|
7.3.8-Back in the Saddle...
Back into the shop for extended hours for this
month. Going to work on making a huge dent in the back order list,
clean up and get ready to move the shop.
5.27.8- We've found the cause of why I've been ill so
much!
Sick since Friday, again! Thank goodness my
wife made me go to the hospital this time. So I'm now on medication
and antibiotics for a strep infection. It appears that it's been
lying dormant each time I thought I was better...since January. The
doctor was not surprised when I stated that every time things get really
stressful I suddenly get hit with headaches, 104+ fevers, chills and
weakness that takes me down from anywhere from 4-7 days at a pop.
Now I like to think I'm tough and my immune system
has always been strong, maybe getting sick once a year. But I've
been knock down ill over 8 times in the last 6 months so it's been
incredibly depressing. My problem is I've never been to the doctor
voluntarily (only 1 ER trip after an altercation long ago) since I've been
an adult, so for over 20 years it's been a foreign concept for
me.
Now I'm on the antibiotics for the full term which
the doc says should wipe the infection once and for all, so no more
monthly "mystery illnesses"! Thank goodness for my girl,
and the fact that I now have health coverage and the mindset that if I'm
feeling sick then I'm heading straight to urgentcare. Going to be 40
this year, time to start taking things very seriously.
-Brand
5.10.8
Finished up a couple pairs of shoulders that were
on order and delivered them to the customer. Slowly working through
the list. Tomorrow is Mother's day so I doubt I'll get any time in
the shop. The next two weeks will be intensive work loads so it'll
be interesting to see how much gets done.
5.7.8
Was sick again last week, almost 5 days worth
:( Going to have to see a doctor soon and find out why I have been
so messed up this last year. Here's a couple pair of gauntlets
shipped today.
4.24.8
Well looks like I'll actually be getting some time
in the shop soon so I can make some orders disappear off the build lists
and get them into people's hands. Below is an order for a gent in
Hawaii that's been on the list for far too long. Have another set of
legs, 4 sets of gauntlets and a set of knees that should be done in the
next couple of days. Then it's back onto the helms and custom items
for a bit.
4.22.8
Sorry for the lack of updates, been working my
second job and I've been out of the shop way too much. Sorry for the
lack of responses to emails, let it go for over a week and there are just
so many to respond to. I'll try to get to them in the next couple of
days.
For those wanting to commission something, which is
a lot of the emails, sorry, I'm only clearing backorders and working on my
wholesale orders. I'm not accepting retail orders anymore.
I have legs, gauntlets and several helms lined up
to be completed soon, so stay tuned.
4.11.8
Some images of the finished helm...moving
forward...
   
4.9.8
Big news! We've partnered with Windrose
Armoury who will be carrying our products shortly.
This will provide the needed infusion of funds into
the shop to get things rolling and allow us to focus on just making the
gear which is what we do best. This strategic partnership provides
the best of all worlds as Windrose is known for their solid business
practices and are always out at events.
So today is an exciting day for us. Now we
begin a new phase of operations that should help not only clear up our
backorders, but provide stability and prosperity for the future.
4.3.8
Things have been going steady, but slow. The
second job has taken a lot of time out of the shop, but got to keep the
bills paid. Sorry about the slow or lack of communication, just
trying to get things done and send the happy emails. Got so many
things in the works, several helms, arms and legs and the last of the
sport gauntlets, hopefully I'll be through most in the next 10 working
days or so. Here's a picture of one helm in progress:
 
3.27.8
Italian Sallet from the list done. Burned two
fingertips on my right hand, should know better not to pick up a helm by
the grill I just welded! I'll put a picture up tomorrow as I was
finished at 7:30 tonight so there was no decent light.
Here's the pics:
 
