ALMA MATTERS

Last weekend was the much anticipated mini ArtWeekend retreat by Nicole's Classes.  I was really excited since I missed their San Francisco version (they taught letterpress at the SF one).  This was really a series of crash/mini courses, a little taste of what their full series would be like.  It was definitely enough to whet your appetite and of course I did learn a few things.  I do want to sign up for a full day course eventually or take one of the online classes but for the price I would say I got my money's worth.  Bonus? I met some really fabulous people.

One of those fab people was the darling Alma Loveland. For teaching a speed class in beginning Illustrator (a bear of a program) she kept her cool, was patient and had a few tips and tricks up her sleeve.  Alma is very creative in her own right and I felt like it was a great taste of what is possible with this robust program.  Am I proficient now?  Well, let's not get crazy but I can do a few things I couldn't before and that my dears opens doors for this here tinkerer. I also bought her Illustrator 101 text book, which I happen to think is very well designed and breaks down her class fairly well.  It does not beat sitting in class with her (didn't I mention she is darling?) but if you can't get out to meet her, the textbook and online class should prove to be just as enlightening.

In the lobby I met Suzanne of SheWanders.  Suzanne happens to be an excellent photographer and was so full of info for me for my future shoots. I was very grateful for her input and that she would even take the time to let me in on these things.  Her advice was something I wouldn't have figured out on my own and I felt that I was armed with a pocket full of treasures. 

I got lucky again and had jewelry designer Ariel Gordon in all of my classes (we took Nicole's Photo 101 a few months back).  I totally love this girl and would have loved to roll her in the parking lot because she just oozes effortless style--her bag, her jewelry, jeans, jackets, hair, even her computer!  Just a really cool girl.  Ariel is getting married soon and I am trying to convince her that we need to take a letterpress class together.  Heck we've been through four creative classes together, what's a 5th?

{beyond gorgeous photo by nicole hill gerulat. jewelry ariel gordon}

Last I met a very sweet girl Denise Cortez.  She came all the way up from Mexico to take the classes!  Now that's some serious motivation.  She was so nice and I felt horrible that I didn't get a chance to say good bye (so hi & bye Denise).  I loved that she has the same affliction as I do and she wants to do EVERYTHING!  I so get it.  If I could spend weeks on end being crafty I would.  I would sew a new wardrobe, build some furniture, create new recipes, design a couple thank you's, make my own wallpaper and then some. 

{photo via crafty blog by honey.huckabee}

I love to learn and I do highly recommend any of Nicole's Classes.  I know budgets are tight right now, I can justify the classes because they deal directly with what I do for a living.  For those that are trying to segue, these are really reasonable and worth looking into.  A lot of the same type of classes are three to four times the amount and you may not meet awesome individuals like I did.  Good luck!