Drying Flowers for Crafts

Although there are somethings we wish could last forever or a moment we wish would never end, ultimately they do. The memory of the special event, however, can be preserved for us to recall and enjoy for a long time to come. Drying flowers is a simple and inexpensive way to preserve these cherished moments. There are multiple ways to use your flowers and preserve them for crafts and decorations. Whether they were a gift, or from a special day they can be made into something to enjoy long after that time has passed.

One way to preserve flowers and use in crafts is by hanging them to dry. If you decide to preserve your flowers whole, and intact, you will need to decide this before they have fully bloomed. If a flower has opened up too much, when it is dried the petals will fall off. The brighter and more vivid the fresh flower is, the better color it will have as it dries. If you want more intense colors, be sure to start with that trait in the fresh flower. If the dried flower will be used with it's stem, it would be best to wire the stem while the flower is still fresh. Then attach the flower, upside down, to a wire hanger and leave in a dark place for two to three weeks. If the dried flowers will be stored a while before use, cover them with a light material, such as tissue paper to keep the dust off.

Flowers preserved in this way can be used for a variety of purposes. For a special event, such as a wedding, some people want to preserve their bouquets. After following drying instructions bouquets can be placed as a wall hanging next to the wedding photo, in a shadow box, or simply placed on a table or in a hutch. After flowers are dried they can also be put back in a vase and set on a table. If a single flower is preserved, perhaps to save on space, it can be laid over the wedding frame on in front of the wedding photo. Individually dried flowers can also be used when making a wreath. Flowers do not have to have special meaning, any flower that dries well can be used to make an arrangement. In addition to adding a variety of leaves, berries, ribbon or other embellishments, dried flowers look beautiful in a wreath. Sometimes less is more, if your wreath is not looking right, try lessening the amount of items in it.

Flowers can also be preserved by being pressed. This method is simple and can be used for things you want to keep forever, or for special cards or invitations. Although you can buy kits to press, they can also be made by having several layers of cardboard stacked with flowers laid out on each sheet and then bound with adjustable straps that you can tighten to ensure a successful drying process. Pressed flowers are very versatile in their uses. When making wedding announcements a pressed flower of the wedding colors is a beautiful addition to the invitations. They can also be used to make cards or baby announcements. Another option for pressed flowers is to place them as a garden scene in an old window or frame. Glue them on a separate piece of glass, not part of the original frame, cut to the same size and then placed and secured to the frame. Any size can be attractive and used any where in a home, from a bathroom to bedroom. The flowers do not have to be the center of the picture, but can also be placed around a photo or poem on the mat. This is a wonderful way to incorporate the flowers to the event, but do it in a small, elegant way.

If you can find a way to preserve special memories they will bring joy for years. Although fresh flowers are beautiful, dried ones can be just as enjoyable. By finding various ways to use your flowers, you will be surrounded by your memories and remember those happy times when life might be more difficult.

source:
http://www.articlecity.com /articles/hobbies/article_1091.shtml

CRAFTSMANSHIP: its Cultural and Managerial Implications

"Craftsmanship = (Knowledge + Experience + Attitude) X Success"
- Bryce's Law

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this essay is to review the state of craftsmanship in the 21st century, determine if it still has merit in today's corporate culture, and if so, devise recommendations for perpetuating it.

Background

Although there are no definitive numbers to prove so, there is a general consensus that craftsmanship has been in decline in North America since the 1980's. This era marked the beginning of stiff worldwide competition in just about every industrial sector, led predominantly by Japan and Germany. Since then, the European community has been unified and become a formidable foe, as has the rest of Asia. In response, American corporations began a policy of belt-tightening, downsizing, outsourcing, and use of new technology (e.g., robotics) all of which played an important part in the decline of labor unions during this period. This also led to the implementation of several corporate cost-cutting measures, including the reduction of employee education/training. In-house training and schools to develop employee skills were sharply curtailed, if not eliminated completely. Consequently, this led to a noticeable decline in human skills and a change in attitude by employees towards their work, thereby becoming more apathetic. It could be argued this also led to an increase in defects in workmanship which triggered the interest in Quality Assurance concepts and techniques beginning in the 1980's.

