Dabble

Calling all techies, geeks, and entrepreneurs! (Psst, 20% off)

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 10:58:15 -0500

The Techweek 2012 Conference + Expo is here! Starting today in Chicago, IL and runs through Tuesday, June 26. It’s a comprehensive tech conference that includes:

Over 350 Speakers, including:

Travis Kalanick, CEO of Uber
Jason Fried, founder of 37Signals (Ruby on Rails came out of this group)
Stefan Weitz, Director of Bing at Microsoft
Matt Mickiewicz, founder of 99designs

Parties, Parties, Parties: Several major parties and events including the annual Bootlegger’s Ball (themed rooms with live music & DJ’s, bourbon tasting and swing dancing).

Hiring Fair: Come meet with 50 of Chicago’s top companies and find your dream job! Entry is open to anyone that brings their resume.

Techweek LAUNCH: 35 exciting startups will be demoing their products and the top 5 will present on the main stage. Will one of them become the next Facebook or Groupon? In addition, visit some of the many educational workshops and test your skills in the Techweek video game lounge!

Use discount code P_LaunchSquad_478 for 20% off conference passes and if you’re a student, use discount code tw12student (must show proof of enrollment). Register today! See you at Techweek!

Catching Up With Timothy Whalin

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 11:40:17 -0500

This week, Dabble had the opportunity to catch up with one of our awesome Dabble Denver teachers, Timothy Whalin. He is a well known designer and popular Tweetaholic in Denver and we are lucky to have him share his expertise with us! Sign up for his Twitter for Beginners and Pros class coming up July 10.

D: Describe who you are in 10 words or less.

T: Genuine introvert loving life with a passion for design. (Fun challenge! It depends on what context I’m describing myself and about what. I would sell/describe myself different as “me” than I would as a designer.)

D: Why do you love using Twitter?

T: Twitter is such an amazing resource that has opened career opportunities and allowed me to connect with some amazing people around the world. It keeps me up to speed on what’s happening both in the world, with technology, and in my industry. I’ve discovered the value of having a personal brand and Twitter has really helped me define my brand online. Its been a great way to receive feedback on my design work and get question on design or user experience.

D: What do you currently Dabble in?

T: Besides all the facets of my career in the design field, I dabble in social media (obviously), continuously learning more about social networking and meeting others. In addition to that, I also play the piano and write poetry on occasion. I’m also known to snowboard and enjoy both the cold and hot weather of Colorado.

D: What would you like to Dabble in?

T: There’s been a number of things I’ve wanted to learn over the years from how to fly a plane, learn Russian, and water skiing. Most recently, I’ve had a strong desire to learn wood working and pottery, though haven’t gotten plugged into taking a class on either. I also would love to Dabble more in wine tasting.

D: What’s your favorite thing about Denver?

T: Best things about Denver…are free. There are lots of free things to do in Denver. From first Friday art-walks to farmers markets and festivals, Denver is never boring if you’re up for an adventure. There are plenty of hiking and walking trails to get you outside enjoying the weather as well as lots of free days to places like museums or the zoo. I also really enjoy the beautiful sunsets and how close we are to the mountains.

Class info page: http://dabble.co/classes/twitter-for-beginners-and-pros/s/5671-20120710

Cheers to Matt Klara, Chicago Class Scout Extraordinaire

Mon, 28 May 2012 19:43:19 -0500

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a first generation American and lifelong Chicagoan, with stints in Iowa City and London for school and work. I married my college sweetheart, helped renovate our condo, completed grad school, adopted an energetic Lab/Poodle (I can’t get myself to say “Labradoodle”) and welcomed our handsome son into the world all within the past five years. I love to travel and find the best of what other cities have to offer, but I’m proud to call Chicago home.

Why did you want to get involved with Dabble?

When I first heard about Dabble, I immediately thought it was a great idea because of its balance of education and entertainment. After viewing the website and meeting with Jess, Dabble’s Co-Founder, I realized the “win-win-win” benefit to teachers, students and hosts alike and wanted to get involved to help it grow.

