megan auman

i've moved!

2011-03-23T08:44:00.003-04:00

Ok, I haven't moved. But this blog has!

Visit me at my new location - meganauman.com/blog - and while you're there, be sure to check out my redesigned website!

Please update your bookmarks and feed reader accordingly.

cozy/cuff now available in leather

2010-06-14T09:56:00.008-04:00

new colors! aubergine and white new material! leather

Well, I thought I'd interrupt my rather long hiatus from this blog with an exciting announcement - the cozy/cuff is now available in leather! (Plus some great new felt colors.)

I'm so excited about the new leather cuff - I've been wearing mine for a few weeks and have gotten tons of complements. Here are a few reasons I love the new leather cuff and you might as well:

You can wear it year round. In leather, the cozy/cuff SNAP makes the perfect all season accessory. It’s comfortable to wear, even in the summer.

It looks great with everything. The leather cozy/cuff SNAP is the ultimate accessory – it instantly makes any outfit cuter, and looks great on any coffee cup.

It gets better with age. The more you wear and use your leather cozy/cuff, the softer and more supple the leather becomes. (As if you needed another reason to wear it everyday.)

It fits your wrist and your coffee cup perfectly. With two sets of snaps, the leather cozy/cuff is designed to fit both your wrist and your coffee cup. Just snap it on the larger size and slide it on your coffee cup. When you’re done, slip it off and snap it back on your wrist.

It’s eco-friendly. Not only can you feel good about saving trees by replacing disposable cup sleeves with you cozy/cuff, but you can also be happy about that fact that it’s made from vegetable-tanned leather and colored with eco-friendly low-VOC dyes.

The leather cozy/cuff is only available at shopcozycuff.com - so please head over and take a look. (And while you're there, won't you sign up for our mailing list to receive updates on new cozy/cuff products and special promotions.)

inspiration board

2010-04-14T17:41:00.001-04:00

There are two things that I've been thinking about lately - the design for my August gift fair booth, and creating a new collection of jewelry. I put together this board with some of the images that are influencing me during this process.

gift fair stress dreams

2010-04-10T09:28:00.004-04:00

I haven't been sleeping well this week - a combination of allergies and poorly timed allergy medicine.

This morning I was wide awake at 3:30 AM. It wasn't entirely bad, as I found myself brainstorming display ideas for the summer gift fair. On my drive home last night, I had been thinking about product development for the show, so this was clearly my unconscious mind continuing to work through gift fair planning while I slept.

Eventually, I drifted off to sleep, and this is where my mind turned ugly. I had an awful dream where I got to the gift fair to set-up, only to find that the dimensions of my booth had changed. While my location and booth number remained the same, the dimensions of my booth had changed from 10 feet wide by 6 feet deep to 10 feet deep by 2 feet wide! I want you to really picture that - 10 feet deep by 2 feet wide!

How could anyone even walk into that?

Of course, I angrily approached the show organizers, whose solution was to bring me a chair (that wouldn't fit) and some ugly black fabric for draping.

I've learned by now that the occasional ridiculous stress dream is all part of the fun of running your own business. (Or at least it is for me - when I was a waitress in college I used to have dreams about forgetting to wait on a table!)

Anyone else out there have business related stress dreams?

back on the bike

2010-03-24T18:40:00.003-04:00

With all the snow we had this winter, I found it difficult to work up the motivation to bike. But now that it's getting warmer, and the days a getter longer, I'm trying to build up miles again. (It doesn't hurt that I've got to get ready for the 42-mile 5 Boro Bike Tour.)

I snapped this pic today at the end of a very windy 16 miler.

a day in manhattan

2010-03-24T17:40:00.000-04:00

Last week I took the bus to New York with my mom, brother, and brother's girlfriend to check out a few exhibits at MOMA and of course, pay a visit to Strand. (I managed to escape after only buying 2 books, but I've got a long list of books I want to download on the Kindle now.)

While my brother was inspired by the Tim Burton exhibit, I was geeking out over the design and architecture area. I recently ordered my first rapid prototyped pieces from Shapeways, so I was really drooling over these laser-sintered textiles.

sunshine, bare feet and paper models

2010-03-09T18:29:00.005-05:00

So, I know I've been neglecting this blog a little bit while focusing on Crafting an MBA, but I'm trying to get back on track. Not only do I love sharing these little bits of my life with my readers, I also like being able to look back and see how my life has evolved. So, I promise, more regular posting, even if it's mainly pictures.

Today was gorgeous! It certainly feels like spring is around the corner - after my run I took off my shoes to enjoy the sunshine in my bare feet. The nice weather also gave me a chance to work in the studio without freezing. I'm experimenting with some new ideas. Here are the first paper models:

one snap or two?

2010-02-23T21:01:00.003-05:00

When I first designed the cozy/cuff SNAP, I added a pair of snaps at the top and bottom of the band. (Like the picture below.) After some feedback from friends, I decided to try one snap in the center (like the picture above.) I've been making both versions, and I took both versions to the gift fair, where the reaction was about fifty/fifty.

I thought about continuing to make both, but its making keeping inventory on hand difficult. Now I have to keep twice as many styles in stock!

So, I thought I'd ask my wonderful blog readers - which do you like better, one snap or two?

cozy/cuff featured in this month's Cooking Light magazine

2010-02-21T12:39:00.002-05:00

The cozy/cuff was featured in this month's Cooking Light magazine as one of their editor's picks. I couldn't be more excited!

snow/slow

2010-02-11T21:04:00.004-05:00

Well, I'm back from the gift fair (you can read my full account over on Crafting an MBA) and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't having a hard time getting back in the swing of things. It takes so much energy to prep for and exhibit at a major show. And when you combine that with the crazy snow we've had this week, I really just wanted to hibernate.

But since I always feel pressure to keep working, I didn't really take any time off. Instead, I've sort of been half-assing my way through work this week - feeling guilty about not getting enough work done AND not taking enough time off.

This has been a really great week for some things. The guest post on Design*Sponge sent a ton of traffic to Crafting an MBA, and I've been overwhelmed by all the positive feedback and kind words I've been getting. It means a lot to me that I'm creating something of value to other people.

I guess I'll end this rambling blog post by saying that hopefully I'm getting back into my regular habits. I just made myself a to-do list for tomorrow, which is a sure sign I'm feeling more motivated. And tops on that list is tracking down a copy of Cooking Light magazine - rumor has it my work is featured in the new issue!

design*sponge biz ladies post

2010-02-09T18:41:00.002-05:00

Today I'm excited to announce that I've got a guest post in the Design*Sponge biz ladies series. Its all about finding a (local and reputable) manufacturer for your product ideas.

I've also posted some additional resources for finding a manufacturer over at Crafting an MBA.

Please take a look - I'd love to hear your thoughts!

sheep + wool

2010-01-28T13:30:00.003-05:00

Making industrial felt - via Cooper-Hewitt

thanks for helping me grow!

2010-01-17T17:11:00.002-05:00

I've got a new post up over at Crafting an MBA. Its a continuation of the ongoing cozy/cuff discussion that's been taking place here.

Ultimately, its a summary of some of the lessons I've learned this past week - lessons that your support and positive feedback helped me reach. So thanks for being the best blog readers in the world! I couldn't imagine running my business without you!

cozy/cuff winner!

2010-01-12T07:43:00.001-05:00

Thanks to random.org the winner of the cozy/cuff is....

Christina J!

Christina - email me at meauman(at)yahoo.com to claim your prize!

And thanks to everyone for your awesome suggestions!

the cost of the cozy/cuff, part 2

2010-01-11T19:25:00.002-05:00

I'm going to do my best to keep this from becoming a rant, but no promises.

Today, Etsy included a link to the cozy/cuff on their facebook page. For the most part, this was amazing. My page views blew up, and several people purchased cozy/cuffs of their very own.

But the link also sparked an interesting discussion about the price. More than a few people thought that $32 was an exorbitant amount of money to pay for the cozy/cuff. There were some people who jumped in to defend the price, but there were a lot of people that seemed to think I am making some ridiculous profit on the cozy/cuffs.

I am here to tell you that is just not true.

Here is just a small sampling of the cost factors that go into the cozy/cuff:

1. The Etsy costs are retail costs. When I wholesale the cozy/cuff, I have to cut the price in half. Which means I still need to build in profit for a wholesale price. And let me tell you, the profit margin on my wholesale price is pretty slim.

2. The cozy/cuff is made in small batches in the US. (If you read my original post - the cost of the cozy/cuff - you already know this.) And when you are buying materials and making products in small batches, the price is always going to be higher.

