(The Grand America Hotel, where Alt Design Summit was held)

I’m still recovering from my silly sinus cold. I am also still digging through the piles of business cards and searching for pictures from the conference. However I must say, the Alt Design Summit was the best conference I’ve ever been to. Ever. The setting couldn’t any be better — snowy Utah in January was just beautiful. The snow on the mountains made a perfect backdrop and the Grand America Hotel had plenty of outlets and fairly reliable internet – a must for us social media folk.

Everyone at the conference had their own unique style and really shinned as individuals. I was lucky enough to go on behalf of Clever Girls and not only meet new bloggers, but also grow personally and professionally. I had several goals going into the conference and I met them all. For the last few months I haven’t felt very inspired. Maybe it’s just the holiday season can be so overwhelming and busy that looking for inspiration was last on my list. Attending Alt was the spark to my creative engine. Inspiration found me.

I’m back to pinning future DIY projects, thinking about topics to blog and vlog about, and gathering ideas of what to paint next. One of my closest friends gave me an easel for Christmas and sitting on it is a half-started painting of Santa Barbara’s West Beach. It’s been collecting dust for over three weeks and before Alt, I had no desire to finish it anytime soon. I do now.

Surrounding yourself with creative people is so important and I think I forgot that. I love my non-creatives but I forget there needs to be balance. I thrive on other people’s energy and am really thankful I met so man  awesome people at Alt. The outfits alone were inspiring! Gosh, even the business cards were inspiring (see below). Alt is truly a mecca for the creative.

Looking for inspiration? Follow the attendees on Twitter (subscribe to all the Alt 2012 attendees lists created by these gals: @amandagenther, @CrowandCanary, @Lesliedf, @pmaelee, @melaniebiehle, @the818, @CompartmentLife, @Mom101, and @DesertRavenArt). Read their blogs. Check out their Etsy sites. Follow their pins. These people are the cream of the crop.

(Some very creative business cards and gifts from Alt Design Summit 2012 attendees)

Row 1:
Brianna, Collected Blog
Kal, artist and Link With Love
Alison, The Alison Show
Kelly, Biblio-Files.com
Row 2:
Chelsey, The Paper Mama
Jenean, JeneanMorrison.com
Susan, Freshly Picked
Row 3:
Ginny, Ginny Branch Styling and Designs
Alma & Mike, almaloveland.com and mikeloveland.com
Michelle, MichelleEdgemont.com
Row 4:
Taylor, Totally Tay
Amanda, AmandaGenther.com
Jess, IROCKSOWHAT 

Photos from Wednesday Night’s Dinner With:

(Wednesday Night Dinner With… at Bayleaf Bar & Grub)

(Pool tables = my kind of place)

(Sat next to Mica May of May Books. Her books were featured on Good Morning America!)

(A set of adorable cards from Smock, a gift from Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom, our dinner host — and one of the founders of Alt Summit and Kirtsy!!!)

(My beautiful roomies, Jess from IROCKSOWHAT and Chelsey from The Paper Mama at Squatters for drinks after our dinners)

More pictures and stories coming this week. Happy Humpday!