3.24.8
Stainless Viking from the list.
3.18.8 Been working between the other job, also been
sick a bit. Shipped some arms and legs but didn't snap photos as
they were just the usual pieces.
3.13.8 April 30th Backorder Clearance Target Date
Captain's Log. I have managed to create a
master in house schedule for all of the backlogs. If everything goes
great, which of course it never quite does, all of the backorders, save a
few super artistic ones, should be cleared by April 30th.
I expect the schedule to slip some, but hopefully
we can make it simply rearranging the order on the list instead of
extending the overall calendar length.
It's the proverbial "light at the end of the
tunnel" which is exciting at least for me :)
Once we pin down some of these wholesale agreements
we'll be able to shut down the retail aspect entirely and just focus on
clearing the backorders and building runs for the wholesale clients.
That will mean a lot less time on the phone, email or making sales and
more time spent in actual fabrication.
3.12.8
Well the boy was ill for the last couple of days
and unable to go to school yesterday, so I had to pull daddy duty and take
care of him. Today it's back into the shop to see if I can clear one
more order from the list.
3.8.8
It's the weekend. The order list is shrinking
slowly but surely with no more backorders being taken. Have a few
more Gulf Wars items to finish and ship early this next week. Also
have to get the rest of the sport gauntlet orders out. After that
it's just one order at a time until the list is completely gone.
For the Armoury I am working with several retailers
on possible wholesale agreements. If it works out then those
distributors will be handling the retail of items I make.
3.6.8
Finished up a huge stainless Viking, brushed finish
with aventail. Was #1 on the list, for
Leonard.
3.3.8
Updates are sparse as I am staying buried in the
shop and working a new job. I'll try and update the queue to the
right at the end of the week.
2.24.8 Going to In Stock Only and Part Time
Being ill for over a week and a half really puts
things in perspective as far as life, family and the business goes.
So we're making some very big changes.
First, the Armoury will be going to part time here
soon as the full time load has contributed a lot to the illness and
injuries of this last year. Financially it's better as well to pair
the Armoury's potential with a more stable external income source which
can only mean more steady and consistent output of quality gear.
Second, we've ceased all backorders and custom commissions
for SCA gear. We've switched to in stock only sales of items we actually
have on the shelves. Once again another move that should prove
extremely good for the Armoury in the long run.
So our focus is to build stock and clear the back
orders and after those orders are cleared just keep building stock.
A very simple business model and one I have been trying to get to for
years.
-B
2.11.8 -IMPORTANT
Well I'm still sick and out of commission.
I'm unhappy that I will be unable to get all of the last minute Estrella
items done for folks, but hopefully people will be okay with me getting
them done after the war when I am well. I must admit it's very
disappointing after having such good production weeks lately to have the
illness wrench thrown in at such a critical time.
2.10.8
Lost out on this weekend for work as I ended
up ill in bed most of yesterday and today until noon. Being the
tough guy and trying to work while sick is just a bad idea. Only
going to be able to get half as much done for Estrella as I wanted to, so
it's a bit disappointing. I won't be making it to Estrella either,
work and home responsibilities come first before fun.
2.5.8
Computer was down all weekend as someone down the
street slammed into a power pole spiking and dropping power while I had
customers in the shop. Went to go turn it on and windows was
corrupted and the hard drive messed up. Obviously, it's Tuesday and
the computer is back up so here's images of a helm
finished yesterday.
1.30.8
Yet another good day. While I wish I could
knock out the backorder list so much faster, I just have to take it day by
day, focusing on what can be done versus what cannot be done. I
really appreciate everyone's patience, as as you can see I'm progressing
well and hopefully in the next 6 weeks or so almost all of the list to the
right will be done and gone :) It will take some time, but we're
getting to everyone as soon as possible.
Here's the results of today's labors in finishing
up this stainless corinthian:
1.29.8
Another productive day. This steel cavalry
helm gets shipped off in the next few days.
1.28.8
It's Monday, pouring rain but a good day in the
shop. Pressing forward on several "pressing" orders that I
am trying to get our this week and the next. Few pictures of a set
of arms, legs and gauntlets cleared from the order list finally.
1.23.8
The website has a minor update, with some items in
the in stock section along with the .10" thick aircraft aluminum
becoming standard, at no additional charge, on most of our non-helmet
armour pieces.
1.22.8
Here's some pictures of a steel praetorian shipped
today along with 3 sets of gauntlets. It was being worked on along
with the stainless one below.
1.16.8
Wow, been a crazy week thus far. But here's
pictures of a stainless praetorian shipped out today.
1.10.8
Trying to keep up with all of the update email
requests, but it's taking some time to get to everyone. Trying to
keep my head buried in the shop and not looking at the computer much.
Continued work on a custom stainless greek helm,
adjusted the cheek plates and trimmed them down to a much more pleasing
and functional size. Just have to affix the grillwork, add bronze
edging and polish and it's finally done. Also found a set of steel
econo gauntlets sitting in a box on the shelf which should have shipped a
while ago. Popped them out and took a picture as I don't think I
have a recent photo of those.
I think tonight is going to be spent cleaning up
and attempting to organize the shop again as there are too many misplaced
tools, patterns, and even pieces of armour I need to locate!
Here's the mild steel econo gauntlet pictures:
1.8.8
Atop working on several helmet projects we finished
up 10 collar gorgets (some for in stock) and a set of the sport gauntlets
with the leather cuff started over the weekend.
1.6.8
The Holidays are over so it's back to the shop and
full speed ahead. This last week we cleared a custom Crusader
Totenkoph and shipped 9 sets of sport gauntlets.
The backorder queue should start moving at a brisk
pace now as we are running a new scheduling program and want to clear
almost everything between now and Estrella.
Some important changes are in the works here.
First, the Armoury will be changing it's lineup and
format as we've decided to once again specialize in a smaller product
range and start putting some pieces in stock. We will be accepting
orders for regularly produced items but we will be accepting very few, if
any custom orders. The custom orders, while we love to make them,
slow down the production queue drastically. So we've decided that we
would rather focus on a specialized range of products, clear out all of
the orders and try to carry some in stock gear.
Second, the website and email addresses will be
changing shortly in an effort to better streamline ordering and eliminate
all of the spam from the email accounts.
Third, We purchased a new work truck so we'll be at
more events this year. We are also considering setting up a vendor
program as well as a sponsorship program for selected medieval martial
arts fighters.
Here's a few pictures:
12.20.7
Pictures upcoming of some projects in the
works. 10 pairs of the sports gauntlets have been completed as well
as several custom pieces.
12.3.7
Wow, I've been really remiss about updating the
blog for the last 3 months, sorry folks. Just been working on
orders, boxing and shipping them as soon as they are done. I'll try
to start updating almost daily with pictures again and such.
I'm working on updating the build Queue to the
right today, and although it's not set in stone it'll give a good idea of
what's being built in what general order.
Here's some images of just a fraction of what has been
built in the last couple months:
8.29.7- Stainless XL Corinthian Completed:
 
8.28.7-Stainless Norman Custom Cross Nasal Completed:
  
8.27.7-Stainless Persian Completed:
  
8.25.7-Website Updated:
Today I spent this morning updating a great deal of
the new online shopping part of the website and put up this blog page next
to the order queue. There's undoubtedly still some things to get
fixed, but it should be good to go live today.
I need to update the list to the right of the
pieces on order as we are running several weeks behind schedule due to the
arm injury and other factors. |