3. Not only do I not make the cozy/cuff in China - but I don't live in China either. And you have to factor cost of living (not to mention cost of working) into the price of the objects. (Or the workers wages.) And while I don't live in the most expensive part of the US, I certainly don't live in the one of the cheapest places in the world. And I think its only fair that I pay myself a living wage. (And if you don't believe that workers should be paid a living wage, please stop reading my blog. We cannot be friends.)

4. You also need to take into consideration the fact that the cozy/cuff is a bracelet. Here's a little math for you: today I had a cozy/cuff on my person for approximately 9 hours. For 8 of those hours, it was on my wrist. It was on my coffee cup for about an hour. (Probably a little less than that, but its easier to round.) So given those numbers, 89% of the time, the cozy/cuff functioned as a bracelet. And $32 is a pretty reasonable price for a cuff bracelet. (Its actually fairly consistent with the pricing of other cuff bracelets.)

After all this, its pretty clear to me that I should do a better job marketing it as a bracelet first - one with the added bonus of being a coffee cup cozy. Hopefully that will help justify the cost in some people's minds.

I should also probably stop reading internet discussions of my work.

help please! (you could win a cozy/cuff)

2010-01-06T20:57:00.003-05:00

I've been working on lots of new promotional materials to get ready for the gift fair - postcards, and catalogs, and the new website - but I keep getting stuck every time I try to write the copy.

At this point, I'm just a little too close to the product. So I need your help!

If you were writing about the cozy/cuff, what would you say? How would you describe it? What are its benefits? Can you describe its style and function in one short sentence? What aspects about it do you like best?

Leave your thoughts in the comments, and I'll pick one winner to send your very own cozy/cuff!

Thanks in advance!

the new shopcozycuff.com

2010-01-01T18:38:00.004-05:00

Apparently, I'm all about launching new websites lately, because in addition to crafting an MBA, I recently re-launched shopcozycuff.com.

Where before it was purely an information site, its now a fully-formed e-commerce site, thanks to bigcartel.

So head on over and check it out! And as as a little thanks to all my blog readers, use the code BLOG2010 and take 10% off your first purchase! (Good until Wednesday, January 6th.)

crafting an MBA - business thinking for designers & makers

2009-12-31T09:39:00.002-05:00

I alluded to it in my last post, but I wanted to officially announce the launch of my new website - crafting an MBA - business thinking for designers and makers!

Its seems long overdue that I would start a blog focused on business thinking - its something I always love to talk about. Over at craftMBA, I'll be sharing useful tips on running a business, marketing, pricing, social media and more, my recommended and currents reads (which are sure to triple since I got a Kindle for Christmas!) and my thoughts on trends in the craft and business world.

Its only because of the support I've received on my business related posts here that I had the courage to start crafting an MBA, so thank you! Won't you join me in my new space? The new year seems like the perfect time to focus and get our businesses into shape!

(No worries, I'll still be blogging here as well.)

my year (and decade) in review

2009-12-29T14:43:00.004-05:00

The Personal MBA has a really great post up about taking some time to review your accomplishments at the end of the year. Its likely that you've reached the end of the year feeling disappointed at what you haven't accomplished (which is how I feel all the time) but by taking the time to list out what you've done, you should realize that you've accomplished a lot.

(I sure hope that's the case, because reading the list of Josh's accomplishments at the Personal MBA has just made me feel more inadequate.) So here's my list:

In 2009, I:

launched a new line of home decor goods at the New York International Gift Fair.
traveled to Arizona, Ohio, and New York to speak to students at Arizona State, Kent State, and FIT.
traveled to San Francisco to participate in the SFMOMA trunk show for the second year in a row.
taught 5 classes at Towson University (including integrating new assignments and processes into the curriculum).
exhibited at the Museum Store Association Show and NYIGF.
designed and launched the cozy/cuff!
completed 2 triathlons.
coached middle and high school cross country.
traveled to Washington, DC to advocate for bicycling.
organized a fundraising bike ride.
launched a new website dedicated to business thinking for designers and makers. (This one's so new I haven't even posted about it on this blog yet.)

And since its the end of the decade, Josh recommends looking back at what you've accomplished in the last 10 years as well.

In the last decade, I:

graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in metalsmithing (and with honors).
designed and implemented a program with my Residence Hall Association that won National Program of the Year.
received an MFA in jewelry/metals from Kent State.
was awarded a SNAG Student Scholarship.
was a Searchlight Artist at the American Craft Council Baltimore Show.
was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Towson University my first year out of grad school.
have continued to teach at Towson, where I helped redesign the intro metals and jewelry class.
presented "Navigating the Web 2.0" at the SNAG Professional Development Seminar in Savannah.
traveled to Santa Fe to consult with Patina Gallery on using web 2.0 technologies.
started this blog and launched my Etsy shop.
participated in many retail craft shows.
got married.
bought a house.
adopted a dog.
ran a 1/2 marathon, a lot of 5ks, and completed 3 triathlons.
won a 5k.
coached middle and high school cross-country for 3 seasons.

After making my list, I'm still not completely satisfied. Perhaps I'm too much of a perfectionist, or need a serious self-esteem boost. Or perhaps I should take my own advice and do some big picture goal setting so that I can look back on the next decade with more satisfaction.

"packaging"

2009-12-22T21:16:00.003-05:00

So I guess I wished everyone happy holidays a little early, because I still haven't started my Christmas vacation yet.

I've been working on some new "packaging" for the cozy/cuffs. While they've been selling really well online, I'm having a little trouble with them in retail venues. Online, I can totally communicate all the product uses with a few good photos, but in person they are hard to understand.

Ok, that's not entirely true - if you see one being worn or used on a coffee cup, they make perfect sense. Its just in a retail display, they are a little tricky. And with the gift fair right around the corner, I really need to resolve that.

So I'm trying to work on a tag that clearly displays the dual function of the cozy/cuff, without bogging it down with excess packaging. And since I took some new product shots that I'm totally loving, I'm working on incorporating those into the "packaging."

happy holidays!

2009-12-21T20:30:00.002-05:00

How can you resist a face like this?

Thanks for all your support in 2009! Have a safe and happy holiday season and a wonderful new year!

And if you're lucky enough to have a white Christmas (like it looks like we will in PA) go out and enjoy it!

you buy, i buy

2009-12-18T11:44:00.003-05:00

I've been feeling the Etsy love lately, and this morning I came up with an idea so crazy it just might work. As of this morning, I had $142 in my paypal account, and decided, "wouldn't it be fun just to spend it all on Etsy today?" A little holiday treat for myself + I get to support other independent makers. And then I thought, "what if I sell anything else on Etsy today?"

So I decided, for every dollar of sales in my Etsy shop today, I'll turn around and spend that money back on Etsy, today. The more I sell, the more I buy.

So if you were thinking about buying something from my Etsy shop, today is a good day to do it, because you'll be supporting another Etsy seller as well. How cool is that?

And if you're in the US, any orders placed today will still arrive in time for Christmas.

Happy holidays!

PS. The You Are So Loved print by Jess Gonacha was my first purchase today - and she's having a sale, all screen prints are $5 today.

cozy/cuff SKINNY SNAP

2009-12-14T08:42:00.003-05:00

One last addition to the latest cozy/cuff redesign is the cozy/cuff SKINNY SNAP. The SKINNY SNAP is a narrower version of the original design - perfect if you want a smaller bracelet, but still big enough to protect your hand from that hot beverage. Available now in my Etsy shop.

And don't forget, I'm still offering free shipping on all cozy/cuffs. The last day to order for guaranteed holiday delivery (if you're in the US) is Sunday, December 20th, so don't wait too much longer! The cozy/cuff makes a great (and totally unique) gift!

recent press

2009-12-10T08:11:00.004-05:00

I've had two very busy days in my Etsy shop thanks to some really wonderful press. First, Grace featured the cozy/cuff on design*sponge. Then Tara did a lovely post on the cozy/cuff and my new ornaments over at INK + WIT. Thanks, ladies!

You might be wondering how I was lucky enough to get such nice press, but truthfully, it wasn't all luck. I actually emailed both ladies (along with several other bloggers). It really is as simple as that. (Sort of.) The key is to make sure you send a polite, personalized email with great pictures and a clear description of your product. To a blog that's right for your work. And don't get angry if they don't feature you. And be sure to say thank you if they do.