I consider myself to be a lifelong learner with an abundance of curiosity so I enjoy taking Dabble classes as much as I like meeting with teachers to set up new ones. I think prospective students all over the world can benefit from Dabble classes and hope to see them continue expanding across the United States and eventually abroad.

What do you currently Dabble in?

Digital photography, urban gardening, baby sign language, kayaking and homemade espresso drinks.

What would you like to Dabble in?

Carpentry, Photoshop and guitar.

What’s your favorite thing about Chicago?

Chicago is truly a world-class city with so much to offer. Between the diverse neighborhoods, architecture, public spaces, lakefront, museums, sports teams, street fests and restaurants, there is never a shortage of options for how to spend your free time in Chicago. My favorite thing about Chicago, though, is the people, closely followed by Redline Espresso from Metropolis Coffee Company.

Happy Birthday, Dabble. A Look Back.

Wed, 23 May 2012 12:39:00 -0500

Well, here we are. It’s been a year. A year! We launched Dabble on May 23, 2011 (it was a Monday). What a ride it’s been so far. Fun, thrilling, exasperating, exhausting, exhilarating, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. What’s certain is that there’s never been a dull moment.

When Jess and I had the idea for Dabble (cue awkward video), we thought there was something there. Surely we weren’t the only ones who wanted to be permitted to do a little bit here, a little bit there. Our interests were varied, and shame on us for putting them on a back burner for our nine-to-fives and other, you know, life necessities.

That first day a year ago was such a rush. We were overjoyed at every single ticket sold. Conversation went something like this:

“We got one more!”
“Do you know him/her?”
“No.”
“Yay!”

And this:

“There are 132 people on the site right now!”
“No way!”

In building a start-up, it’s the little wins. That first class where we knew no one who signed up. The flood of emails that indeed proved that we had struck a chord with people. The randomness of class suggestions. (Forget about the typical things we envisioned dabbling in; people truly had eclectic interests.)

No sentimental look back would be complete without a review of the highlights. There have certainly been a lot of highs (as well as the lows, but we’ll stay positive for now):

our first Dabble Down, Fall 2011 - celebratory event where all the digital love materialized, and we witnessed how people had made connections through this thing we built
being honored with the People’s Choice Award at last summer’s Techweek in Chicago
expanding beyond Chicago - Denver and Milwaukee first, and a few more up our sleeve for the summer
daily laughter and ass-kicking with the amazing members of our team (six full-time employees, wha wha!)
ditching our ghetto 12x12 (where the fire escape was designated our conference room) office space to move into Catapult

We are so grateful for all of it. While we certainly don’t have it all figured out yet, it’s our awesome students, teachers, and hosts that keep us smiling. As well as the support from family and friends and the entrepreneurial community here in Chicago - and beyond, for that matter. So many new friendships and connections we never even anticipated.

Now, onward and upward! Our biggest challenge today is simply getting the word out about Dabble. Thanks to all of you who continue to spread the love!

xoxo,
Erin & Jess

Welcome Amy, Milwaukee Class Scout

Sun, 13 May 2012 19:27:46 -0500

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m originally from Kansas City and just moved to Milwaukee from Phoenix with my husband. We started a wrestling academy in Hartland, WI, his hometown. I decided to get my Pilates certification so I could teach and travel with him. I also work with a nutrition company called Vemma, and now I’m working with Dabble! I was hesitant at first to move to Wisconsin from warm, sunny Arizona, but I bought the warmest coat I could find, and it’s been pretty great so far!

Why did you want to get involved with Dabble?

I’ve always been a dabbler at heart. I’m always trying new hobbies, sports, food, etc. In 2010 I got my paragliding pilots license. In 2011 I decided to get my pilates certification. In 2012 I’m going to

try to get past a white belt in jun jitsu! I love salsa dancing, rock climbing, cooking and traveling. So when I heard Jess (founder of Dabble) talking on NPR about Dabble opening in Milwaukee, I was pumped. I got on the website right away and contacted Jess to see how I could get involved. I think I got a little lucky with timing, because she responded within a day!

