I know I don’t normally write about the business of blogging, but I still wanted to share a little bit of the experience I had in Salt Lake City last week. I just got back on Saturday night from 4 days at Alt Summit, a business conference for bloggers and creatives. It was pretty awesome to be surrounded by my people!! I mean, here in CT I have not one blogging friend. Sometimes I even have to explain what a blog is. So to be amongst 600 like-minded women was completely thrilling and energizing. I barely slept but didn’t even feel that tired because I just wanted to meet more people and hear more stories.
I’ll stop gushing now, but I wanted to share a few things: First, my Instagram photos above. Second, a graphic that I created with some inspiring and smart quotes from speakers. Third, a photo of the cards that I collected. Fourth, a quirky little iPhone movie I made. And fifth, some photos of me making my business cards which I barely handed out because I’m terrible at self-promotion.
These quotes were shared by a few different women speakers. Lisa Congdon was the keynote speaker and she was completely enchanting. As an artist and just general creative dabbler, she had so many wise words to share and wisdom to impart. I also heard Rachel Faucett speak from Handmade Charlotte. She was beyond generous to give us all of her Pinterest secrets. Eden Hensley shared her knowledge about content marketing, and Sarah Downey Robinson blew me away with her talk on SEO and inbound marketing. I kind of feel smarter now.
Ok, so I was super lame at collecting business cards. But I got a few and I loved meeting every single one of the people that these cards belong to. In order from top left and across:
| 1 | Merilee from Mer Mag was so sweet and easy to talk to, she has the sickest blog so check it out. | 2 | Ali Edwards has a blog and designs products to help you tell your story. Her website is pretty darn cool, and so is she. | 3 | Gina from Willow Day is from Sweden, and I consider her a good friend after these four days. She’s beautiful inside and out. | 4 | Design Good is an online community of people, brands and organizations that use creativity and design for social good. How cool is that? | 5 | Erin Souder from Earnest Home gave a great talk on launching your own product. Her store is sick! Beauty everywhere. | 6 | Emma from Emma’s Parlour is the cutest. She did my hair and makeup, follow her Instagram it’s totally rad. | 7 | I loved meeting local Salt Lake mom Erynn Montgomery. Her and her husband run a family travel blog called Tropic of Capricorn. I think she talked me into a pretty cool vacation idea for the summer. Stay tuned! | 8 | MJ of Pars Caeli (which means piece of heaven) is the coolest and has a very creative blog. And the cutest little square card! | 9 | I love airbnb‘s logo very much. | 10 | My new friend Katie from That Girl Katie had the best card, hands down. Little poloroids that were so ethereal and cool. | 11 | I really loved The Making Table‘s cards, a little bit of hand painting is right up my alley. | 12 | Alix Adams led a roundtable discussion about how to approach brands for collaboration, smart lady. She blogs at A Ruffled Life. | 13 | Another new friend Cynthia from Inchworm Academy. She was pregnant and dancing and she brought me tape and a baggie from her house! Cool chick. | 14 | Gabby from Design Mom gave me her card! I was so honored to meet her. She is the engine behind ALT. Her and her sister started it all. | 15 | I had the pleasure of meeting Anne Weil of Flax and Twine. She is a blogger and author and gave a talk on writing a book. Her talent runs deep. | 16 | And finally, my roomie Ana from Babble Dabble Do. I am so digging her new logo and her blog is just crazy good.
And here’s my short iPhone movie of ALT. I forgot my phone more than half of the time so it’s really choppy. But if you’re wondering what ALT looks and feels like, this is a pretty good synopsis. (Click on photo above and it will bring you to VIMEO.)
Here are my cards in the making. I spent many hours scrape painting, splattering, cutting and stamping. I became a bit obsessed but it was such a blast. I only handed out about 20 (lame!!) but that’s fine because now I’ll have them for a long time.
Cheers to a happy week. We have 3 feet of snow coming our way. Yikes!
xo, Bar
Dear Barbara, I love your cards very much, they are really beautiful and very yours. That’s great having opportunity to meet people with the same interests and the same passion. You’re lucky!!!
thank you agnieszka!! how do you pronounce your name? my favorite person in the world (my old nanny) lives in Poland so i have a fondness. thank you for leaving a comment!! maybe some day i can give you a card in person! xo bar
Love your creative cards! It’s great how every one will be different.
thanks lisa! i was very pleased with how they turned out. xo bar
Thanks for posting about Alt! I hope to make it one day, but for now I just have to live vicariously through others. I love that you handmade your cards- so gorgeous and fun!
oh megan, thank you for leaving a comment and i hope some day we can meet in person and we can share cards!! xoxo bar
I found your blog last night – I’m up to Halloween – and LOVING it! Already ordered ish… and trying to decide where to buy/find wood blocks. I’m considering family vacay to CT so my daughter can take an art class from you!!