Thanks again, Grace and Tara! And thanks to everyone who bought something. And thanks to you for reading this! This is one of those weeks where I can see how truly blessed I am, and what an amazing job I have. Thank you!

blue + reusablebags.com

2009-12-04T21:39:00.000-05:00

I am officially sold out of original turquoise blue cozy/cuffs in my Etsy shop, and won't be getting any more before the holidays. But a little birdie told me they are available over at reusablebags.com. I'm so excited to be partnering with a company whose goal is to stop the spread of cheap disposables.

And of course, don't forget the new cozy/cuff SNAP, which is available in a lighter turquoise blue in my Etsy shop.

two lectures by Garth Clark you must listen to

2009-12-03T11:37:00.002-05:00

When you do as much driving as I do, you start to look for ways to make your commute do double duty. I'm a big fan of audiobooks, but my preference for niche non-fiction means that many books on my "to read" list haven't made it into audiobook form.

Thats why I was so excited to discover all the lectures from the recent American Craft Council conference were available as podcasts on iTunes. The standout, must listen to lecture of the conference has to be Garth Clark's "Palace and Cottage". This is a follow up to Clark's 2008 lecture, "How Envy Killed the Crafts Movement" at the Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland. Both lectures express a sentiment I have often thought - craft needs to stop aspiring to be art and move on.

I must admit I have grown a little disgusted with the crafts world in the last 18 months, and have actually distanced myself from it. (Or at least, distanced myself from the craft establishment.) But Clark's lectures have reinvigorated me and reminded me that craft is worth fighting for - or as Clark would say, resurrected.

I highly recommend you listen to both lectures, they will certainly give you much to think about. You can download "Palace and Cottage" from this page, and "How Envy Killed the Crafts Movement" here.

A big thank you to Gabriel Craig of Conceptual Metalsmithing for making me aware of these lectures.

cozy/cuff SNAP

2009-11-30T16:02:00.004-05:00

I'm so excited to finally reveal the newest edition of the cozy/cuff - the cozy/cuff SNAP. I've spent the last 2 months working to redesign the cozy/cuff to be more functional and more eco-friendly, and I think I've succeeded.

The cozy/cuff SNAP features two sets of snaps. Snap it on the outside setting and it fits perfectly on standard 12, 16, and 20 ounce coffee cups. Snap it on the inside setting and it fits snugly around your wrist. Perfect for small to medium size wrists. (In fact the cozy/cuff SNAP is available in two sizes - small - for wrists up to 7" - and medium - for wrists up to 7 1/2")

And because you can unsnap it, the cozy/cuff SNAP ships flat, which is a reduction in packaging over the original cozy/cuff.

The cozy/cuff SNAP is available in six colors - light grey, dark grey, black, light turquoise, camo green, and fuchsia pink. The cozy/cuff SNAP is available in now in my shop for $32 each. And I'm currently offering free shipping on both the cozy/cuff SNAP and the original cozy/cuff.

The cozy/cuff SNAP makes the perfect gift for a coffee or tea loving friend. (Or a great treat for yourself!)

new cozy/cuffs are on the way!

2009-11-30T11:42:00.002-05:00

I've been hinting for a while now about a new cozy/cuff design, and its JUST about time for the big reveal. I'll be posting all the new cuffs (including new colors) in the shop later today, but I wanted to give you a little sneak peek for now.

cozy/cuff quantity updates

2009-11-21T14:58:00.004-05:00

Just a little note to let you know that I am down to my last two turquoise blue and last three dark grey cozy/cuffs. I won't be getting any more of either of these colors before Christmas, so if you were hoping to give (or receive) a cozy/cuff in one of those two colors, I recommend heading over to my Etsy shop to pick one up now.

I'm also currently out of black, but I've got more on the way. I'll be able to ship them the week of December 7th, so still with plenty of time for gifting. I only have a limited quantity coming though, so I recommend ordering one now, and I'll ship it to you as soon as they come in!

Happy holiday shopping!

#indielbs

2009-11-10T22:08:00.004-05:00

Are you looking to lose a few pounds or even to maintain your weight over the holidays? Need a little motivation? Jen from Indiefixx has started a great new project called #indielbs.

#indielbs is a weight loss challenge that uses twitter, a blog, and some cool indie prizes to help motivate people to lose weight and get healthy. Check out the blog to see how you can win these fabulous prizes (including one of my cozy/cuffs) and follow the #indielbs thread on twitter for added motivation and support.

In addition to donating a prize, I'm also participating. I'll be posting on the blog as I attempt to get back to my regular exercise routine and shed the few pounds I've picked up since summer. You can read my first post here.

new ornaments + FREE SHIPPING

2009-11-08T21:44:00.004-05:00

As much as I hate to admit it, the holidays are just around the corner. And that means it was finally time to get my butt in gear and list my new laser cut ornaments in my Etsy shop.

Six different styles of ornaments are all available in a durable white powder coated finish. You can buy them individually or in set of 3. And best of all, I'm offering free shipping on all ornaments!

The ornaments are perfect for gift giving or your own holiday decorating. And they're pretty (and non-holiday) enough that you can display them throughout the year. Available in my Etsy shop.

what I'm reading: craft inc business planner

2009-10-31T11:49:00.002-04:00

I just received the Craft Inc. Business Planner by Meg Mateo Illasco for my birthday, and I have to say I highly recommend it. Its the practical companion to Meg's book, Craft Inc., which is an invaluable resource for anyone running a crafts business. The business planner includes lots of useful tips and tricks, plus worksheets to help you plan a budget, price your work, or plan a marketing campaign. Not only will I use it as a resource for my business, but also when I'm teaching my students about running a business.

And speaking of teaching, I really do love teaching all aspects of running an art, design, or crafts business. I had a blast earlier this year when I did a professional development workshop at Arizona State and presenting about micro-production at Kent State (where I went to grad school). And I'd love to come speak to your school, group, or guild as well. Just drop me a line at meauman(at)yahoo(dot)com - I'd love to present on any of these business related topics - pricing, marketing and promotion, wholesale and retail shows, web 2.0 and social media, and lots more. So send me an email, I'd love to work with your group in 2010!

aerolock

2009-10-26T22:43:00.003-04:00

One more from Coroflot. I totally need this for my road bike - aerobars that double as a u-lock. You know how much I like duel purpose stuff, this totally takes the cake!

Aerolock designed by Ben Guthrie.

nomadic wonderland

2009-10-26T21:12:00.005-04:00

Have you discovered Coroflot yet? You could certainly lose more than a few hours browsing.

I just set up a portfolio on Coroflot, then discovered this wonderful piece by British designer Eunsuk Hur. The entire piece is modular and can be configured to the users needs. And its completely gorgeous.

fall SALE

2009-10-20T09:10:00.004-04:00

I was doing a little fall cleaning in my office this weekend, and decided it was time for a really BIG SALE in my etsy shop. I think you'll enjoy it!

40% off all lighting!

40% off wall panels!

30% off select jewelry!

And cozy/cuffs are all still just $20 while I prepare to launch the new version.

I'm also just 2 sales away from 200, so as a little thank you, I'll be sending out a special surprise gift with the next 5 purchases! (Note: Apparently I was already at 200 sales when I originally wrote this - special gifts for the next 5 purchases anyway! Thanks for your support!)

How's that for a fall sale?

cozy/cuff sale!!!

2009-10-14T19:08:00.002-04:00

Ok, so I know this seems a little counter-intuitive after my last post, but all the cozy/cuffs in my shop are now on sale for $20! That's over 40% off!

Why, you may ask. Well, I'm trying to make room for the next generation of new and improved cozy/cuffs. (And no, I won't give you any more info than that - I'm just going to keep teasing you until I'm ready for the big reveal.) But in the mean time, enjoy the original cozy/cuff at a really great price!

the cost of the cozy/cuff

2009-10-07T13:09:00.002-04:00

When I showed the cozy/cuff at the New York Gift Fair in August, I got a lot of feedback on the price - namely, most people thought they were too expensive. While I've been fluctuating the price a little bit, its been within a range that covers my expenses plus allows me a little profit. But most of the cost is wrapped up in material and making costs. Why? Because they are made in small batches in the US, rather than by the truckload in China.

I was talking to a friend the other morning, and explaining that, as the daughter of a US-based manufacturer, I could never outsource overseas. Its just not something I'm interested in. Its important to me to keep production as local as possible. She then asked me, would I be willing to mass-produce the cozy/cuff overseas if it meant that then everyone in the US used one? What's more important - the type of production I value, or getting more people to stop using a wasteful product?