What do you currently Dabble in?

Mostly answered above, but I also attend the local REIA to learn about wholesaling houses and land lording, go to bikram yoga, and try to attend a few Meetups in Milwaukee.

What would you like to Dabble in?

I would like to learn how to make my own goat cheese, raise chickens and become an expert organic gardener. I would love to have some land one day and live mostly from what I grow and raise. I’ve already set up classes on cheese making, gardening and chicken raising, so Dabble is making it happen for me!

What’s your favorite thing about Milwaukee?

It has the kind midwestern people, but a lot of the arts and culture you would find in big cities and coasts. There is also a lot of great ethnic food, surprisingly!

Introducing... Dabble's Newest Team Members

Tue, 08 May 2012 17:24:49 -0500

Class Scouts [klas skouts]

DEF: Our rockstar crew of on-the-ground people who help find awesome teachers to teach Dabble classes.

We’ll be featuring them over the next few weeks right here on our blog. We’re super excited to be working with them, and want to put a face behind those who are helping scout out fantabulous classes.

So, without further ado… we bring to you:

DAVID KELLER, CHICAGO CLASS SCOUT

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, but I have lived all over. I studied Marketing and Communications at California State University, Northridge in Los Angeles. The best part of Graduating from a California University in 2005 was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s autograph on my diploma (he was The Governator at the time). After college, I worked in film marketing at a couple of different studios. I moved to Chicago in 2008 and can’t get enough of it! I love all things film, food, beer and entertainment. I’m also a big horror movie buff. Some of my favorites include the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, Final Destination, Hostel and all Zombie Movies. Next on my list, Cabin In the Woods…

Why did you want to get involved with Dabble?

I wanted to get involved with Dabble because I think it is an awesome idea, and honestly I have been searching for ways to learn something new without huge costs and long commitments. Dabble is the answer to that. How can you beat learning something new, meeting new people and having fun at the same time for 20 bucks?

What do you currently Dabble in?

I currently Dabble in Beer Brewing, cooking exotic foods and blending things. Yeah, it’s true, I just got my first blender a few weeks ago and am blending anything I can get my hands on. I’ve made smoothies, margaritas, salsas, purees - you name it! It has 10 different speeds which is absolutely wild!

What would you like to Dabble in?

In the immediate future, I would like to Dabble in infusing spirits, tuning up my graphic design skills and dabble in some creative writing. Maybe then someday I can write a slasher film? If I could take a Dabble class a week for the rest of my life I think I would be a much more interesting conversationalist. In the future, I think it would be cool to take a road trip across America and attend different Dabble classes in different cities.

What’s your favorite thing about Chicago?

Oh whoa, tough question! I love everything about Chicago. If I had to pick one thing, I would have to say its the wide array of restaurants and the selection of great food. Last week I did an Italian Beef Crawl with a friend from out of town. The winner was Joe Boston’s in Humbolt Park. Where else in the world can you do that?

DAYNA SCHAEF, DENVER CLASS SCOUT

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a native New Yorker, I am addicted to potato chips and I am truly, deeply terrible at every sport. Even though these things are true, ever since I relocated to Colorado in 2009, I have become an avid hiker, a health food nut and a huge Broncos fan. I am a writer and a musician and I married my high school sweetheart. I have a golden retriever named Stella, whom we named after the beer, and a baby named Jack, whom we did not name after the whisky, in case you were wondering.

Why did you want to get involved with Dabble?

I wanted to get involved with Dabble because after I graduated college, I was disappointed that I would no longer be part of a community of learners. I was petrified to enter into the rat race - afraid that I would get stuck behind a computer desk, doing the same thing all day, every day, and that’s just not how my mind works. I thrive on discovery and learning and exploration, as I think most of us do, and working with Dabble gives me the opportunity to foster my many interests and meet new and interesting people every day.

