Skip to main content

31 Days - Day 18: Assembly Line or Item by Item

Assembly Line or Item by Item - that is the question.  I don't know that I really have a clear answer for this question about how to make your items for the craft show, but I do want to at least present to you the pros and cons to both, so you can decide.  Possibly, you may be a little like me and do a little of each.  Some of the crafts necessitate doing it item by item, while others, you may save time by doing it assembly line.

Assembly Line

Ok - so maybe your house doesn't look this bad, but I know that when I am trying to get a bunch of the same items done, it does feel like it.  

Pros:

  • Save time by having one step going at a time.
  • Conserve materials - often you can plan out better by doing all the cutting at the same time.
  • Faster - You don't have to stop to go to a new step over and over.
  • More efficient - you can get into a pattern while assembling.

Cons:

  • Backlog can be frustrating - I find if I have one step I don't care to do as much, I may be reluctant to get it finished, and therefore backlog.
  • Squelches Creativity - I find if I can't see a project to the end sometimes, I have a problem with a lack of creativity.
  • Boredom - I struggle with this when making the same thing over and over, I get bored easily and want to work on the next project.

Item by Item

Pros:

  • Creativity grows - sometimes even if you are seeking to make items the same, you may personalize them a little more by making each one from start to finish.
  • Personalized Items - items can turn out more personalized if done individually.
  • Keeps Interest - you're not as easily bored this way.

Cons:

  • Time Consuming - it can be more time consuming to do different steps separately.
  • Less Efficient - you may have to take out new materials for each step and then clean them up (of course depending on your craft.)
  • Easy Distractions - this is one of my biggest downfalls!  I get so easily distracted when I go start another part of a craft.
I'm sure there are more that I missed.  Maybe you know some from experience.  I'd love to hear them all.

For a complete list of the 31 Day Until A Craft Show series and links to each post go Here to Day 31.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks so much for your comments! I love to hear from you!

Popular posts from this blog

DIY Pig Feeder

  This is our second year of raising pigs for the fair.  We've had some bumps along the way, one of them was our homemade feeder of last year.  I tend to have ideas, and then Mr. Right gets the pleasure of trying to execute my ideas.  Most of the time it works out, but last year, our feeder was a fail.   This year, we need a feeder that can go a long period of time, since our pigs are not on our property where we live.  Our neighbor made a complaint about the smell of the pigs last year to our landlord, so the landlord told us no more pigs. (Keep in mind, there are only 2 pigs on 6 acres and they are only here for 5 months and then go to the 4-H fair and livestock auction) Thankfully, another neighbor graciously allowed us to pen up a corner of her horse pen, to put our pigs in.    This year, I wanted to be sure that Mr. Right did a quality version of the pig feeder that would make it through the entire five months, and hopefully...
Post a Comment
Read more

Drop Cloth Couch Re-do

It's my 100th Post!  What a great big reveal I have in store for you today! Three years ago, I found  Miss Mustard Seeds' 6 part How to Make Slipcovers Series  and started with watching the first video.  I ran out to Home Depot and purchased two drop clothes, washed and bleached them to get ready for making the slipcovers for my two couches, and there they sat folded nicely in my craft room!  A year ago, we moved across the country, so I packed those drop clothes up in a box, clearly marked them and put them on the truck.  When we arrived, I put them in front of all my other boxes to do first.  We even moved again over Christmas, and I moved that box again!  Then, I did a pillow re-do,  HERE  that pushed me over the edge.  I just had to tackle those slip covers! Before of the couch and the pillows that began the entire thing!  I  had a Saturday, where the guys were doing guy things and it was me and the girls hom...
14 comments
Read more

Top 5 Gifts for the Piano Student

As a piano teacher, I thought I'd put out there some of my top recommendations for great, yet practical and fun gifts for the piano student this holiday season!   1.  Piano Maybe you weren't totally sold on your child playing piano, or maybe you got an instrument to get you thru the interim, until you find or can afford that better instrument, but what student wouldn't be ecstatic about receiving a better one for Christmas (or consider buying it for your family)?   Here's a great article that will get you started in  making the right decision: The Ins and Outs of Buying a Piano.     If you're wanting to order a digital piano, here are two recommendations: Be sure that you have a stand, pedal, and bench for use with the digital piano. 2.  Metronome I love this one But this one is great too!   3.  New Music Ok, so this one takes a little research.  Ask your piano ...
Post a Comment
Read more