This year I am trying out a new way of recording what I make and how I make it. I'm going back to basics and writing everything down in a journal. The first few pages contain handy reference material such as my price list, supply websites and reference websites. Then there is an index of projects contained within the journal. This journal so far contains three entries, none of which are yet finished: draft presentation harness, cross country set and a sidesaddle set. I allow a few pages for each project and all the basic info is on the front page. The two photos show the front pages for two of the sets. I will print out any reference photos provided to me, or found by me, and write down any important requests and measurements for the intended model.
For the first time, I will be properly documenting how long each set takes me to make. For example today I worked on the cross country set for 45 minutes. Normally I would forget about small sessions like that but I think over a whole set those little sessions all add up.
I have never managed to persevere with a proper catalogue of my tack or indeed a numbering system. Many pieces have the month and year on them but once it's left my hands all I sometimes have are a few photos. Each of the entries above will have one photo at least of the finished set so that I can refer back to it easily. That way I'll easily be able to recall any particular details or techniques I may have used.