Today, the prevailing attitude in the workplace appears to be less focused on what is to be produced, and more on the time needed to produce it. In other words, employees are more focused on their paycheck as opposed to their work product. Undoubtedly this has contributed to the current trend of micromanagement (a Theory X dictatorial style of management).

As such, an interesting dichotomy has emerged between management and workers:

* Management - believes there is no employee loyalty, dedication or professionalism.

* Employees - lack faith in management's judgment and are suspicious of business ethics. Believes management is more concerned with the bottom-line as opposed to people.

Whereas micromanagement is the dominant style of management in today's workplace, workers generally want more freedom and participation in the decision making process. But instead of worker empowerment, there is more of an inclination by management to dominate and more closely supervise workers. This growing rift between management and workers, along with changes in corporate socioeconomic conditions, has led to the decline in craftsmanship.

In the decades prior to the 1980's, craftsmanship flourished primarily because workmen were well trained, they were empowered to perform their work accordingly, and the work produced was considered a reflection of the worker's personal character. But if continuous employee improvement is discouraged (such as the reduction or elimination of employee training), self-initiative is prohibited (through micromanagement), and there is a general lack of trust between management and workers, then the decline of craftsmanship was inevitable.

The term "craftsmanship" is still bandied about, but more for marketing purposes than anything else. Most of the true craftsmen of this country have long since retired, but there are still a few practicing their craft either at home or in small-to-medium sized businesses where it is appreciated.

Why the interest in craftsmanship now? Due to heightened awareness by the media in such things as fashion, food, and architecture, there appears to be a growing trend in prestige consumer products. The fact that companies advertise their products are produced with "high craftsmanship" is indicative the consumer appreciates superior work products. There is also a growing realization that superior goods will last longer.

CRAFTSMANSHIP DEFINED

Before we go further, let's examine what exactly we mean by the term "craftsmanship":

"The practice and pursuit of excellence in building/delivering superior work products by workers."

This implies craftsmanship is a universally applicable concept for any field of endeavor, be it producing a product or delivering a service. Basically, it is a commitment to excellence which is most definitely not the same as quality. Quality simply relates to the absence of errors or defects in the finished product or service. In other words, finished goods operate according to their specifications (customers get precisely what they ordered). Although quality is certainly an element of craftsmanship, the emphasis on "superior work products" means the worker wants to go beyond the status quo and is constantly looking for new and imaginative ways to produce superior results. This suggests the craftsman is personally involved with the work products and treats them as an extension of his/her life.

Craftsmanship can be found in either the overall work process or a section of it. For example, there are craftsmen who are intimate with all facets of building furniture, such as a table, a chair or desk, and can develop the product from start to finish. However, as products grow in complexity, it becomes difficult to find people suitably qualified to build them from the womb to the tomb. Consider military weapons alone, such as the complicated ships, tanks, and airplanes we now use, with thousands or millions of parts to assemble. Such complexity makes it virtually impossible for a single person to have the expertise to build the whole product. The same is true in the service sector where different types of expertise and capabilities may be required. In other words, craftsmen have a specific scope of work. The scope of work may relate to other types of craftsmen through a chain of work dependencies, e.g., Craftsmen A, B and C concentrate on separate subassemblies which are eventually joined into a single product.

Craftsmanship is also a human trait. Some might argue a computer or industrial robot can produce quality products and are, therefore, craftsmen. However, we must remember these devices are programmed by human beings in accordance with the rules of the craftsman. As such, they are nothing more than a tool of the craftsman.

ATTRIBUTES

Craftsmen can be characterized by a variety of adjectives, such as: patient, determined, curious, thorough, expert, methodical, focused, self-starter, and pays attention to detail. More specifically though, craftsmanship requires the use of:

* TOOLS - In addition to the hand, the foot, and the eye, craftsmen must be knowledgeable in the use of other mechanical devices for his/her area of specialty.

* THE MIND - Requiring specific knowledge, experience and judgment to implement the work product. This brings up an important point: education alone is not sufficient to be recognized as a craftsman; it also includes a record of proven success to demonstrate the worker knows how to apply the education.