I was also thinking about reactions to the cozy/cuff at Crafty Bastards. I occasionally get comments from people to the effect of, "I'd probably forget and throw it away by mistake." And today while watching Big Ideas for a Small Planet, it hit me. People don't think about what they are throwing away. If we paused before tossing things in the trash, you wouldn't have to worry about accidentally throwing your reusable coffee sleeve away.

So, if I sent the cozy/cuff overseas to be manufactured just so that they would cost $5, it would be defeating the whole purpose. What's the point of replacing a disposable object with a practically disposable object? If the cozy/cuff has a higher perceived value, hopefully you will think before throwing your coffee cup away. And maybe you'll start to think before you throw other things away as well.

i heart wool

2009-10-07T10:37:00.004-04:00

Today I'm working on prototypes for some new cozy/cuff designs (and no I won't give you any more details than that!) and it has me waxing poetic about wool and felt. So I thought it was about time I showed some images from my trip to NYC a few weeks back. I went with a bunch of Towson students a faculty, first to see Design for a Living World (again). Afterwards, we took the ferry to Governer's Island to see Pioneers of Change, an exhibition of Dutch design.

With out a doubt, my favorite installation was of my design crush, Christien Meindertsma. Sadly, Christien wasn't there on the day I was there, but I loved how she displayed all the steps of her process. I especially loved the details on the types of wool and dyes she uses. It brought me back to my feltmaking days in grad school, when I meticulously recorded all the wool dying I did.

Now all I'm thinking about is what a wonderful material wool is, and all the fabulous things I could do with it. (Oh, and that wouldn't it be fun to have a few sheep of my own!)

thanks crafty bastards!

2009-10-07T10:32:00.002-04:00

A little late, I know, but thanks to everyone who came out for Crafty Bastards this weekend! Its been a year since my last retail craft show, and I had forgotten how important they are - for connecting with your customers, for getting feedback on designs, and for catching up with all my crafty friends! Thanks to everyone! (And thanks to whoever made the weather so gorgeous!)

And a big thank you to Amy Klainer, who shared a booth with me! Thanks for making the day go smoothly! Its nice to not be alone in the booth all day for a change!

crafty bastards!

2009-10-02T13:49:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone - if you're in the DC area tomorrow, don't forget to stop by Crafty Bastards. I'll be in booth #116 with fabulous Towson grad Amy Klainer.

I've got cozy/cuffs galore, plus the new ornaments (you can't even get 'em in my Etsy shop yet), gocco prints, and all your favorite jewelry (including some new chains in all sterling silver). So stop by and say hello!

clarity and certainty

2009-09-25T22:53:00.003-04:00

Today was one of those rare days where suddenly I can clearly see the direction I want to be headed in. I feel like I've been spinning lately, but can now see a path out of the chaos. I'm not quite ready to expand on the details, but I wanted to document how I was feeling. Because right now I am feeling sure and certain. And excited. And tired. (Ok, that last one is only because I'm coming off a long day of teaching, so its time to say goodnight.)

orange coat

2009-09-17T10:00:00.002-04:00

I'm all about finding bright, visible clothes to wear while riding bike that don't look like, well, neon cycling clothes. I think this orange coat would be adorable to wear while I'm biking as the weather gets cooler. And its waterproof, which would have come in really handy yesterday when I was biking home from cross country practice and got caught in a sudden rain storm!

i heart teaching

2009-09-16T19:34:00.003-04:00

I apologize for the sporadic posting of late. I've been so busy lately, and my brain has been so scattered, that its been a challenge to marshal my thoughts into a cohesive blog post. And I apologize if this comes off a little rambling.

One of the reason that I've been so busy lately is that I'm teaching A LOT this fall. I'm actually teaching 3 classes in the Metals + Jewelry and Interdisciplinary Object Design programs at Towson University. I'm also helping coach cross country at the local middle school/high school again. Plus, I recently completed my LCI training through the League of American Bicyclists, and I'll be attempting to teach a few bike classes this fall as well.

All of this is a long way of saying that I've come to the following conclusion - I love teaching!

I know I said a while back (I can't find the exact post) that I was done with teaching, but I was wrong. I think I've grown a lot in the past year, and I've come to understand just how important teaching is to me and my own creativity. I think I've also learned a lot about myself as a teacher - things that are helping with my stress levels so that I don't reach the burn out that led me to take last fall off.

I've frequently joked that if I could, I would be a lifetime student if only I could afford it. I've now come to realize that teaching is learning (and I get paid for it). I feel like I have freedom to learn, and play, and experiment, and hopefully get to pass that new information on to my students.

I'm also understanding how much the environment I'm teaching in has a lot to do with my happiness level. I'm lucky to teach with some truly amazing people at Towson, and I'm grateful I keep getting asked back to teach.

Something else I've realized is that I can actually be a rather competitive (and dare I say, jealous) person. When I see someone with a successful business, its hard to quash the voices in my head saying, "why her, not me?" I'm not proud of that, but its true. With my students and the kids I coach, I'm the complete opposite. I want only amazing things for them. I want them to be more successful than me. Its an amazing feeling to see the accomplishments my students make, and know that I helped them (even if it was just a little) a long the way.

I'm also starting to understand (with a little help from Seth Godin) that teaching is an incredibly effective, personal form of advocacy. Instead of screaming from the rooftops in the hope that someone hears me, I have a slightly smaller audience that is actually listening. Teaching can be a powerful tool in the pay it forward method of advocacy. If I can reach 3 people, and each of them reaches 3 people, and so on, suddenly so many people are impacted.

At this point, I still can't honestly say that I want a full time teaching job at a university. Even after all the growing, I still don't think I'm ready for the all the bureaucracy. But I am happy to continue teaching and coaching and learning along the way, because I can now honestly say, even on the hard days, that I love it.

Thanks for reading.

glorious

2009-09-02T17:17:00.002-04:00

I know, I still have plenty of catching up posts to do. But that doesn't mean I can't post about what's going on right now, right?

The weather today was absolutely glorious. I can't think of any other way to describe it. I biked the long way to cross country practice this afternoon. (I turned my normal 2.5 mile trip into a 12 miler.) It felt so good to be out in the sunshine.

I plan on being outside biking, running, hiking, etc. as much as possible this fall, to make up for the awfulness which was last fall. And luckily, the weather forecast for the next week seems to back up my plan. Hopefully you'll have a chance to enjoy some sunshine this weekend too.

(catching) up

2009-08-25T20:30:00.003-04:00

Its been more than a few days since I've blogged last, and I feel like my life has been a whirlwind. The gift fair, a trip to the bamboo bike studio, and then cross country camp for 3 days. I'm wiped and the next few weeks aren't going to be much better.

I promise I'll be blogging about the gift fair and the bamboo bike studio, but for now I thought I'd share this picture from cross country camp. (In case you're wondering what I'm talking about, I was one of 3 chaperones for a group of 15 high school and middle school cross country runners.) It was an incredibly stressful 3 days (for a number of reasons), but one of the coolest things we did was climb to the top of this mountain! Straight up the cleared section!

I'm actually scared of heights, but I was fine the whole way up and down. My focus was completely on the kids and making sure they made it up (and down) safely. It was pretty cool to realize I can move beyond my fears when helping others.

the last minute

2009-08-13T07:08:00.002-04:00

Seriously, when did I become so last minute? I'm leaving for the gift fair tonight, and I've still got a million things to do!

No time for proper blogging, so I thought I'd share a peak of little project I'm working on for my booth. Wish me luck!

colors

2009-08-08T14:16:00.002-04:00

As is always the case it seems, I'm back from our annual week camping at the lake and am suddenly panicking that New York Gift is less than a week away! How does it always sneak up on me? I'll be spending the next few days scrambling around - choosing colors for my booth, updating line sheets, getting together promo materials, and all the other miscellaneous pre-show tasks!

And thanks so much for your comments on my last post - lots of great things to think about!

how much? (and what colors?)

2009-07-28T20:09:00.002-04:00

Last week I picked up a big batch of the new ornaments in white from my powder coater. I'm planning on doing a whole wall of them for my booth at NY Gift.

I've got an idea of where I want to go with the pricing, but I though I'd throw it out to you? How much would you be willing to pay for one of these (retail)? (Each is 3" in diameter from laser cut and powder coated steel.) What would you be willing to pay for a set of 3? Or a set of 6?

And while you're suggesting, how about colors? What other colors would you like to see them in (besides white)?