What do you currently Dabble in?

Currently, I Dabble in digital photography, knitting and vegetable gardening. I’ve also recently dabbled in Zumba, Celtic Flute and soap making.

What would you like to Dabble in?

In the near future, I would like to Dabble in kayaking, tap dance and horseback riding. I am also interested in dabbling in carpentry and self defense.

What’s your favorite thing about Denver?

My favorite thing about Denver is that it’s the perfect mix of big city and open wilderness. In one day, I can hike and mountain bike and then hit the town for happy hour and a Rockies Game.

Dabble Workshop: How to Teach a Class

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:17:00 -0500

So you’ve seen this Dabble thing. You’ve visited the site a few times, maybe been to a class or two… and you’re tempted. Tempted to start teaching yourself. After all, you have been patiently teaching friends how to knit for the last five years. It’s about time you monetized this skill.

But wait. You’re reluctant. How do you know if you’re comfortable in front of a group? How would you go about creating a curriculum or lesson plan? How exactly does this all work?

It truly is easier than you think to teach with Dabble. This workshop will walk you through the process of teaching a Dabble class. Get resources, learn how to plan your class, and better understand the Dabble class submission process.

Materials recommended: Writing utensil & notebook

CHICAGO

Sunday April 22nd, 2012
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: TBD

DENVER

Tuesday April 24th, 2012
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Uncubed (2762 Walnut Street)

MILWAUKEE

Tuesday April 17th, 2012
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Open MiKE (301 W. Wisconsin Ave. Suite 300)

Join us! This is a free workshop. If interested in attending this workshop, please email us at hello@dabble.co with the subject line “Dabble Workshop: [Your City Name]” and we’ll get you added to the list!

And We Have a Winner, Folks! (Dabble for a Year On Us)

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:45:00 -0600

Better late than never (how is it almost March?!), we selected our “Free Dabble Classes for a Year” winner, and… drum roll please…

Michelle Sanchez, come on down!

We couldn’t be more excited to award the ability to Dabble at your leisure for a year. In her entry, Michelle told us she wants to Dabble in photography. We asked her why. Here’s what she had to say:

“I am a jewelry designer and my first collection launches at Handmade Vintage in April. Having awesome photographs is an important piece of my business, so I’m excited to learn new skills in this area.”

We also asked her why she loves Dabble. (And then we blushed a little at her answer.)

“I was excited when I found out about Dabble because of the variety of the types of classes available at such an amazing price (I have A LOT of random interests). I took the Fashion Blogging Basics class with Shani Silver, the Chicago editor of Refinery 29, and I couldn’t have been more impressed. She had excellent insight into the industry and even offered up her personal email for contact after the class, which is invaluable. Really, I’m just excited to jump in and try everything I can!”

She’s already jumped to it, having signed up for both Woodworking and Terrarium Workshop.

Michelle, congrats! And psst, we hope you’ll also consider teaching a class on jewelry-making!

Meet Matthew, Learn to fly for (almost) free

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:03:05 -0600

Matthew Straub is teaching Travel Hacking 101 on Saturday February 18th in Milwaukee. The photo above is from a recent stay he had in Puerto Rico … a $550 flight that I got for free because of travel hacking. If you’ve ever wanted to fly somewhere that seemed out of reach because of budget, you’ll definitely want to check out his class! Here’s a bit more about Matthew …

Describe who you are in 10 words or less.

Travel addict by experience. Coffee addict by addiction.

How do you balance work & play in your life?

I play at work and I work at night. (Ask my coworkers.) But seriously, in addition to a full-time job in web marketing, I work on freelance projects and am building a travel blog. If I just viewed it all as just work, and I didn’t like what I do, I would lose my mind.

What do you currently dabble in outside of traveling?

I’m trying keep my writing skills sharp, currently by freelancing for a certain daily deals website. I’m also trying to improve my photography skills, I take an active interest in coffee and beer (beyond basic consumption), and I’m starting to do some work with a pretty sweet international web project.

