MEGAN AUMAN

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my new dream house

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This weekend I went to the Hamptons to visit Adrienne. It was great to get a little break for the weekend. After I got there on Friday, we rode our bikes to the beach, which was fun until we had to go over a giant bridge. (I’m a little scared of bridges.)

On Saturday, we went yard-sailing. Our best find of the day was probably an entire stash of vintage jewelry for a great price. But my favorite find wouldn’t fit in the car. We went to an estate sale in “my new dream house.” The house was in a really cute area of Long Island called the North Fork. Not only did the house have great character, and walls of windows, but it backs up onto this little river. If only…


adorable

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Sorry for the poor picture quality, but I just had to share this little guy. I’m working on a new line, to be cast in sterling silver. Its based on my steel leaf line, but scaled down quite a bit. Which I think makes them really adorable, don’t you?

what I’m reading: the dip

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I know what you’re thinking, I just did a “what I’m reading” post yesterday, but Ivan from Patina Gallery recommended this book to me, so I ran out to get it. (Plus, its only 80 pages and doesn’t take very long to read.)

I’ve been feeling really stuck, and a little disappointed with the way my business is going. The Dip really gave me a new perspective to focus on. The premise is pretty basic, and by the end I kept thinking “ok, I get it,” but this book was exactly what I needed right now.

Verdict: If you’re feeling stuck at all (particularly with your business), run to the bookstore and read this book tonight.

deb’s new bike

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Yesterday, I took my mother-in-law shopping for a new bike. The one she’s been riding is almost as old as my husband, so it was time. Not only will she be riding it for fitness and recreation, but she plans on riding it to work several days a week. (She’s a elementary school band teacher, and works at different schools each day. But two are close enough to make commuting by bike possible.) Score another one for the bikes.

Trek also has a program right now to encourage everyone to “Go By Bike.” You can pledge to bike a certain number of miles, and it will calculate your savings in carbon and gas money. Plus, you’ll be entered to win a free bike. I picked up the brochure at the bike shop yesterday, and it was a well designed argument in favor of biking. Perhaps we should all send one to this guy.

what I’m reading: here comes everybody

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After I read about Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations by Clay Shirky on WorldChanging, I immediately put it on my must read list. A book about social media and organizations seemed right up my alley. The books on web 2.0 that I’ve been reading have been really business based, but this book examines the phenomenon from a socio-political perspective.

While reading this book, I found myself thinking a lot about SNAG. SNAG is in trouble (mostly financial), but I think that trouble stems from a problem with relevance. One of the principles that Shirky looks at is mass amateurization, which is fueled by social media. He looks at the the idea of the “professional” journalist, but applies the problem to many professions. This is one of SNAG’s fundamental problems. The idea of a “professional” metalsmith/jeweler is such a tenuous one to begin with, that many in SNAG feel the need to hold onto that label for dear life by clinging to ideas of “training”, while rejecting things like Etsy, which blurs the line between professional and amateur. In doing so, SNAG alienates what could potentially be a huge contingent of new members.

The other idea that Shirky brings up is that new social tools have greatly reduced the transaction costs of group forming. So much so, that many groups don’t even self-identify as groups. For instance, the group of friends I’ve formed around blogging. Its amazing to me that when I write a post, people are willing to comment, to give me support and feedback. This lower transaction cost is trouble for organizations like SNAG, which has a huge overhead and the need to control the collective action of the group. Not only that, if I can get support from my peers on a daily basis through this blog, why would I need to rely on an organization that can only provide that once a year at a very expensive conference.

I don’t believe that SNAG is completely useless, but SNAG needs to reexamine its mission and structure if it wants to continue. Reading Here Comes Everybody would be a good place to start.

Verdict: If you’re at all interested in how group forming works in the post web 2.0 world, then this is a worthwhile read.

regroup

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Well, now that Artscape is over, I’ve reached the end of my summer retail show season. And I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a bad one. Between the weather and the economy, business has not been good.

But I also haven’t been putting my energy into the right activities. So now its full steam ahead for upcoming wholesale shows. Here’s what I’ve got on the horizon:

San Francisco International Gift Fair (represented by Cameron Marks Agency)
New York International Gift Fair
Pool (represented by Cameron Marks Agency)

Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well. Now its back to work, I’ve got to get a sample set to CM, um , yesterday.

color and other stuff

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I’m up against some tight deadlines and I’m not feeling well, so this is going to be a rambling, update sort of post.

-I’m doing something unusual for me, and adding so color to my work in the form of beads. You’ll be able to pick up the new pieces at Artscape.

-Artscape is tomorrow in Baltimore. You can see my work in the DIY section.

-I’m not sure I agree with the kick-off or the winner on PR last night. Come on, garbage bags? Like that didn’t take 5 minutes? Overall first impressions, including their work prior to the show, I liked Jennifer and Leanne.

-Joe and I are seriously considering selling my car and getting a scooter. This makes me a little nervous and a little excited at the same time.

All right, out to the studio. Meanwhile, I’ll be wishing I was vacationing here or here. (Wow, I must really have camping on the brain, my last 5 bookmarks on del.icio.us were all about camping or the outdoors.)

thank you, cain park

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Thanks to everyone who came out to say hi this weekend, and especially thanks to the wonderful staff at Cain Park. Despite less than ideal sales this year (the economy and the weather are so on my list), the show is still a nice one to do. And that’s all because of the most helpful show staff ever. If you have to do a show by yourself, Cain Park is the one to do. (And if you organize a show, plan a visit to next year’s Cain Park Arts Festival, to see how to do it right.) Everyone, from the show director to the staff, is helpful and supportive. I had 3 people help my pack my tent and load the car!

So, thanks again, Cain Park! You guys are truly the best.