Thanks!

the $10 book sale

2009-07-28T11:04:00.006-04:00

If you know me at all, you may know that I have a slight addiction to book buying. (Ok, that's a lie - I have a huge addiction to book buying.) Well, its time to purge some of my collection to make room for new books.

I've decided to make some of my books available for sale - all are just $10 (including shipping in the US only). They are all used, but in very, very good condition. If you're interested, just email me at meauman(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'll send you a PayPal invoice for your book (or books).

Here's what I have available:

Cutting Your Car Use by Randall Ghent

Creatively Self-Employed by Kristen Fischer

~~Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer~~

The Weblog Handbook by Rebecca Blood

~~Chi Running by Danny Dreyer~~

Fast Track by Suzy Favor Hamilton and Jose Antonio

Asphalt Nation by Jane Holtz Kay

Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running by Dagny Scott

Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky

Guidelines for Online Success by Rob Ford

~~The End of Overeating by David A. Kessler~~

Buying In by Rob Walker

Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt

If you'd like any of these, or need more info, please email me at meauman(at)yahoo(dot)com.

moomah

2009-07-23T20:45:00.003-04:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about how amazing it would be to run a little space where I could teach classes of all sorts - bicycling, jewelry and metals, or whatever my little heart desires. Moomah, a creative arts cafe in Manhattan, is a stunning example of what I'd love to have someday. I'm planning on stopping in when I'm in the city next. We'll call it "research." Yummy tasting, visually stunning research.

via Design*Sponge

where the wild things are

2009-07-17T15:56:00.004-04:00

Last night, I went to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince with my little brother. I'm sure we annoyed everyone in the theatre with our best Statler and Waldorf impressions, but we've both read the HP books so many times that was hard not to be a little critical. I'd recommend going to see it though, if for nothing else than to see this trailer on the big screen:

It was amazing to see it in the theatre, and I can only imagine its going to be the best film of the year. I can't wait until October 16th!

my little bike bag

2009-07-16T20:29:00.004-04:00

Tonight I embarked on a quick craft project - a little bag that mounts on my top tube to hold food or necessities when I'm on a long ride. I've wanted something like this for a while, but decided I would attempt to make one first instead of buying one.

As is usually the case, my first attempt didn't go as well as I'd hoped, but I think its servicable for now. Plus, I used fabric and velcro that I had on hand, so all it cost me was $1.50 for the zipper and an hour of my time.

and the free FREE goes to...

2009-07-13T21:04:00.003-04:00

Thanks to random.org, the winner of my extra copy of Free is...

Kathleen Stoltzfus!

Congrats, Kathleen - email me at meauman(at)yahoo(dot)com with your address so I can send you your book. (And may I say, Stoltzfus - quite the PA Dutch last name!)

heidi lowe gallery

2009-07-11T22:21:00.004-04:00

On the way home from the beach, I stopped by Heidi Lowe Gallery in Rehoboth Beach, DE to check out the Earring Show. Heidi runs such an adorable gallery that carries really innovative art jewelry. I've been lucky enough to be represented by her for the last few years. (Heidi and I also teach together in the Metals + Jewelry and Interdisciplinary Object Design department at Towson Univeristy - but we almost never see each other, because we're always there on different days!)

Heidi changes the displays for every show - and the results are always fresh and fun. If you're heading towards the beach in Delaware or Maryland this summer, I highly recommend stopping by. The Earring Show just came down, but I'm guessing Jim Charles solo show will be worth checking out too. (And be sure to browse the drawers for all Heidi's represented artists, including yours truly.)

free FREE

2009-07-11T22:12:00.002-04:00

I've been anxiously awaiting the release of Chris Anderson's Free: The Future of a Radical Price for months. Since it came out on Tuesday, while we were still at the beach, I reserved a copy at the local bookstore so I could be sure to have it right away.

Imagine my surprise when I got home from the beach to find a Free copy waiting for me. (Ok, I shouldn't have been too surprised, since I did request it.) The good news for you, my wonderful readers, is that I've now got an extra copy and I'm giving it away! (Sorry though, I'm keeping the copy signed by the author - blogger's privilege.)

All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, and on Monday afternoon, I'll pick a winner.

And in case you're wondering, I'm about 3/4 of the way through the book, and so far, its excellent. It's really got me thinking about new ways to approach my business. (I'll post a full review here once I'm done reading.)

Good luck!

what I'm reading: the pine island paradox

2009-07-11T22:00:00.000-04:00

After seeing The Pine Island Paradox mentioned on Laura's blog, I promptly added it to my "on the beach" reading list. In the book, author Kathleen Dean Moore writes about her connection to nature, and most importantly what it means to love a place.

For most of my adult life, I've felt more connected to the beach than anywhere else. I worked there for 4 summers during college, and inevitably at some point during the summer, I find myself wishing I was there. But as I sat on the beach reading Moore's description of what it means to love a place, I found myself wishing I was somewhere else - home.

Other than the 7 years I was in college and grad school, I've lived my whole life in a small town in Pennsylvania. And I was never really happy there. Until I started bicycling last year. Suddenly, I was exposed to all the natural beauty that comes with living in a rural place. As I've ridden my bike along the base of the mountains, through rolling farmland, and into sun-drenched valleys, I've realized how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place.

Today while riding, another rider came up behind me and asked for directions. As we talked, he told me he lived in San Francisco, but had grown up in the area and was thinking of moving back because it was "just so beautiful here." It made me laugh, because on our trips to San Francisco (especially when we were north of the bridge in Marin County), Joe and I marveled at how beautiful it is there, and how we'd like to move. But as I've put more miles on my bike here at home, I've grown so attached to the natural world around me.

Reading The Pine Island Paradox really reminded me of our human need to be connected to nature. It also strengthened my desire to help more people get on bikes. I've lived in this area for 20 years, but I only felt connected to it when I started experiencing it by bike. If more people felt that connection to the natural world around them, imagine what a better world we'd live in.

lace in translation

2009-07-08T20:15:00.002-04:00

Lace in Translation, which opens at the Design Center at Philadelphia University in September, will feature works by Cal Lane (those are her oil drums pictured above), Tord Boontje, and the Dutch design firm Demakersvan. Looks like this is going to be a fantastic show!

what I'm reading: business and the buddha

2009-07-03T22:02:00.002-04:00

Since I'm thinking more about the kind of business I want to have, and the importance of creating value (and not just making money), I pulled Business and the Buddha from my stack of "to be read" books.

I didn't really find most of the ideas in the book earth shattering (though perhaps they would be if I was the CEO of GM or some other company like that). Instead, they reinforced what I've already been thinking about. Author Lloyd Field stresses that the primary goal of any business should be to "Cause No Harm," whether it be to the environment, employees, or customers. Field then goes through Buddhist principals to help clarify how a business can "Cause No Harm" and "Create a Better Society."

One of the most important ideas I took from the book was my need to create a value statement. Its clear to me that in my business, my goal isn't just to create profit, but I really need to clarify my values and communicate those to my customers as well.

create (value) every day

2009-06-29T20:29:00.006-04:00

As some of you may have noticed, I did not attend this year's SNAG conference. But I did have one of my friends pick up some information from the Professional Development Seminar for me. I was curious to know how the information was similar or different from what I had presented the previous year.

One of the handouts was basically an advertisement for services the speaker's company provided. One of the those services was a kind of social media set-up - basically the company would build you a Facebook or MySpace page and then spend 2-3 hours teaching you "best practices." The cost for this service - $750!

My first reaction was, "I've got to get in on that. I could make bank!" And in fact, I've toyed with the idea of doing web and social media consulting before, particularly after I presented at the PDS in Savannah. But, at this point in my life, I can't decide if its something that I would want to do.

You see, I've become increasingly concerned about what I do providing value to the world around me. Its taken me a while to get there, but I think I've come to appreciate that the things I make and design do add value to people's lives. (At least I hope they do.) And I certainly believe that all my bike advocacy and education activities help improve the community around me. (If I didn't, I wouldn't be doing them.) But setting up someone's Facebook page? I just don't see the value in that. As a friend recently pointed out to me, apparently this makes me "an entrepreneur, but not a capitalist."

I couldn't agree more that I'm an entrepreneur. I come up with a new business idea practically every week. (And I swear I'm going to do a better job of writing them down.) But most of them have a greater purpose than just to make as much money as humanly possible. I just don't believe that is the be all, end all in life.

On Thursday, I went to Ignite Baltimore and one of the speakers was Jim Kucher, who heads the Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Baltimore. Jim spoke about businesses that fall under the rough banner of Social Entrepreneurship. For-profit companies that are using their profits to generate real change. These businesses are the future of activism in America. In fact, Jim went so far as to say that "charity cannot fund systemic change". I was truly inspired by his talk.

