Art Deco Dream

    I just spent the night on the Queen Mary that has been parked in the port of Long Beach, Ca since 1967.  I was there with my daughter and some friends celebrating the 75th birthday of that ship.  Although I've visited the RMS Queen Mary, I've never had the pleasure to spend the night aboard the ship until a few days ago.  It pretty much satisfied my fantasy of being locked in a museum overnight.  As a history buff, any museum is of interest to me but as an Anglophile, armature historian, and artisan, its almost overwhelming.   

    The ship was built in Scotland and took a little over 3 years to build employing 300,000 craftsman. It was finished in 1936.  Just the thought of 300,000 craftsmen made me contemplate how the world has changed.  I doubt there are 300,000 craftsmen in the US let alone Scotland.  That was the age of Art Deco where the most magnificent decorative work was all done by hand.  As a craftswoman myself, there is nothing more satisfying than completing my part of the project.  I can only imagine what it would have been like to be part of the crew that completed this ship, or and magnificent structure like the Chrysler Building, or the Michelin House.  Without doubt, this economic downturn has been rough on tradesmen, decorative artists, and contractors.  My business is no exception.   The visit, though to the Queen Mary made me realize that I would rather be part of those that create beautiful surfaces then sit in an AIG office any day of the week.

There is a Mercato at the Forum

I am piloting a paradigm shift in the status quo of forums.  Although I've been members of a few and moderator, assistant moderator etc., I've often found them a mixed bag when it comes to an effective tool for my business. 

What I've liked about them: 

• Trouble Shooting-When something is amiss on my project, forums have been a great source of help.  I've always received very valuable information within hours of posting.
• Community-We are small contractors who spend many hours in relative solitude. A professional forum makes up for the lack of hanging around the water cooler.
• Gallery-Great place to view my colleagues work.

What I've disliked about them:

• Communication between vendors and forum members-If you are a vendor there is a fine line between acting as a useful resource and being considered annoying.  As I have an application business as well as a distribution business, I can speak for both sides.  I can remember a post where someone asked about tape.  A forum member suggested this fancy orange tape.  A vendor posted that one could get the fancy orange tape from his business.  Then all heck broke loose, his post was yanked and no one got the needed orange tape.   I've also seen where some vendors are allowed to market their wares in a post topic but others aren't.  After years of this, I no longer use a forum for product knowledge.  I think this is stupid.

The solution:

• The Mercato-I just took over as head of the one Venetian Plaster Forum.   With my unexpected new powerful role here, I'd thought I would try and evolve this into a more useful place.  If forum members don't have a place to talk amongst themselves without being bombarded from vendors, they won't use it.  They need their space.  But additionally, busy professionals need a place to search for materials.  I thought if we could combine the both a forum with a directory we might have something. So on the Venetian Plaster Forum is now a Mercato that gives all vendors their own category in which  hold conversations with members and market however they please.   If you are a plasterer, consider joining the forum as you will have the community of others and a convenience of a directory.  Vendors, let me know if you would like to be listed.  This is open to all.  Please contact me at info@metrowallworks.com