I just got back from the Altitude Design Summit where I spoke into a microphone for the first time ever. Here is the microphone in question:
It was fantastic to meet the ladies on the panel in person after talking with them in a few conference calls before: Erin from Design For Mankind, Kathryn of Snippet & Ink and Joslyn of Simply Lovely, who was a fantastic moderator, thanks Joslyn.
The hotel was comfortable and so huge I got lost. Three times. I nearly got lost in our room. My roommate was Gayla Trail from You Grow Girl whom I've talked with via email for years but had never met in person. I got to look through her new book Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces (coming out February 2nd). That's her on the cover! For the record Gayla is a most excellent roommate.
Here is part of the view from the room:
I had been on the fence about getting a better point and shoot camera (I'm not dedicated enough to lug my Canon XSi, which is one of the smaller DSLRs), but after this weekend I have declared one is necessary. My current camera is disappointing with indoor light and I didn't find myself bothering to pull it out often. I'm still leaning towards the Canon S90, though I plan on taking a look at the cameras recommended in the comments there (thank you, everybody!).
This is me in the elevator on the way down to do the Designing Your Community panel. Before the panel I was a mess of nerves, but somebody (Gayla, I think) told me that after ten minutes I would calm down and it would feel normal. She was right. The next morning I treated myself to a room service breakfast. I look much calmer no?
I was really excited to meet Maxwell from Apartment Therapy, Grace from Design*Sponge and Heather from Dooce (who was sweet enough to sympathize with my nervousness even though she was getting ready to announce her deal with HGTV the very next day) and to get to sit and talk with Jean from NOTCOT (whom I'd met before at the Broad Summit). They all put on an informative and entertaining keynote, no small feat at 8 a.m.
I hear there is going to be an Altitude Design Summit next year, and if you're interested in going I can say it's well worth it. I learned a bunch and met a whole lot of people I'd been hoping to, it was positively thrilling.