So, where am I going with all of this? Well, while riding my bike today, I was thinking about the best ways to help encourage more people to bike. In the past, I've always thought about starting a non-profit of my own. But today I wondered, why does it have to be a non-profit? Why can't I create programs or services that help fund other programs and services? What if I became a bicycle consultant? (For lack of a better term - and I seriously need to come up with a better term.) Perhaps I couldn't charge $750. But for certain things (say, services to other businesses) maybe I could. The point is that I'd be doing something I believe in. I'm not quite sure what any of this would look like yet, but I think its an idea worth pursuing further. Any suggestions?

Oh, and if you're still reading at this point in the post, the little journal (which I'm planning on using to write down more of my business ideas) is from Compendium Incorporated. They were giving them away at the National Stationary Show. Which, in my mind, is a pretty good way to create a fan for life.

5 bowls

2009-06-28T16:44:00.002-04:00

My summer class is over - but I think I managed to make some good progress. Here are the 5 bowls I completed.

But I'm still not done with my raising exploration - I'm planning on spending some more time in the studio at school this summer. After we get back from the beach, that is!

Sunday afternoon eye candy, courtesy of my students

2009-06-28T16:07:00.008-04:00

For my summer session class, I assigned my students a paper (its actually a University mandate for 100-level art electives). I decided to have my students choose one artist from Klimt02 and discuss their work. I had a lot of fun reading their papers and gaining insight into some jewelers I don't usually look at. Here are some of their finds:

Lauren Kalman -

Chris Irick -

Ela Bauer -

Helen Britton -

Myung Urso -

tri, tri again

2009-06-28T15:17:00.002-04:00

This morning I did my second triathlon of 2009. This one certainly had some advantages over the last one - it was women only (which is just cool), the field was much smaller (200 vs 750), and it was a pool swim (no freezing cold lake). I'm not totally happy with my time - I had a really rough run. I developed a horrible side stitch just past mile 1, and it took me a mile to work it out.

But I'm trying to focus on the positives. Even though my bike time was a little slower than I would have liked, I was pleased with how the bike went. I didn't get passed by a single rider, and spent the bike just focusing on the next person in front of me, picking people off one by one. Then, part way through the ride, two guys out for their Sunday ride turned onto a road just as I was turning. One of the guys told me I had a really, really cool bike and wished me luck in the race. The two guys got a little ahead of me on the downhill, but I managed to hang with them on the next uphill and pass them on the uphill after that. How's that for a confidence boost?

Now I've got to find a fall tri to do!

ornament prototypes

2009-06-24T08:18:00.003-04:00

After getting everyone's feedback on the ornament (both here and on Twitter), I was able to step back and really think about my collection and what I wanted to do. I also thought about some of my goals when designing the new collection, including the major goal of developing things I didn't have to make. And yet as much as I love the new collection, I realize that the price point is a little high for many people, especially right now.

So it seems only fitting to develop a line of laser cut ornaments using the patterns in my new collection. They could function as a much more affordable version of my line. (Hopefully - I have sent the designs to my laser cutter for a quote yet.)

These are just the prototypes that I hand pierced to get a feel for the designs. What do you think? I still haven't settled on how to hang them yet.

marking time

2009-06-23T17:44:00.002-04:00

Part way through bowl #4, I started tracing the rim of the bowl to see the progression of the diameter. I like that it makes this reverse tree ring sort of effect - marking the history of my bowl.

It also reminds me of a chapter in Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac, where he traces the history of the county by the rings in the tree they are cutting into for firewood.

4 and 5

2009-06-23T08:55:00.001-04:00

I meant to post this on Thursday, but the day got away from me...

Bowl #4 is progressing rather slowly, because I'm trying to bring the sides up to vertical, so I went ahead and started #5. I'm experimenting with different forms to try to see what works for me. I keep asking myself, "what does a megan bowl look like?"

black, white, and grey

2009-06-21T22:01:00.000-04:00

Even my workspace is monochromatic.

#4

2009-06-17T14:41:00.003-04:00

When I left the studio on Thursday night, I was really disappointed that I wouldn't be able to do any raising again until Tuesday. And by yesterday afternoon, I was jonesing to get started on bowl #4.

I'm not sure why I've been so compelled to do suddenly do all this raising. It started as a desire to remind myself that I knew how to do it. Its been almost three years since I taught the raising class, and I just wanted to check in with my muscle memory.

But raising one bowl probably should have fulfilled that. Instead, I moved right on to the next one. Perhaps its because the process is so gratifying - to go from a flat sheet of metal to something that can hold water. Or perhaps because the process is so physical compared to most of the work I've been doing lately. Its really gratifying to know that I've wrestled that flat sheet into exactly the form that I wanted. (Or sometimes not quite the form I'm after.)

And there's a small part of me that is thinking if I continue out this exploration, perhaps I'll get to a place where this works its way into my collection. I love the new items I've been designing, but I feel like so many people laser cut. I want to see if I can bring back a level of skill to my work that is indicative of seven years of higher education in metalsmithing. I want to distinguish myself from the pack.

I don't really have all the answers, but I plan on continuing this exploration - making and thinking as I go.

the cutest dead animals

2009-06-16T20:02:00.002-04:00

Thanks for all your feedback on my last post! Certainly lots of things to think about.

I wanted to share a few of the concept images that my brother made for an animation he is working on. You can read more about it on his blog. I just love the color palette and the simple, graphic quality of the animals. I think he should sell some of the concept art as prints in his Etsy shop. Don't you?

the return of ornaments?

2009-06-11T20:43:00.002-04:00

With only about 2 months to go until New York Gift, I'm really thinking hard about what products I'm going to have in my booth. I would really like to bring the ornaments into my wholesale line, but I've got a few decisions to make. I think the ornaments will be a good addition because they sell at a lower price point, and since this is an August show, buyers will be looking for holiday items.

However, I'm concerned that in their current incarnation, they won't fit into the modern, graphic aesthetic I'm trying to convey in my booth and with my brand. So here are my questions:

Do I just focus on imagery using my loop leaf shape so that it relates to my other work, and forgo the more obvious holiday imagery?

Do I limit the metals - just steel instead of copper? And if I'm using steel, do I powder coat, paint, or leave them bare?

Should I use a different hanging method? Something simpler and cleaner than the ribbon? Or do they need a hanging method at all? Is a hole enough, and then people can supply their own hook?

These are changes that I'm considering for a wholesale line of the ornaments - the original version could still be available in my Etsy shop.

So, what should I do? Your thoughts?

Thanks in advance for your help!

the jig is up

2009-06-10T20:12:00.003-04:00

When I was in grad school, I used to marvel at how quickly my friend Corey could raise a bowl. Turns out that with a little practice and some 22 gauge copper, I too can raise a bowl in an afternoon. Corey, I'm on to you!

(Actually, I could never hold a candle to Corey's metalsmithing skills. I own two of her bowls, and my bowls could never be in the same room as hers. They would just be embarrassed.)

following along

2009-06-09T20:09:00.003-04:00

Wow, it does seem like its been difficult to find time to blog these last couple of weeks. My weekends have been filled with lots of bike rides and spending time outdoors. And during the week, I've been wrapped up in teaching my class and playing in the studio.

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been working on the projects along with my class. So I thought I'd share a process shot from the Pop-up Lighting Project. The idea behind this project is to create a piece of lighting by piercing a sheet of metal and then make it three-dimensional by some combination of bending and forming, slots and tabs, or cold connections. I'm making a pair of candlestick holders.

summer school

2009-06-04T21:46:00.004-04:00

As I mentioned before, I'm teaching a summer session class - Jewelry for Non-Art Majors. I've never taught a summer class or a non-majors class before, so I really had no idea what to expect.

Well, I'm happy to say I'm loving it. I'm the only faculty member teaching in our studio, so I have the place to myself. My students are fantastic - fun and curious and so excited about everything they're learning. Their first project was a cuff bracelet, and I'm very happy with the results. (And I love this picture, its like I've got a whole class of Wonder Woman or She-Ra Princess of Power.)

In fact, I actually have time to make the projects along with them! Its great because I get to work on something for fun, and its really helping me evaluate what does and doesn't work in each project.