In terms of education, there are two parts to consider: initial education, either learned through formal training (e.g., college and vocational school diplomas) or through on-the-job experience ("School of Hard Knocks"), and; continuous improvement, representing ongoing training/education through such things as certification, supplemental training, studying industry periodicals and books, or participation in industry trade groups. Although initial education is certainly important, continuous improvement is the earmark of a craftsman.

The craftsman is knowledgeable in all facets of the methodology for his/her line of work. For our purposes here, a methodology refers to "Who" is to perform "What," "When," "Where," "Why," and "How" (aka "5W+H"). As such, the craftsman must be fully cognizant of the work breakdown structure, the dependencies between steps, deliverables, along with the various techniques and tools used throughout the methodology. From this, he/she can devise a reliable estimate of the costs needed to produce the work product, as well as schedule the time to deliver it.

A true craftsman is so knowledgeable about the work product and the methodology to produce it he/she can even advise other professionals in how to modify/improve them, such as architects and engineers (including industrial engineers).

* THE SPIRIT - This represents the personal desire to not only see the job performed correctly, but better than others. This means the craftsman is personally committed to producing superior work products simply because he/she views his/her professional life as an extension of his/her personal life. As such, the craftsman must be empowered to make certain decisions on how to build/deliver the work product in order to achieve a sense of ownership. From this perspective, techniques such as micromanagement is not conducive for encouraging a program of craftsmanship.

A craftsman sweats over the smallest details in producing the work product and is well aware of the risks involved with skipping steps or doing something out of sequence. Such commitment to producing superior results suggests the craftsman possesses a higher work ethic than others, and in all likelihood possesses higher moral values due to his/her fastidious attention to "Right and Wrong."

To summarize, the elements of craftsmanship can perhaps be best expressed using the following formula:

Craftsmanship = (Knowledge + Experience + Attitude) X Success

Knowledge - refers to both the person's initial and ongoing education.

Experience - refers to the person's application of his/her knowledge.

Attitude - refers to the person's sense of professionalism and dedication to his/her craft.

Success - refers to both customer and company satisfaction of the person's work.

WHO IS AFFECTED BY CRAFTSMANSHIP?

There are three interrelated parties involved with craftsmanship:

1. The Worker - charged with producing the work product.

2. The Company - which provides for a program of craftsmanship.

3. The Consumer - to purchase and express satisfaction with the work product.

Without any one of these elements, craftsmanship breaks down. For example:

* It is not sufficient for a worker to simply want to be a craftsman; if the company implements an unsuitable corporate culture, craftsmanship will not be allowed.

* It is not sufficient for the company to simply want to promote craftsmanship; if workers do not exhibit self-initiative to produce superior results, craftsmanship will not flourish. After all, "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."

* It is not sufficient for the consumer to simply say they want products built by craftsman; they must create the demand for such products and offer feedback in terms of their satisfaction with them.

IMPLEMENTING CRAFTSMANSHIP

To embrace craftsmanship, a company must devise a suitable corporate culture. This includes the following elements:

* EMPOWERMENT OF THE WORKER to make certain decisions regarding development of the work product. This is often described as managing from the "bottom-up" as opposed to just "top-down" which is conducive to a Theory Y form of management philosophy. Under this scenario, the worker is given assignments by management and is held accountable for delivery. In turn, decisions regarding the development of the work product are delegated to the worker who is responsible for the preparation of an estimate and schedule to deliver the work product for approval by management. In other words, the worker is allowed more freedom to manage his/her own affairs and is not under the constant scrutiny of management. Further, the worker is allowed to offer feedback to management for improving products and work conditions. Last but not least, workers are recognized for outstanding achievement.

* CREATION OF A MORE DISCIPLINED AND ORGANIZED WORK ENVIRONMENT promoting a more professional attitude amongst the workers. Ideally, the creation of an environment where workers can focus on their work with minimal distractions and take pleasure in coming to work (a sort of "home away from home"). Inevitably, this will include a redefinition of acceptable forms of dress and behavior, grooming, form of address, and office appearance.

