IAMPETH 2011

This week and next, I'm going to blog about my trip to the Annual IAMPETH Convention.

Last year I attended my first IAMPETH convention in Orlando, FL. It was a great time and I learned a lot. I left already excited for the next year's convention. This year's convention was held in Phoenix, AZ. I've never been to Phoenix, so I was excited to go, even though it was supposed to be in the 110's all week long.

I was able to stay at a friend's home, which was fabulous because it gave me some time to decompress and she has a pool. :)

This year I took a completely different approach to picking the classes that I wanted to attend. They were offering three different classes during each session offering a wide variety of options. Last year, I chose classes based on what I thought was marketable to clients. This year, I chose classes that were completely different than anything I had ever done before and some new things that I wanted to try.

Day 1, I took a class called The Artful Flourish, taught by Heather Held. Day 2, I took Beginning Spencerian with Michael Sull in the morning, and a class on learning to format names on escort cards and envelopes by Nan DeLuca. Day 3, I took Contemporary Pointed Pen and Exciting Florals with Barbara Close in the morning and did a class on how calligraphy and technology are merging, complete with iPad apps and how to best use Photoshop Elements. Day 4, I did a class on Illumination by John Fraleigh in the morning and then Spencerian Monogram Design with Michael Sull in the afternoon.

It was a jam packed week and for someone who isn't used to sitting at a desk and learning all day long, it took a lot out of me. I met some new people, saw some people I had met last year and just generally had a great time.

Over the next few days, I'll be posting some samples of my work from the classes. Guaranteed to be entertaining at the very least.