how much? (and what colors?)

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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.