This also includes a corporate position of zero tolerance in defects and inferior workmanship and the adoption of standard methodologies thereby defining best practices for building/delivering work products. Such standardization provides consistency in deliverables and allows for the inter-changeability of workers on different assignments. For example, suppose a worker becomes ill in the middle of an assignment and is unable to work on it further. Standard methodologies provides the means to allow another worker to complete the assignment in the same manner as the first worker. Also, standard methodologies provides an excellent training vehicle for young workers to learn and grow to become craftsmen.

* PROMOTE A PROGRAM OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT to sharpen worker skills, stay abreast of industrial developments, and seek new ways of improving work products and the methodologies used to produce them. This will undoubtedly result in the reintroduction of in-house training and schools, as well as participation in certification programs and trade groups.

* ESTABLISHMENT OF THREE CLASSES OF WORKERS to denote the level of expertise. Historically, this has been referred to as "Apprentices" (novices requiring training), "Intermediate" (educated and experienced, but not yet expert), and "Master" (expert craftsman). Such a designation of craftsmen is needed not to create barriers but to help establish a career path and mentoring program whereby the more experienced workers provide guidance to those less experienced or knowledgeable.

* ESTABLISH LINK BETWEEN WORKERS-PRODUCTS-CUSTOMERS to establish a feedback loop to judge satisfaction with a specific product and to the exact worker(s) who produced it. It is impossible to recognize or reprimand workers without such a loop. For example, without it, customers may complain or compliment the company on the work product, yet management is at a loss as to who produced it. Ideally, a system should be set in place to provide for such analysis thereby providing a convenient means to monitor worker performance.

The premise behind affecting the corporate culture in this regards is to treat workers like professionals who should act as such in return.

BENEFITS & BYPRODUCTS

From a corporate viewpoint, is true craftsmanship the right path to follow? Does it really add value to the corporate bottom-line or not? First, it is a myth that work products produced by craftsmen costs more than those produced by less skilled workers. For products of the same class, it actually costs more to produce products using less skilled workers; after all, they do not have the same level of knowledge and experience that veteran craftsman have to produce it and, as such, craftsman can produce it faster with fewer mistakes. The cost for an experienced craftsman will undoubtedly be higher than novice workers, but savings will be realized simply by expedited development time and fewer mistakes (thereby causing the elimination of corrections or replacements). Further, superior work products have the added nuance of developing satisfied customers representing repetitive business as well as referrals.

Comparing the development cost of different classes of products is like comparing apples and oranges, it is simply not an accurate comparison. For example, the cost to build a luxury automobile will be substantially different than the cost to develop an economical subcompact. But if the product is of the same fundamental class, the craftsman will produce it faster and better than the novice (and at less cost).

Some of the byproducts realized from embracing a corporate program of craftsmanship includes:

* A work environment more conducive for building superior work products.

* Employees develop a better sense of self-worth which promotes loyalty, dedication, and professionalism.

* Standard methodologies promote consistent and measurable work products, the inter-changeability of workers on assignments (as opposed to developing dependencies on individual worker expertise), provides a career path for younger workers, and brings order out of chaos. Also, standard practices improves communications, thereby promoting cooperation and teamwork.


source:
http://www.articlecity.com /articles/business_and_finance/article_9126.shtml

CRAFTSMANSHIP: its Cultural and Managerial Implications

"Craftsmanship = (Knowledge + Experience + Attitude) X Success"
- Bryce's Law

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this essay is to review the state of craftsmanship in the 21st century, determine if it still has merit in today's corporate culture, and if so, devise recommendations for perpetuating it.

Background

Although there are no definitive numbers to prove so, there is a general consensus that craftsmanship has been in decline in North America since the 1980's. This era marked the beginning of stiff worldwide competition in just about every industrial sector, led predominantly by Japan and Germany. Since then, the European community has been unified and become a formidable foe, as has the rest of Asia. In response, American corporations began a policy of belt-tightening, downsizing, outsourcing, and use of new technology (e.g., robotics) all of which played an important part in the decline of labor unions during this period. This also led to the implementation of several corporate cost-cutting measures, including the reduction of employee education/training. In-house training and schools to develop employee skills were sharply curtailed, if not eliminated completely. Consequently, this led to a noticeable decline in human skills and a change in attitude by employees towards their work, thereby becoming more apathetic. It could be argued this also led to an increase in defects in workmanship which triggered the interest in Quality Assurance concepts and techniques beginning in the 1980's.