What would you like to dabble in?

Travel photography. I already do this as an amateur with a hefty camera, but I’d like to do it more seriously.

For more information about Matthew, check out his LinkedIn and twitter @matthewmagellan

Meet Niki, Learn Photoshop

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:33:14 -0600

Niki Bivona is teaching Restore An Old Photograph With Photoshop on Thursday February 16th in Milwaukee. The thing she loves most about being a designer is learning something new everyday about her craft. Make sure to check out her class and get to know her a bit below …

Describe who you are in 10 words or less.

Designer/Production Artist for 9 years who loves learning new things.

How do you balance work & play in your life?

I balance work and play by keeping myself active. Participating in activities that have nothing to do with work actually help spur my creativity.

What do you currently dabble in outside of graphic design?

I dabble in photography, cooking and yoga.

What would you like to dabble in?

I would love to learn how to knit. Hopefully I can learn through a Dabble class :)

For more information about Niki, check out her website or twitter @nikibivona.

Meet Armen, Learn Entrepreneurship

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:02:41 -0600

Armen Hadjinian is teaching Entrepreneurship: Get Ready on February 13th. Beyond being an energetic fun guy to have coffee with, Armen is a serial entrepreneur in Milwaukee and has taught Business at the undergrad and MBA level for 29 years. He’s a good sport and has answered a few questions for us below …

Describe who you are in 10 words or less.

Inspiring, funny, and interesting, but not at the same time.

How do you balance work & play in your life?

My work seems like play, seriously. I feel so fortunate that I’m doing what I would do, even if I didn’t have to do it. (Sorry if I sound like a Dr, Seuss sentence!)

What do you currently dabble in outside of entrepreneurship?

Marathon running and using my skills to solve local social problems

What would you like to dabble in?

Rocket launching, opening a coffee house, museum docent

Hey Milwaukee - Bring a friend FREE

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:53:05 -0600

We heard that folks in Milwaukee like a great deal (and we’re not one to disappoint … )

Today we’re announcing a special “buy one, bring a friend free” promotion in Milwaukee running until February 1st. We’re so sure that you’ll love our classes … now we’re making it easier to bring a friend along for the fun!

Here’s how it works …

1. Find a class that you would like to take with a friend

2. Register for both of you using our simple signup form (screenshot below)

3. We’ll send you a refund for $20 (promotion does not include materials fees)

If you sign up for 4, we’ll send you $40. If you sign up for 6, we’ll send you $60 … you get the idea!

Small Print: Promotion only applies to tickets bought for the same class. Promotion does not include materials fee. You can redeem this promotion for as many classes as you wish! (i.e. you & a friend sign up for bee keeping AND beer brewing)

Happy Dabblin’ Milwaukee!

The Dabble Crew

Dabble Milwaukee has launched!

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:23:00 -0600

It’s been a fun month talking to all the cool people and organizations in Milwaukee. Without further ado, here’s the goods …

Share with Friends via Facebook or Twitter

We’re blown away by all the awesome classes & teaches coming out of Milwaukee. Here’s a small sampling …

Coffee Bean Education w/ Steve Hawthorne
Dog Manners 101 w/ Todd Thurber
Beekeeping w/ Charlie Koenen
Intro to Wordpress w/ Dan Nisbet
Swing Dance 101 w/ Tony Dovi
Woodcut Workshop w/ Jenie Gao

Want to get involved with Dabble in Milwaukee?

We’re slightly biased … but we think Dabble is a lot of fun. Won’t you take just a few moments to think about doing one of the following? You know you want to …

Share with Friends via Facebook or Twitter
Teach a Class
Work with Us

Do you know someone who could teach …

We’re looking for more talented individuals and businesses whom want to share their skills with the world. In particular, we think it would be cool to find some people to teach …

Photography
Urban Farming
Cupcake Decorating
Pasta Making
Mixology
Crocheting
Wine Tasting
Blacksmithing
Painting
Guitar

If you know someone, say something! Send em’ a link to the Dabble Teach page and don’t take no for an answer. Don’t see a class you’d like to take on this list? Why don’t you Suggest a Class.

