"packaging"

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!!!

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

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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.