Today, the prevailing attitude in the workplace appears to be less focused on what is to be produced, and more on the time needed to produce it. In other words, employees are more focused on their paycheck as opposed to their work product. Undoubtedly this has contributed to the current trend of micromanagement (a Theory X dictatorial style of management).

As such, an interesting dichotomy has emerged between management and workers:

* Management - believes there is no employee loyalty, dedication or professionalism.

* Employees - lack faith in management's judgment and are suspicious of business ethics. Believes management is more concerned with the bottom-line as opposed to people.

Whereas micromanagement is the dominant style of management in today's workplace, workers generally want more freedom and participation in the decision making process. But instead of worker empowerment, there is more of an inclination by management to dominate and more closely supervise workers. This growing rift between management and workers, along with changes in corporate socioeconomic conditions, has led to the decline in craftsmanship.

In the decades prior to the 1980's, craftsmanship flourished primarily because workmen were well trained, they were empowered to perform their work accordingly, and the work produced was considered a reflection of the worker's personal character. But if continuous employee improvement is discouraged (such as the reduction or elimination of employee training), self-initiative is prohibited (through micromanagement), and there is a general lack of trust between management and workers, then the decline of craftsmanship was inevitable.

The term "craftsmanship" is still bandied about, but more for marketing purposes than anything else. Most of the true craftsmen of this country have long since retired, but there are still a few practicing their craft either at home or in small-to-medium sized businesses where it is appreciated.

Why the interest in craftsmanship now? Due to heightened awareness by the media in such things as fashion, food, and architecture, there appears to be a growing trend in prestige consumer products. The fact that companies advertise their products are produced with "high craftsmanship" is indicative the consumer appreciates superior work products. There is also a growing realization that superior goods will last longer.

CRAFTSMANSHIP DEFINED

Before we go further, let's examine what exactly we mean by the term "craftsmanship":

"The practice and pursuit of excellence in building/delivering superior work products by workers."

This implies craftsmanship is a universally applicable concept for any field of endeavor, be it producing a product or delivering a service. Basically, it is a commitment to excellence which is most definitely not the same as quality. Quality simply relates to the absence of errors or defects in the finished product or service. In other words, finished goods operate according to their specifications (customers get precisely what they ordered). Although quality is certainly an element of craftsmanship, the emphasis on "superior work products" means the worker wants to go beyond the status quo and is constantly looking for new and imaginative ways to produce superior results. This suggests the craftsman is personally involved with the work products and treats them as an extension of his/her life.

Craftsmanship can be found in either the overall work process or a section of it. For example, there are craftsmen who are intimate with all facets of building furniture, such as a table, a chair or desk, and can develop the product from start to finish. However, as products grow in complexity, it becomes difficult to find people suitably qualified to build them from the womb to the tomb. Consider military weapons alone, such as the complicated ships, tanks, and airplanes we now use, with thousands or millions of parts to assemble. Such complexity makes it virtually impossible for a single person to have the expertise to build the whole product. The same is true in the service sector where different types of expertise and capabilities may be required. In other words, craftsmen have a specific scope of work. The scope of work may relate to other types of craftsmen through a chain of work dependencies, e.g., Craftsmen A, B and C concentrate on separate subassemblies which are eventually joined into a single product.

Craftsmanship is also a human trait. Some might argue a computer or industrial robot can produce quality products and are, therefore, craftsmen. However, we must remember these devices are programmed by human beings in accordance with the rules of the craftsman. As such, they are nothing more than a tool of the craftsman.

ATTRIBUTES

Craftsmen can be characterized by a variety of adjectives, such as: patient, determined, curious, thorough, expert, methodical, focused, self-starter, and pays attention to detail. More specifically though, craftsmanship requires the use of:

* TOOLS - In addition to the hand, the foot, and the eye, craftsmen must be knowledgeable in the use of other mechanical devices for his/her area of specialty.