yay!! (hand clapping emoji here) !! i’m so glad you found me and thank you for stopping over and leaving a comment! i’m so happy you are reading and loving it all. you ordered ISH!!! oh please tell me how much you love it. and the wood blocks…didn’t i leave a link? i’ll look back and see. if not, i’ll leave a link here. and yes…come to CT!! but it’s really cold and snowy now, so come in the summer. i do art camp! so nice to “meet” you megan! xoxo bar
I love this post! It was so fun to hang out with you fro three days! It went by so fast and I’m looking forward to next year!
thanks ana!! is was kind of a magical whirlwind, one that i will look back on for months to come. my first trip solo, away from my kids, and i couldn’t think of two cooler people to share it with. let’s do more!! xo bar
Hi Barbara,
I just discovered your blog today and I have to say I just love your blog name and style. Very cool.
I’ve never been to Alt but have always wanted to. It seems to sell out so darn fast! Anyway, thanks for your lovely post. Going to go through your posts now!
Best,
Patty
yay! patty, i have been a fan of yours for a while. i even did a project inspired by you (and linked to you) last year. rainbow flower collage. your blog has helped me so much as a beginning teacher. i’m thrilled that you found me. ALT was pretty cool. i think you have to decide to go way before the tickets go on sale, they do go fast. i might try and go to the summer ALT in NYC. let me know if you do that! thank you for leaving a comment… i’m sure we will continue to inspire each other 🙂 xo bar
Hi Barbara, I pronounce my name “Agnieshka”. Have you ever been in Poland? I will be very happy if you give me your card in person :-). I’ve been in USA twice because my aunt lives in Richmond in Virginia :-).
i have never been to Poland, i wish i could go!! maybe some day with my family. i will let you know if i do!! xo bar
Hi there 🙂 I noticed you have a link to my blog The Making Table but I think you may have linked up to mine by accident as that is not my business card. I have a feeling you are after http://www.themakingtable.com Just thought i’d let you know. Best Wishes 🙂
oh my, thank you sue!! i appreciate you leaving a comment. i fixed it. and peaked at your blog…i am jealous of your scrapbook pages!! i used to do that when my kids were little but it’s been years and year since i’ve done anything. back in the day before my iPhone when i actually printed photos. now they are in boxes in the attic. sigh. thanks for the inspiration! xo bar
Great post. Your business cards are terrific. Use them!
Love your blog cards! I’m wondering where you got your stamp and if it’s self stamping?
thanks shelly!! and i think i added the link to the stamp, but if not…i used rubberstamps.net. and yes, it is a self-inking!! hope this helps! xo bar
Those cards are so cool. The definitely put the plain ones I was about to order to shame. I’m kind of stuck in a rut with them. I want them to be creative, but my site and my logo are all black and white which makes for a pretty boring card. You definitely inspired me to step up my card design game.
hey devin! you could always splatter a little paint on them. dip a toothbrush into some liquid watercolor and spray the bristles at a distance from your card. a little gold paint would be cool. good luck!!
Your business cards are so adorable! Might I ask what kind of paper you used! I am always looking for ways to up my DIY business card game! XO, Katie
hi katie! i used a bunch of different papers, but mostly card stock from Papersource. kraft color, light gray, and white. hope this helps! xo bar
I love your cards! I am designing new cards and was thinking about doing something similar. What kind of paint did you use?
hi michelle, thank you!! I used regular tempera paint, the kind you use with kids. it was really fun 🙂 good luck! xo bar
I really love this business card idea. thank you for sharing. Can you please share where you had your stamp made?
thank you so much
carmen
you’re welcome carmen! the link for the stamps is in the post. but I got it at rubberstamps.net. good luck! xo bar
Very nice cards. And yes business cards are must for anyone who owns a business as it’s a great way to advertise and also to provide the client about your company details.
Very inspiring cards and a pretty creative business cards.
Hi Barbara,
I stumbled across your blog via Pinterest and I stumbled across business cards! I wanted to know if they could be made for my small business as a product or service, of course with a fee! Please let me know! I love the uniqueness.
hi Mori, thanks for visiting my website. I’m glad you like my hand made cards! I wish I could make them for you, but I just don’t offer that service. I’m sorry 🙁 Maybe you can try and recreate them yourself? Best of luck! xo Bar
A long time ago, I spent some time blogging as a “mommy-blogger.” It’s so fun to see the names of people I was reading back then (over 10 years ago!) who are still going strong and gaining national recognition. Blogging is here to stay, and there is surely a different type of blog for every different type of interest.
So glad you are feeding my appetite for art for littles, and you’ve inspired one retired preschool teacher I know to pursue her passion for art – developing an art workshop for children in our town (PS – I gave her your book for a retirement gift!) 🙂