A big thank you to our community partners Spreenkler & Bucketworks for their support.

Thanks Milwaukee!

We’re enamored … and we can’t wait to get to know you better :)

Sincerely, The Dabble Team

Milwaukee & San Francisco - Let the countdown begin!

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:47:00 -0600

We’re excited to announce that we’ll be launching in Milwaukee next Monday January 16th (and San Francisco shortly after). We’re still looking for awesome teachers and folks who want to get involved.

Know someone in Milwaukee or San Francisco? Help us spread the word!

Share on Facebook or Twitter

We can’t wait to give folks in Milwaukee & San Francisco a big ol’ hug (even if it’s virtually … we’re hug people). Thanks for all your support and …

Let the countdown begin!

The Dabble Team

CONTEST OVER, WINNER ANNOUNCED! What's on your 2012 Bucket List?

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:00:00 -0600

Dabble wants to know - What do you want to learn in the New Year? Post your answer on Facebook and you’ll be entered to win FREE classes for one year!

That’s right. Dabble will award a one-year supply of free Dabble Classes (limit one class per week) to one lucky Dabbler. Winner will be selected randomly from list of all entries and announced on January 31st (via Facebook, of course).

Here’s how to enter …

1. Like Dabble’s Facebook Page (if you haven’t already)

2. Copy & Paste the following into your status update …

I’d like to Dabble in _________________ next year … how about you? http://bit.ly/dabble2012

3. Fill in the blank with what you’d like to Dabble in (creative & crazy encouraged). Then replace the bolded Dabble with a Tag by typing @Dabble (this let’s us know that you’ve posted … very important!)

Here’s what it’ll look like …

Then after you select Dabble, it should end up looking like this …

**UPDATE** The Facebook privacy fairies require you to select “Public” instead of “Friends” when posting … this will allow the post to show up on Dabble’s page and ensure we see your entry.

Post away, then you’ll be entered to win!

Why are we doing this? Well, we’re very curious about what you’d like to learn in 2012. Plus, who doesn’t like free stuff? We’ll be sure to post the entries (especially the funny ones) somewhere where all eyes can see!

Thanks for a great 2011 folks, we can’t wait to see what we come up with together in 2012!

Happy New Year!

The Dabble Team

(Jess, Erin, John, Frank, Meghan & Jon)

thoughtful gifts that don't suck.

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:14:41 -0600

Okay, if you’re like me … you’ve still got plenty of gifts to cross off your list. You’re sweating a little bit. Just one week left - and it’s closing in fast. Perhaps some of these random thoughts are running through your head …

Why do I procrastinate on buying presents every single year? Because I can, that’s why.
It’s cold outside. There’s too many people jammed into shops right now. I’ll wait til tomorrow, maybe Tuesday. Why can’t the perfect presents just magically appear?
Online shopping. I’ve thought of that … and now it’s probably too late. Unless I want to pay $25 to the shipping fairy to get it here on time.
Maybe I have time to make homemade presents … all I need are 16 hours a day, for the next four days … ummm, yes. This may be slightly unrealistic.

Don’t fear. Dabble is here.

If your loved ones live in Chicago, we’ve got the perfect stocking stuffer for you. It’s a gift certificate - a Dabble gift certificate. It’s not just a piece of paper. It’s giving your loved ones the gift of a fun experience (everything from painting to snowboarding) with just one simple click & print.

No lines. No shipping. Just a thoughtful gift that makes them smile.

Note: We’re slightly biased (because we think classes are fun & awesome) but we think your friends, family and crazy aunt will really like it too.

So check it out - because they don’t really want mittens anyway …

Want to make your printed gift certificates fancy like the picture above?