* THE MIND - Requiring specific knowledge, experience and judgment to implement the work product. This brings up an important point: education alone is not sufficient to be recognized as a craftsman; it also includes a record of proven success to demonstrate the worker knows how to apply the education.

In terms of education, there are two parts to consider: initial education, either learned through formal training (e.g., college and vocational school diplomas) or through on-the-job experience ("School of Hard Knocks"), and; continuous improvement, representing ongoing training/education through such things as certification, supplemental training, studying industry periodicals and books, or participation in industry trade groups. Although initial education is certainly important, continuous improvement is the earmark of a craftsman.

The craftsman is knowledgeable in all facets of the methodology for his/her line of work. For our purposes here, a methodology refers to "Who" is to perform "What," "When," "Where," "Why," and "How" (aka "5W+H"). As such, the craftsman must be fully cognizant of the work breakdown structure, the dependencies between steps, deliverables, along with the various techniques and tools used throughout the methodology. From this, he/she can devise a reliable estimate of the costs needed to produce the work product, as well as schedule the time to deliver it.

A true craftsman is so knowledgeable about the work product and the methodology to produce it he/she can even advise other professionals in how to modify/improve them, such as architects and engineers (including industrial engineers).

* THE SPIRIT - This represents the personal desire to not only see the job performed correctly, but better than others. This means the craftsman is personally committed to producing superior work products simply because he/she views his/her professional life as an extension of his/her personal life. As such, the craftsman must be empowered to make certain decisions on how to build/deliver the work product in order to achieve a sense of ownership. From this perspective, techniques such as micromanagement is not conducive for encouraging a program of craftsmanship.

A craftsman sweats over the smallest details in producing the work product and is well aware of the risks involved with skipping steps or doing something out of sequence. Such commitment to producing superior results suggests the craftsman possesses a higher work ethic than others, and in all likelihood possesses higher moral values due to his/her fastidious attention to "Right and Wrong."

To summarize, the elements of craftsmanship can perhaps be best expressed using the following formula:

Craftsmanship = (Knowledge + Experience + Attitude) X Success

Knowledge - refers to both the person's initial and ongoing education.

Experience - refers to the person's application of his/her knowledge.

Attitude - refers to the person's sense of professionalism and dedication to his/her craft.

Success - refers to both customer and company satisfaction of the person's work.

WHO IS AFFECTED BY CRAFTSMANSHIP?

There are three interrelated parties involved with craftsmanship:

1. The Worker - charged with producing the work product.

2. The Company - which provides for a program of craftsmanship.

3. The Consumer - to purchase and express satisfaction with the work product.

Without any one of these elements, craftsmanship breaks down. For example:

* It is not sufficient for a worker to simply want to be a craftsman; if the company implements an unsuitable corporate culture, craftsmanship will not be allowed.

* It is not sufficient for the company to simply want to promote craftsmanship; if workers do not exhibit self-initiative to produce superior results, craftsmanship will not flourish. After all, "You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."

* It is not sufficient for the consumer to simply say they want products built by craftsman; they must create the demand for such products and offer feedback in terms of their satisfaction with them.

IMPLEMENTING CRAFTSMANSHIP

To embrace craftsmanship, a company must devise a suitable corporate culture. This includes the following elements:

* EMPOWERMENT OF THE WORKER to make certain decisions regarding development of the work product. This is often described as managing from the "bottom-up" as opposed to just "top-down" which is conducive to a Theory Y form of management philosophy. Under this scenario, the worker is given assignments by management and is held accountable for delivery. In turn, decisions regarding the development of the work product are delegated to the worker who is responsible for the preparation of an estimate and schedule to deliver the work product for approval by management. In other words, the worker is allowed more freedom to manage his/her own affairs and is not under the constant scrutiny of management. Further, the worker is allowed to offer feedback to management for improving products and work conditions. Last but not least, workers are recognized for outstanding achievement.

* CREATION OF A MORE DISCIPLINED AND ORGANIZED WORK ENVIRONMENT promoting a more professional attitude amongst the workers. Ideally, the creation of an environment where workers can focus on their work with minimal distractions and take pleasure in coming to work (a sort of "home away from home"). Inevitably, this will include a redefinition of acceptable forms of dress and behavior, grooming, form of address, and office appearance.

