Let’s Case this Joint – Haven 2013

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So leading up to Haven I kept thinking I was going to get nervous but it never came.  I was just excited to see old friends, make new ones and teach and empower other women to use power tools and learn some new skills.  Also, I was teaching this class with my very good friend Brittany of Pretty Handy Girl and I knew she’d keep me out of too much trouble.

We also had the assistance of Traci of Beneath my Heart.  She claimed the title of  Vanna, but she was much more than that.  She handed us tools, took pictures, told me what to teach next because I had 20 things I wanted to cover, demonstrated what not to wear when DIY’ing and choreographed a mean DIY shuffle.    Not for this class but I had to mention it.  (Sadly no one can seem to locate a good video clip.)

Day 1 — I got WAY too hot in jeans.

Brittany and I have a special dynamic…we keep each other on track, fill in the blanks for each other when we have a brain fart and we just make each other laugh!

Day 2 — had to shed a few layers to stay cool!

SO, We had NO idea how many people were going to show up.  Maybe 5 maybe 100.  There were about 40 and it was perfect.  We went over safety and basic tool use.

Then we demonstrated how to measure, mark, cut and install door casing, plank wall, baseboards, crown moulding.  We had everyone that wanted to take a turn cutting, using the nail guns and multi tools.

Ryobi and Home Depot sponsored our class.  Home Depot supplied all the materials and Ryobi had the room decked out with all the tools we needed.

*Shout out to Duluth Trading Co. for letting Brittany and I commandeer these aprons from their booth for our class!

It was SUPER fun standing side by side with women that had never used a miter saw or nail gun and watching them try it for the first time.

Fist bump for Pamela of PB&J Stories!

Brittany looking for a stud!

I had an absolute BLAST teaching!  The enthusiasm to learn and to DO was palpable.  The empowerment was visible.  We whooped and high fived after people made their first ever in their entire life cut on the miter saw!  It was awesome!!!!!

I didn’t take any pictures during my class but thankfully there were people in the room that did.  Mostly the women in the class.  At one point I looked up and saw 20 phone cameras staring at me.  That was weird for a second…then I got used to the idea.

I realized two things from my teaching experience:

1. I LOVE teaching women to measure, mark, cut and build!  When someone is excited to learn something you have to offer — how can that enthusiasm NOT make your day?
2. I can be my dorky, spastic, ham of a self and still be an effective teacher.  Good thing because I couldn’t stop being a dork if I tried!

I asked around for any pictures of the class and this is what I got.  You’d think my goal at Haven was to pose and twist up my face with as many people as possible.

So we taught and then we took a LOT of pictures with people.

Recognize this face?  Not mine…it’s KELLY, one of my clients who has also become my virtual assistant because she is insanely organized and I NEED her to help me keep everything straight and organized which is probably why she hasn’t posted an update recently on her own project!  I’ve been keeping her too busy.  I need to get Kelly an assistant!  It was so fun to see her in person and hug the dicken’s out of her.

Here’s a couple AWESOME photos with amazing women!

#YepI’mADork! #MyEyesWereClosed #HowdyLittleLady

Stephanie of Binkies and Briefcases

Serena of Thrift Diving

I am so grateful to these all the awesome ladies that found me at some point during the conference and with great enthusiasm thanked me for the class (and reassured me that they did, indeed, learn something) because I had about 5 hours worth of information in my head that I wanted to share and  I rushed things along to make sure I crammed as much into the experience as possible.  Hugs and kisses ladies!

**If you didn’t come to Haven and you’re feeling left out of all the tips, tricks and techniques I shared, stay tuned.  I’m writing, photographing and videotaping it ALL right this very minute to share.**    Don’t hold your breath in anticipation though because it’s a LOT of information…It may take a while!  🙂

Last but not least:  I met up with a lot of brand reps at Haven.  Some people I’ve been working with but never met, some new people that I haven’t worked with yet —and then this guy!   Dave Stone with Kreg tools.

When I shook his hand I was thinking, “Man, this guy looks familiar” but I just assumed it was because I’d seen his G+ profile picture that is connected with his gmail.  Or something — I was so hot and sweaty that I wasn’t thinking too clearly at the moment.

Yes, I do love my Kreg tools (and NO, they don’t pay me to say that) but if you don’t recognize Dave, start recording the Woodsmith Shop — my absolute favorite place to learn new things about woodworking.  (On PBS)

I don’t get star struck often but I have to admit I’m still getting over the butterflies from meeting Dave.  He was there demonstrating, chatting, meeting and giving away Kreg jigs acting like a normal everyday person.  Hello!

I guess we all are just normal everyday people after all.

But still, it’s cool to meet someone who has the skills you aspire to have and whom you’ve seen on TV or the web or in a magazine…   Hmmm, maybe Dave if still getting over his butterflies from meeting me too.

LOL  HAHAHAHA  Yeah!  Maybe someday.

Haven Prep

But enough about me, what it’s all really about — Haven 2013

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