond. So let’s take a look at what I hope to accomplish in the next year:
2014
Top Priorities
Things that I want to get done before 2015 rolls around.
- Etsy! My top goal is to set up shop and start getting my work “out there” for everyone to see.
- Find at least one store in the physical world to sell my wares.
- Apply to at least 3 exhibitions/festivals/shows this year.
- Offer another class for the staff at WNP.
- Make my own stamps.
- Continue to shoot a handful of family or senior portraits with my wife.
- Make more connections and increase my social media presence. If you’d like to connect:
- Facebook (243) and Facebook Page (70)
- Google+ (63) and Google+ Page (4)
- Twitter (59) (not a high frequency user)
- Pinterest (33)
- Instagram (62)
- LinkedIn (17 connections)
- Make sets of pots, start defining a standard shape for mugs, cups and bowls.
- Write some great, original content for my other site.
- Continue to test new glazes and perfect the application of the glazes that I have now.
Lower Priority Goals
The “it would be cool to do this” category. If it doesn’t happen, we’ll try next year.
- Try some color decals.
- Learn some PHP or Javascript.
- Start an email newsletter.
- Upgrade one of our cameras and at least one of our lenses.
- Get a screened in porch for the back of our house.
- Improve my Adobe Illustrator skills.
I’m sure there are some other things that I’m forgetting. But that should keep me busy for a good part of 2014. Now I just need to lay out my plans to accomplish each goal. Perhaps in another post?
Anyway, I wish everyone out there the best that 2014 has to offer. Thanks for reading.