This also includes a corporate position of zero tolerance in defects and inferior workmanship and the adoption of standard methodologies thereby defining best practices for building/delivering work products. Such standardization provides consistency in deliverables and allows for the inter-changeability of workers on different assignments. For example, suppose a worker becomes ill in the middle of an assignment and is unable to work on it further. Standard methodologies provides the means to allow another worker to complete the assignment in the same manner as the first worker. Also, standard methodologies provides an excellent training vehicle for young workers to learn and grow to become craftsmen.

* PROMOTE A PROGRAM OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT to sharpen worker skills, stay abreast of industrial developments, and seek new ways of improving work products and the methodologies used to produce them. This will undoubtedly result in the reintroduction of in-house training and schools, as well as participation in certification programs and trade groups.

* ESTABLISHMENT OF THREE CLASSES OF WORKERS to denote the level of expertise. Historically, this has been referred to as "Apprentices" (novices requiring training), "Intermediate" (educated and experienced, but not yet expert), and "Master" (expert craftsman). Such a designation of craftsmen is needed not to create barriers but to help establish a career path and mentoring program whereby the more experienced workers provide guidance to those less experienced or knowledgeable.

* ESTABLISH LINK BETWEEN WORKERS-PRODUCTS-CUSTOMERS to establish a feedback loop to judge satisfaction with a specific product and to the exact worker(s) who produced it. It is impossible to recognize or reprimand workers without such a loop. For example, without it, customers may complain or compliment the company on the work product, yet management is at a loss as to who produced it. Ideally, a system should be set in place to provide for such analysis thereby providing a convenient means to monitor worker performance.

The premise behind affecting the corporate culture in this regards is to treat workers like professionals who should act as such in return.

BENEFITS & BYPRODUCTS

From a corporate viewpoint, is true craftsmanship the right path to follow? Does it really add value to the corporate bottom-line or not? First, it is a myth that work products produced by craftsmen costs more than those produced by less skilled workers. For products of the same class, it actually costs more to produce products using less skilled workers; after all, they do not have the same level of knowledge and experience that veteran craftsman have to produce it and, as such, craftsman can produce it faster with fewer mistakes. The cost for an experienced craftsman will undoubtedly be higher than novice workers, but savings will be realized simply by expedited development time and fewer mistakes (thereby causing the elimination of corrections or replacements). Further, superior work products have the added nuance of developing satisfied customers representing repetitive business as well as referrals.

Comparing the development cost of different classes of products is like comparing apples and oranges, it is simply not an accurate comparison. For example, the cost to build a luxury automobile will be substantially different than the cost to develop an economical subcompact. But if the product is of the same fundamental class, the craftsman will produce it faster and better than the novice (and at less cost).

Some of the byproducts realized from embracing a corporate program of craftsmanship includes:

* A work environment more conducive for building superior work products.

* Employees develop a better sense of self-worth which promotes loyalty, dedication, and professionalism.

* Standard methodologies promote consistent and measurable work products, the inter-changeability of workers on assignments (as opposed to developing dependencies on individual worker expertise), provides a career path for younger workers, and brings order out of chaos. Also, standard practices improves communications, thereby promoting cooperation and teamwork.


source:
http://www.articlecity.com /articles/business_and_finance/article_9126.shtml

Tri Coloured Tang

Tangsancai refers to the tri-coloured glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty(618-907 A.D.),a painted earthenware which appeared in the wake of celadon.It is called "tri-coloured"because yellow,green and white were normally used,although some pieces are also in two or four colours.Developed on the basis of the green and brown glazed-pottery of the Han Dynasty,it represented a peak in the development of Chinese ceramics and was already well-known in the world in its time.
Unearthed tri-coloured Tangs are usually horses,camels,female figurines,dragon-head mugs,figurines of musicians and acrobats,and pillows.Of these,the three-coloured camels have won the greatest admiration.They are presented as bearing loads of silk or carrying musicians on their backs,their heads raised as if neighing;the red-bearded,blue-eyed drivers,clad in tunics of tight sleeves and hats with upturned brims,reproduce true-to-life images of men from Central Asia of that time as they trudged along the Silk Road to the tinkle of camel bells.