Plus, I've been treating the days I teach as my own mini summer art camp. Most afternoons after my students leave, I've been staying to work in the studio (which I have all to myself). Its so fun to work on things I can't do in my own studio because I don't have those tools - I've even been doing some raising! (If you went to school with me at all, you'll understand how crazy that last statement is.) And I'm letting myself work with no finished product or goal in mind - just experimentation and some good old fashioned metalsmithing.

I promise to share pics of what I'm working on soon. I'm so excited to see where all this creative freedom is going to take me!

happy weekend!

2009-05-29T11:37:00.002-04:00

Wow, I can't believe its Friday already! I've been meaning to post these pics of my peonies all week, but it just hasn't happened until today. This week was the first week of the summer class I'm teaching, and between prepping, commuting, and other odds and ends, this week has just flown by. But I'm so happy its the weekend!

I have a little confession - I may love flowers, but when it comes to gardening I have a black thumb. Luckily, these peonies were planted by our home's previous owner and come back strong every year. And they were so pretty I couldn't resist cutting a few to bring into the house.

triathlon + summer mode

2009-05-24T12:34:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I completed the Got the Nerve Triathlon for the second year in a row! My time was 1 hour and 44 minutes, a four minute improvement over last year. I'm really happy about this because the bike course was actually .6 mile longer than the year before.

I'd really like to do a few more triathlons this year. I'm thinking about one in York at the end of June, and I'd really like to do a fall one in September or October. Any suggestions?

This past week, I've moved into full on summer mode. We put the soft-top on my car (something I haven't done in 5 years), I put some blonde highlights in my hair, and I've been dreaming about trips to the beach. All I want to do is lay in the sun and read books, unfortunately I've got some orders to go out, and I'm teaching a summer class that starts on Tuesday. So the rest of this weekend will be a working weekend for me. How about you?

Enjoy the long weekend!

ernesto neto

2009-05-24T12:26:00.002-04:00

On Thursday, Margaux and I also stopped by the Ernesto Neto installation at the Park Avenue Armory. (That's Margaux holding the strange, bulbous thing.) It was a really great exhibition - sensory and interactive, fun for adults and children. If you're planning on being in New York City, I recommend stopping by.

(You can see more images of the installation on my flickr site or on the Armory website.)

christien meindertsma

2009-05-21T22:16:00.004-04:00

After visiting the Cooper-Hewitt today with Margaux, I now officially have a serious design crush on Christien Meindertsma. I blogged about her urchin poufs before, one of which was part of the exhibition Fashioning Felt, but it was Christien's contribution to the Design for a Living World exhibition that turned me into a super-fan.

For Design for a Living World, the Nature Conservancy took 10 designers and matched them with a sustainable material from around the world. The exhibition features sketches and prototypes, as well as finished products. Not only are the finished products impressive, but the progress shots and accompanying video really help tell the story. (I wish you could watch the videos online!)

After browsing the book (which of course I bought), exhibition website, and Christien's website, I'm totally ready to move to a sheep farm in Idaho and become best friend's with Christien. How fantastic are all those process shots? And how adorable is she? At the very least, I want to decorate my living room with these knit rugs and poufs.

If you have a chance, I highly recommend a trip to the Cooper-Hewitt to see Fashioning Felt and Design for a Living World.

student work

2009-05-20T21:26:00.002-04:00

After taking the fall off, I once again taught Intro to Jewelry and Metalsmithing at Towson University. My class just wrapped up this week, and I finally posted some images of student work online.

I really liked my class this semester - I really challenged them and I think they rose to the occasion. I even tried a new project this semester, a two layer pendant where one layer was laser cut at Ponoko. Above is one of the examples - made from copper and wool felt.

Click here to see more of my student work from this semester on flickr.

icff

2009-05-20T21:08:00.002-04:00

On Monday, I took a bus to New York with some of the other faculty where I teach to check out ICFF. It was a double duty trip for me, not only was I scoping out ideas to bring back to my students, I was also doing recon to see if this was a show I want to do in the future.

I feel like I've barely had time to process all the great stuff I saw, and I'm headed back to New York tomorrow to museum hop with Margaux. Then, I've got the triathlon on Saturday - but hopefully later in the weekend I'll be able to process and share all the amazing stuff I've seen over the last week.

Until then, two highlights from the show - finally meeting Traci of filzfelt in person, and the Hero-365 booth.

bike to work day!

2009-05-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Bike to Work day! Get out there and ride!

And if you must drive, please be careful and watch for all those cyclists. We're everywhere!

image via barking bird art

envelopes

2009-05-08T21:21:00.002-04:00

Gocco'd the cozy/cuff image on some envelopes to send out to potential retailers - now its time to work on compiling my mailing list.

what I'm reading: a homemade life

2009-05-05T09:53:00.003-04:00

Contrary to popular belief, I do occasionally read for pleasure. I came across A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from my Kitchen Table while browsing Amazon, and knew it would make the perfect airplane read. Written by Molly Wizenberg, author of the blog Orangette, A Homemade life is part memoir, part recipe book.

Its a really lovely and enjoyable read, and it didn't even make it to the flight home. (I couldn't resist reading it while laying by the pool at my hotel.) The most frustrating part about reading the book while traveling is that you want to run into the kitchen and try the recipes. Looks like I've got a lot of cooking and baking to do when I get home!

the desert

2009-05-04T22:54:00.003-04:00

I've never considered myself a desert girl (I prefer the beach) but its starting to grow on me. Especially because this is what I'm leaving:

And this is what I'm coming home to:

Makes me sad just thinking about it.

day 2 at the MSA Expo

2009-05-04T22:22:00.002-04:00

Well, I'll say this about day 2 at the MSA Expo - at least I had fun neighbors. On one side of me were Steve and Rob, a couple from Cincinnati (actually, northern Kentucky where they do "missionary work" if you catch my drift - I almost died laughing). They are veterans of this show, which was really helpful. On the other side I had Sandra, who was also doing the show alone. She was so sweet - she helped me carry my boxes to UPS, and I helped her take her suitcases to a cab. We might even ride together to the next New York Gift - Sandra lives in West Virginia and drives within 5 miles of my house to get to the show!

If it weren't for my neighbors, I would have been bored out of my mind. I didn't write a single order today! (Unless you count the 2 reorders I took by phone this morning before the show started.) Apparently, that's not uncommon for this show. Steve and Rob said that they get most of their orders after the show, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I don't have another show until the New York Gift Fair in August! Wow, 3 whole months without a show. Its a good thing I've got my four week marketing plan to keep me motivated and focused.

day 1 at the MSA Expo

2009-05-04T00:24:00.002-04:00

Today was the first day at the Museum Store Association Expo. I only wrote a few orders, but according to my neighbors, Steve and Rob, that's pretty normal. It seems most of their orders come after the show is over.

There are so many ups and downs when doing a trade show. I had one buyer stare at me in shock when I told her the price of the cozy/cuff, then I had another buyer order 25 without batting an eye!

Hopefully I write a few more quality orders tomorrow, and then on Tuesday its back home to continue the cozy/cuff marketing.

online catalog

2009-05-03T09:40:00.002-04:00

Today is the first day of the Museum Store Association Expo, and other than the cozy/cuff catalog, I didn't get a print catalog finished of all my work. I'm a little disappointed, but I just didn't feel settled enough with my images to spend the money on something that felt as final as a print catalog. Instead, I completely redid my online catalog. Now, all my current work is available to view in one place. And its helping me move closer to the full redesign of my current website.

its finally here!

2009-04-29T19:22:00.002-04:00

I've got to finish packing and prepping for my trip to Phoenix tomorrow, but its really hard to stay focused because I just picked up this from the bike shop:

I'll be counting the days until I come home and can go for a nice long ride. Between now and then, I'll have to come up with a name. Any suggestions?

shopcozycuff.com is live

2009-04-27T20:19:00.003-04:00

For the last week, I've been working hard on a new website - shopcozycuff.com! I decided since I'm focusing on really promoting the cozy/cuff, it deserved its own website. When I went to register the domain name, cozycuff.com was already taken. I debated about using cozy-cuff.com, but I'm not a fan of using the dash in a website. I think its easy to forget to put it in, and then someone looking for my cozy/cuff ends up at a different website.

But shopcozycuff.com is just the start - I'm hoping to do a major redesign of my main website, meganauman.com in the next few weeks.

Next up for the four week marketing plan, its time to compile that list of retailers and start sending out information!

because i like bikes and free stuff

2009-04-27T20:00:00.004-04:00

I've been wanting a cargo bike for a while now, but sadly its not in the budget. So, when I learned that MADSEN Cargo Bikes was giving away two bikes, I couldn't resist entering.

