This much I know.

I had a very good experience this week. I went to the Altitude Design Summit. Alt. Over the 2 whole days of classes and mingling with the attendees I got the information I was looking for. I have been thinking about ending my design blog for a while now. I never really felt it was "me." I wanted to narrow my focus and really decide why I was doing my design blog. I started it, thinking it would be a great place to send clients that wanted to see some of my completed jobs. A place that I could find friendship with others that share my love of design and the excitement and inspiration design brings to my life. That communal sharing of ideas and inspiration. I got that, a little. What I was missing was the input from others, the conversation. I wanted to feel like my blog was a place to hear what others like and get inspired by. Instead it felt like I was doing all the talking. I got tired of hearing only from me. So, I went to the conference to see if I was missing something. If I was going to continue blogging I needed to know that I could create less of a focus on "me" and get more of a group feel to the blog. Anyway, long story short, I came away from the conference with a clear understanding that I'm not a blogger. I don't enjoy that platform--as far as business is concerned. And as much as I wanted to believe that most bloggers weren't in it for the money or notoriety, I came away with a different view. I saw behind the curtain. It felt kind of icky to me. Don't get me wrong, though. Many of the bloggers I met do it with a sincere passion and their success is, at the same time, serendipitous and well earned. I applaud them and hope they continue. It's clear to me that this is not my venue. I love journaling for my family. I enjoy it when my friends stop by my personal blog. I love hearing from you in the comments and reading your blogs. I even like seeing some other blogs of people I don't know because they offer some inspiration to me. But overall, I decided I want less of the electronic world I had become immersed in. For me, not right. I needed to be reminded of what it was like before Facebook and my design blog. It's been nice in the last couple of days, being without FB or the blog. Freedom. I'm breathing differently.

I got to ask Nie Nie, and a number of others, if they ever thought their blogging was a narcissistic venture. Everyone I asked answered "Yes. But you have to get over that." I appreciated their candor but that advice doesn't fit with me. It's a hurdle I can't jump. So I'm done with that chapter and so appreciative of the lessons learned. Grateful for the advice. Grateful for the glimpse. It helped me hone in on what I do want for me and my life. Valuable lessons gleaned and many yet to be learned from this. (And maybe a lot of what made me decide was the fact that I was one of the oldest ones in any room! This just may be a young persons game! Seriously, it may be generational...like we just have such different views of the world.)

So, sorry for the LONG post. I just needed to get it off my chest. I may reread this in a month and decide I feel differently with more time and perspective under my belt. Who knows? I did get a lovely dinner at Mazza out of it. The company that took me to dinner was a wonderful little company that came up with a really great product. It's called Zarbees and I met the pediatrician that developed it. It's a honey based cough syrup, all natural, and my kids love it! (We've all been battling colds and the flu for the past 2 weeks!) I also met a lovely woman that invented a really cool infant bathtub. "Puj" is the name of her company and her design is insanely cool! I'm completely excited and inspired by people and their hard work and implementation of ideas. Truly inspiring! It was fun meeting bloggers I've admired/read and new bloggers I didn't know about, but that were so sweet to me! I didn't get a picture of two of the key note speakers, DJ Spooky was one and Swiss Miss was the other. But they were fascinating. I was especially drawn to Tina Roth Eisenberg (Swiss Miss.) She was SO interesting!

Thanks to you for being such good friends. Thanks for lending a listening ear and for being so supportive.  I learn the most from my close interactions with you! You are gems in my life and I appreciate you so much! I'm happy you visit me from time to time on my personal blog...even when I write long epistles like this!

I love you!
Wendy

Karey, NieNie, and Marta

Kirsten Krason of 6th street design school,
she has been unbelievable nice to me, directing people to my blog.

Grace Bonney! Design goddess!

Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen were sent to stand right behind me while waiting for their table at lunch.
I politely asked to snap this photo and they sweetly obliged.

Dinner at Lamb's Grill. Left side-back to front: Katie, Lisa (I think,) Dani.
Right side--back to front: Me, Amanda, and Vivien.

Katie, Gabrielle Blair (Design Mom!,) and me.