The tri-coloured glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty was developed some 1,300 years ago by drawing on the skills of Chinese painting and sculpture and employing on the bodies the techniques of claystrip forming and incising.The lines thus produced were rugged and powerful.Then glazes of different colours were painted on and,while chemical reactions took place in the process of firing in the kiln,they dripped naturally so that the colours mingled with each other and formed smooth tones.


The tri-coloured Tang flourished during a rather short period of time(the 8th century)of the dynasty,when pottery pieces of this category were used by the aristocrats as funerary objects.So the finds today are limited in number and are considered to be rare treasures,valued for their brilliant colour and life-like shapes.


Imitations now produced in Luoyang,Xi'an and other cities of China are well received as tourist souvenirs because of their close resemblance to the authentic works.

source:
http://www.chinese-handicraft.com /folk-arts/Tri-Coloured-Tang_191.html

Silhouette Carving

The silhouette carving,which is a branch of the Hui'an school of stone sculpture in Fujian,derives its name from its photo-like artistic effects.For its exquisite craftsmanship it is extolled as a wonder of China.


Using a variety of tiny chisels ranging in size from nails to needles,the artist consults the details of a photograph while carving on a piece of bluestone about two inches in thickness,forming patterns and images by varying the size,depth and density of the chisel points and alternating realism with abstraction.A piece of silhouette carving can be as large as more than 100 square metres and as small as 4 to 5 square cm.


The silhouette carvings made in the Hui'an County Stone Carving Factory are often selected as gifts for diplomatic occasions and shown in exhibitions abroad.

source:
http://www.chinese-handicraft.com /folk-arts/Silhouette-Carving_202.html

Brick Sculpture

Bricks carved with patterns in relief were used for decorative purposes on the exterior of old houses-mansions of officials and the rich,shrines and temples,landscape buildings in parts.They are also found on the entrance gates,windows and screen walls in houses which once belonged to big business and the landed gentry,"to bring honour to the owners and their ancestors".


Carvings on bricks may cover a wide range of subjects.Usually seen are human figures drawn from popular legends,dramas and folklore,most of them lifelike and spirited.Animals and plants are also favourite subjects,mostly those portending power and good luck or representing certain lofty qualities,for example,dragon,phoenix,plum,bamboo,crysanthemum and so on.Other carvings represent attempts to reproduce traditional paintings on bricks.Apart from the sculpted pictures,they are often complete with inscriptions and seal marks.


This particular art of sculpture was done on a kind of carefully polished blue brick.It was called fangzhuan(square brick)in the Ming Dynasty and jinzhuan("gold"brick,see a preceding article of this title under ARCHITECTURE)in the Qing Dynasty.This brick was fine in texture and most suitable for carving,but as it was also brittle,the work might be easily ruined by a slip of the carving tool.


The large numbers of brick-carvings which we can still see today are impressive with their vivid figures,their composition in depths and on varying levels,giving a feeling of three dimensions and sppealing with an impact not found in frescoes.

source:
http://www.chinese-handicraft.com /folk-arts/Brick-Sculpture_203.html

Basketwork on Porcelain

This is a national art with a tradition of barely 100 years.It is very fine basketwork woven with thread-like bamboo strips round a porcelain vessel as the body.If the latter is compared to a beauty,the basket will be her elegant and close-fitting dress;it not only protects the vessel but also enhances its appeal.
To weave such a basket involves a process of a dozen steps or more.The bamboo must be flawless on the surface and at least 2/3 of a metre long between the joints.Thread-thin strips are drawn from it,averaging about one kilogram from every 100 kilograms of bamboo.Then the handicraftsman weaves the strips,next to the surface of the porcelain,into a basket of close-knit and even-arranged warp and weft without showing any ends or joints.The basket,in some cases,is woven with pictures of various figures,bringing the art to an even higher level of ingenuity.Even if the porcelain inside should be broken,the basket itself would still remain a fine piece of art worth keeping.

source:
http://www.chinese-handicraft.com /folk-arts/Basketwork-on-Porcelain_143.html