If you want to enter, all you have to do is provide a link to Madsen's site somewhere on your site. (Or you could help me win by clicking on the link to Madsen's site.)

Now come on, how cute would I look taking packages to the post office with one of these?

and the winner is...

2009-04-26T23:07:00.002-04:00

Well, it looks like I'll be hand delivering the cozy/cuff because the randomly chosen winner of my contest is Lynette! Lynette, let me know what color you'd like, and I'll bring it with me on Thursday.

Why am I hand delivering the cozy/cuff, you may ask. Well, on Thursday, I head to Phoenix and Tempe - first up a visiting artist gig at ASU, then the Museum Store Association Expo.

Thanks to everyone who suggested a retailer! So many of those are places I would have never discovered on my own. I'm still cranking away on my four weeks of marketing - this week I'll be working on compiling a list of stores and press to send info to. Plus, I'm working on a major website re-design. (Not to mention prepping for my trip!)

turquoise blue + over the rainbow

2009-04-23T08:44:00.006-04:00

I've listed the new turquoise blue cozy/cuff in my shop, where you can now find all six of the colors:

Wow, so much color. I'm getting so adventurous!

And speaking of color, my brother is producing a short film titled Over the Rainbow. (I know, that was a lame transition). You can view the trailer here, and the film should debut in May.

what I'm reading

2009-04-23T08:24:00.001-04:00

Normally I like to put the title of the book I'm reading in the title of the post, but The Entrepreneur's Guide to Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, & Licensing seemed a little wordy. Long title aside, this is an excellent book that really highlighted the differences between copyright, trademarks, and patents. If you run any kind of creative business, I highly recommend that you read this book. As I read, I was able to clearly apply the discussions to my own work.

Here's a little summary, and how it applies to my work:

Trademarks

Trademarks cover the source of the product, not the product itself (even though we might call a product by its trademark name). One example is that Twinkie is the source of a snack cake (ie. Twinkie brand snack cake). Coca-Cola is the brand of soda, etc.

It is difficult to trademark a "weak" mark - meaning a trademark that is purely descriptive of a product. The "strongest" marks are those that have no relation to the products being sold. (Such as Apple computers.) Which means I would have a difficult time trademarking cozy/cuff - its really just a descriptive name. If I wanted to trademark cozy/cuff, I'd have to prove secondary meaning - basically, that I've used the name so much that it is now synonymous with only my brand. That takes time to establish, so for now, no trademarking of cozy/cuff.

Copyrights

This is the area where I though I understood the most, but it turns out I still have so much to learn. Did you know that you can't copyright useful things? Copyrights are meant to protect expressive works. However, there is a blurry boundary between creative and useful objects and copyright can cover certain aspects of a useful object.

According to the book, "Copyright is best suited for art that appears on functional objects such as a design or ornamentation that is not part of the physical, functional structure of the object." This really struck me, because one of the ideas I work with is that surface is structure, that the pattern designs become the objects themselves.

I've already filed for a copyright for the cozy/cuff, and ultimately, this should give me some level of protection if someone were to copy my idea directly. But if copyrights don't cover it, then what's left?

Design Patents

The other option is to file for a design patent. "Design patents are best suited for protecting the shape and appearance of useful objects such as perfume bottles bottles, furniture, cars, and appliances, which have designs that have commercial and economic value." This does seem much more applicable to my work. However, while easier to apply for than a traditional patent, design patents are still difficult to obtain and expensive. Based on the costs on the PTO website, it would cost over $600 dollars to apply for a design patent, plus over $3,000 in maintenance fees over the next 12 years. And those are the reduced rates for small businesses! And you must apply for a design patent within one year of an object being sold or used.

Unfair Competition

After reading most of the book, it did seem like there were still a lot of opportunities to have others steal your ideas or designs. Fortunately, there is one more method of legal recourse - which is unfair competition. This affords some protection for someone who is copying aspects of your design in such a way that (while not covered under copyright, trademark, or patent) that seeks to confuse the public on the identity and source of the product. This should offer some means of protection over someone trying to co-opt your entire brand identity as their own. (At least I hope this is the case).

One last thing I learned from the book is no matter what form of intellectual property law you are covered under, you must constantly police for infringers of your work.

This is just a small snippet of the information covered in this book, and some of the ways I've applied it to my situation. This book is a worthwhile (and easy) read - its not too legal-jargon-y, and really helped me understand the differences between copyright, trademark, and patents.

happy earth day + green cozy/cuffs

2009-04-22T08:42:00.003-04:00

Happy Earth Day! Tree Hugger has a list of things not to do today, and one is don't spend all day on your computer. Get outside!

But before your do, just in time for Earth Day, the cozy/cuffs are now available in two shades of green. (Plus a new light grey). You can pick them up right here.

I've still got one more new cozy/cuff color to list in the shop, but I'll save that for later today. Now go spend some time outside!

mock-ups

2009-04-21T23:01:00.005-04:00

I sort of fell behind on the four week marketing project in all the preparations for our San Francisco trip, but I'm quickly getting back on track. This morning I photographed all the new cozy/cuff colors and re-photographed the grey and black so that all the images were consistent.

After a lengthy photo-editing session, I started working on my mini-catalog. Its in the form of a little accordion fold-out booklet. I decided to keep the catalog simple and graphic, with the focus on the images. When I send them to retailers, I'll include a cover letter and info sheet. I've still got a few minor changes to make, but I need to order them from the printer in the next day or two. What do you think?

Working on the mini-catalog also gave me an idea for the layout of the website. I did this quick little mock-up in Illustrator, but I've still got to build the whole website. So more to come on that later...

tina frey

2009-04-21T19:44:00.002-04:00

Tina Frey makes gorgeous resin jewelry and home goods. At the SFMOMA trunk show, I was lucky enough to trade with her for this necklace. Thanks Tina!

Be sure to check out Tina's website - I love the way she makes a variety of products, but her line is so clearly hers.

more San Francisco pics

2009-04-21T15:06:00.002-04:00

I've uploaded the rest of my images from our San Francisco trip to flickr. You can view the full set here.

A few of my faves:

Hiking in Land's End

and on Mt. Tam.

From the California Academy of Sciences.

another use for the cozy/cuff

2009-04-20T13:30:00.002-04:00

If the idea of using a cozy/cuff around your disposable cup doesn't work for you, you can always take this example from the lovely Tara of Ink + Wit and use your cozy/cuff on your SIGG bottle to carry hot beverages.

Thanks to Tara for sharing this on her blog!

And don't forget, you still have a few more days to suggest a retailer and be entered to win a cozy/cuff of your own.

home at last

2009-04-20T13:12:00.003-04:00

We're finally home from a lovely few days in San Francisco. (Although a less than lovely set of flights home.) The weather was absolutely gorgeous. I didn't want to leave, especially to arrive home to rain and 40 degree temps.

I've got a lot more pics to upload from my DSLR, but unfortunately, one of the down sides to running your own business is that when you take a vacation, there is no one to help pick up the slack. So now I've got to spend the rest of the day catching up on emails/phone calls/etc. (And perhaps taking a nap - I hate taking an overnight flight!)

hi from San Francisco

2009-04-17T11:43:00.002-04:00

Joe and I are in San Francisco this week, leading up to the SFMOMA Jewelry Trunk Show on Saturday. I just wanted to pop in and say hi, and share the view from the restaurant we ate lunch at yesterday. It was a typical little diner, but you can't beat the view. I took this from our table - and we even saw whales while we ate!

I hope everyone's weekend is shaping up to be as nice as mine. And if you're in the bay area, be sure to stop by the trunk show on Saturday and say hi!

tease

2009-04-10T17:46:00.002-04:00

Just got these in the mail - lovely COLOR in time for spring (but not available for sale yet)...

And don't forget to suggest a retailer and be entered for a chance to win a cozy/cuff of your very own. (Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions so far!)

Have a lovely spring weekend!

suggest a retailer for the cozy/cuff

2009-04-09T22:33:00.003-04:00

Is there a retailer in your area that would be a good fit for the cozy/cuff? I'm looking for coffee shops, design stores, indie boutiques, or any other store that might carry the cozy/cuff.

If you've got a suggestion, please leave a comment with:

-the name of the store

-store address (at least city and state)

-web site (if they've got one)

-any other info about the store

If you don't want to leave the info in the comments, you can always email me at meauman(at)yahoo(dot)com.

And in case you really need a reason to suggest a retailer, I'll choose one lucky commenter (or emailer) on April 24 to receive a cozy/cuff of their very own!