MEGAN AUMAN

Join the mailing list be the first to know about new jewelry and art, classes, and writing!

what I’m reading: Digital Minimalism

by 3 Comments

book review: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

For the past few months, I’ve started to feel like my social media usage had reached an unhealthy level. While I almost never use Facebook, I do use Instagram regularly to promote my business and connect with friends and customers. And while I LOVED Instagram when it first came out (and while I do still love it in certain moments) I started to notice that the time I was spending there was making me feel anxious and angry, not happy and fulfilled.

Which is why I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Cal Newport’s new book, Digital Minimalism, when it came out earlier this month.

[Read more…]

new plants for my bathroom!

by Leave a Comment

calathea leaf detail

Since the plants in my studio are doing pretty well, I decided it was time to expand my growing plant collection to another room. And since I seem to be obsessed with plants that require lots of humidity, I figured the bathroom was the next best place. So the other weekend, I headed out to my local plant shop and picked up a pair of calatheas and a zebra plant. (Which one of my plant books then informed me was a very difficult plant to care for. But I decided I’m up for the challenge!)

[Read more…]

we need to talk about “cutting out the middleman”

by Leave a Comment

megan auman wholesale jewelry display

Last week, I headed to New York to show my jewelry line to store buyers. It was a lovely couple of days hanging out with some fantastic fellow jewelry designers and getting to see and connect with my buyers in person.

But on the way home, I started thinking about a trend I’ve been noticing with brands and advertising lately, especially in the jewelry industry. I’m seeing more and more brands shouting about how they are being transparent in their pricing by “cutting out the middleman” and passing those savings on to consumers.

On the face of it, it seems like a worthy cause, one that directly benefits the end customer.

But my experience in New York last week got me thinking… “what’s so bad about the middleman?”

[Read more…]

awaiting a new leaf

by Leave a Comment

new leaf on ficus elastica variegata ruby - variegated rubber tree

Like I mentioned in my review of Joyful, I’m learning that the joys of owning real plants (and not just faux ones) is that they are full of surprises. Like when they start sporting new leaves, as my variegated rubber tree is currently doing!

I was so excited when I saw this little leaf start to poke out from the end of the plant! And I’ve been anxiously waiting over the last ten days for the leaf to uncurl.

[Read more…]

what I’m reading: Joyful

by Leave a Comment

book review: Joyful by Ingrid Fetell Lee

A few weeks ago, I noticed my friend Amber posting excerpts from a book called Joyful, by Ingrid Fetell Lee, on Instagram, and it immediately sparked my interest. And after chatting with Amber about the book, I knew I needed to bump it to the top of my must read list.

While I found this book housed in the psychology section at the bookstore (and while the premise does make it seem like it’s a book about happiness), in reality, it’s a book about the powers of art, design, and our constructed environment to impact how we feel.

Which makes it right up my alley.

[Read more…]

stromanthe in the studio

by Leave a Comment

jewelry studio plants: stromanthe and peperomia

I can honestly say that one of the best things I’ve done for myself so far this year is buy this stromanthe for my new studio. Sure, I’m loving all the plants I’ve been accumulating, but the stromanthe definitely steals the show. Any time I need a pick-me-up, I just need to glance at the beautiful foliage! (It’s especially helpful for getting myself through winter.)

[Read more…]

current obsession: pattern and texture (otherwise known as calathea leaves and silver on steel rings)

by Leave a Comment

calathea fusion white and silver on steel thumb ring

Ever since I started buying real plants, I’ve become obsessed with photographing all the intricacies of their leaves. Of course, that’s probably because I’ve been buying plants with as much variegation in their leaves as possible. But I can’t help it! I love that each leaf is like a little painting! (Especially this Calathea Fusion White, which I’m determined to do my best with, even though the Internet says it’s one of the hardest houseplants around and even though this one was a little beat up when I bought her!)

And I especially love how my new plants look when I photograph them with my silver on steel stacking rings! It’s like my thumb ring and latte art obsession, but to a whole other level. (Which is my way of saying, expect more posts like this in the near future!

[Read more…]

my plant collection is growing!

by Leave a Comment

plant collection: peperomia and handmade silver on steel ring

If you know me, you’ll know that I’ve never been one to ease into a hobby. When I do something, I go all in. Which is why it shouldn’t be surprising that my desire to bring real plants into my life (and learn how to not have a black thumb) is quickly turning into an obsession.

But it’s not entirely my fault. As part of my quest to find my green thumb, I’ve been doing a lot of reading and researching about houseplants. And I learned two things: 1. I apparently like plants that require a lot of humidity. And one way to help them with that is to group multiple plants together to raise the humidity for all of them. And 2. There are a lot of really pretty plants out there and I want them all!

[Read more…]