Add a little DIY to your holiday gift with these printable templates. Instructions included. Oh, you’re so crafty!

Dabble in 50 Cities

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:55:35 -0600

So we’ve heard you loud & clear. With over 400 requests for Dabble in other cities over the past few months, we’ve opened up the platform to accept class submissions from 50 cities across the world.

Who made the list?

Check out the drop-down at http://www.dabble.co. You’ll find 46 great U.S. cities as well as a few international wild cards. Don’t see your city? No worries - let us know where you’d like to have Dabble here.

Thanks.

We couldn’t do this without you. It’s crazy to think that what was just an idea a few short months ago has the possibility to reach people in multiple cities and countries across the world. As always, thanks for spreading the word and keep the feedback coming our way. We’re trying to make Dabble better everyday!

To Infinity and Beyond!

The Dabble Team

Class Seven: Knitting Basics

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:46:00 -0600

Sarah Gaynor (@gaynordesigns), our contest winner of “free classes for a year,” will be documenting her nitty gritty class experience with us for the next 12 months. Here’s her seventh Dabble class!

I signed up for this class with one goal: to make myself a scarf, not just any scarf but a cream and charcoal gray infinity scarf. I will wear this scarf with my bright green coat and a black wool beret. As snowflakes fall around Chicago, I will be warm and fashionable. Jealous people stop and query, “Where did you get such a cute scarf?” and with an air of smugness I say, “I made it.”

The tagline for this class should really be “Knitting Basics: How to De-stress yourself at Lunch.” My goal was a scarf for myself, but I have discovered the benefits of knitting during my lunch hour. The stack of paper in my inbox is forgotten while I purl away alone in my office. Erica the class instructor is a helpful and patient teacher. I struggled for the first 45 minutes to do anything. She came over every time, watched me and helped correct my mistakes. Honestly she showed me how to cast-on 10 times before it clicked in my brain.

Not only did she teach us the basics (cast-on, purl and bind off) she explained the different yarns and needles and where to get supplies. Erica made sure we each had gotten the hang of it by the end of the class. I was perfectly confident about starting fresh when I returned home (I already have and it’s going fairly well). By the end of the class, we each had an odd shaped square or rectangle. Despite it’s small size I have found a few uses for it…

- Sarah Gaynor (@gaynordesigns)

words to live by: “If things start happening, don’t...

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:00:35 -0600

words to live by: “If things start happening, don’t worry, don’t stew, just go right along and you’ll start happening too.” - Dr. Seuss

Class Five: Wine Tasting Like a Pro

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:13:00 -0600

Sarah Gaynor (@gaynordesigns), our contest winner of “free classes for a year,” will be documenting her nitty gritty class experience with us for the next 12 months. Here’s her fifth Dabble class!

Wine tasting is not the most exciting thing to describe in a blog post. You swirl, you smell, and then you sip and repeat. The fun of wine tasting comes from actually drinking the wine. I knew a little about wine coming into the class. There’s red and white, I like to drink them both. For the most part I know my favorites and I buy them every time, which can get a little boring.

For the class our instructor, certified sommelier TC, had us blind taste test a variety of wines. She walked us through each step of the tasting process, using the Certified Sommelier Tasting Exam sheet. As a group we would go through the sheet and answer the questions. I can honestly say my classmates have much better palates that me. They tasted flowers and grass; I tasted alcohol and grapes. The below chart is a clear example of the Sarah Tasting Method compared to the Certified Sommelier Tasting Exam.

My favorite part had to be the wine-pairing portion of the evening. We were able to try a variety of cheeses, chocolate and meat with each of the wines. I discovered that while I still don’t like blue cheese, I love blue cheese with desert wine. I don’t think I’ll ever be one of those people doing the full tasting test at a restaurant; I’d probably spill it all over myself trying to look cool. But my newly gained knowledge has been extremely helpful in purchasing wine at the store and could be busted out on a date or too. Why yes we’ll take the Chablis….

- Sarah Gaynor (@gaynordesigns)