Brave Girls University Review

bravegirlsclub.com

Have you heard about the newest offering from Melody Ross called Brave Girls University?  The doors to the school just opened on September 1st.  Here’s the blurb from their website:

“Brave Girl University is a one-stop gathering place for learning, growing and becoming, through hundreds of classes taught by dedicated teachers who offer soulful ways to make life better, happier and more authentic for every woman. From painting to gardening to meditation to relationships and much more. . . access it ALL for just $24.95 per month.”

I saw a lot of posts about BGU from several of the teachers: Stephanie Lee and Terri Brush, who both teach amazing metalsmithing classes, and Christy Tomlinson, who teaches cool mixed media art classes.  It sure seemed like an amazing deal at $25 a month, so I decided to cancel my Netflix for September and give Brave Girls University a chance for the month.

The first day saw a lot of technical glitches, with the server crashing immediately upon opening, and several of the classes showing as unavailable, which is not surprising considering this was a brand new venture for the Brave Girls and had sparked a lot of interest in the art community.  I wasn’t able to access very much on the first day, so I decided to wait until the next day to see if I could explore more thoroughly.

So far, I have to say that I love it!  There are a wide variety of classes in everything from metalsmithing to herbalism to mixed media paintings.  I love you that you can pop into any classroom you’d like to check out the classes.  I’ve finished two classes so far: One was Stephanie Lee’s Pipe Dreams, and it was awesome, which I know it would be, because I’ve taken her class Homesteader’s Metalsmithing Revamped, which is, by far, the best online class I’ve taken to date. I’m hoping to get into my studio this weekend to start on some pieces inspired by the class and I’ve already spent an evening working on making the silk cording she demonstrates in the class.  This class alone is worth the $25 fee! I will definitely be watching all of the videos again and taking some notes before the end of the month.

I also finished Fire Cider: An Effective Folk Remedy by Jennette Nielsen. I’m into herbal and natural remedies and had never heard of this one before.  I am always looking for great cold and flu remedies/preventatives and I had everything on hand for making fire cider, so I’m currently steeping a batch that will be ready just in time for when the weather starts to get colder.  I have no idea if it will help me avoid getting sick this year, but I’m intrigued enough to give it a try.  There are a few other classes on herbalism that I planning on checking out this month.

Last night while I was cleaning my studio, I watched Flora Bowley’s Brave Intuitive Painting class. It was very cool to watch her process from start to finish on her paintings and to see how everything changed as she worked.  This is a class I would probably never have signed up for otherwise, so it’s cool that Brave Girls University is giving me a chance to explore classes outside my usual interests.

So, overall, is it worth the $25 fee?  Absolutely! Even if you have only a few hours free each week to do the classes, if you focus on the classes that interest you the most, you can definitely have an experience well worth the price of going out to the movies with a friend. (Actually, given the price of movies and snacks, BGU is probably a way better deal!) Since I tend to watch tv shows while I’m packing orders each morning, I’ll have plenty of time to watch lots of classes & I’ll be inspired to create art once I’m done my work for the day.

Whether I’ll stay a member month to month will really depend on how busy I see myself being each month and how often new content is added — what I expect that I’ll do is add Brave Girls University into the rotation:  What I do currently is switch back and forth between the different online content providers: Netflix is my favorite, but sometimes I’ll cancel Netflix for a month for Hulu, if there’s a series I want to watch on Hulu Plus.  One month I canceled both and did HBOnow for the month — HBO has amazing quality content, but it’s a little more expensive at $15 a month, so I wait until I have a bunch of shows to catch up on (I’m looking at you, Game of Thrones) then marathon that series for the month.

So I can see me adding in Brave Girls University every couple of months to learn some new techniques and once I’m ready to learn something new, adding another month. I could keep all of the content networks, but I’m limited in how much time I actually have to watch shows, so I just keep one each month.  Why waste the money, right?  I might have to change my usual policy though, because BGU really is great! I might just keep BGU and continue rotating the other ones as well (since sometimes I just want to veg out in front of a television series!).

Now, that all being said, there are still some problems with Brave Girls University that need some work, so if you are still on the fence, waiting until all the kinks are worked out might not be a bad idea.  For one thing, there’s currently no way to save your favorite classes and the search system is so clunky it borders on useless — so you waste a lot of time finding the classes you want.  It’s not like it takes hours or anything, but when free time is limited, it’s nice to be able to get right back to where you left off.  If Brave Girls University could add a feature to let you save your place, so that you could get right back to watching your class as soon as you log in, that would be amazing.  I’d also like to be able to have a section where I save all the classes that I want to take next so that I don’t have to keep searching for them.

Although the classrooms are beautiful and well-organized, the front page is clunky — you can see three classes for each section and you have to click a link to see all of the classes in that section — they are shown one at a time with descriptions underneath, which makes for a lot of scrolling and clicking to the next page.  If you don’t remember what page has the class you want, you  have to click through all of the classes to find them.  Again, it’s not like it’s hours, but it’s unnecessarily time consuming. Now, if you scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, you can click on a box to search the classes, which will take you to a page that shows 18 classes at a time… but they aren’t in any kind of order that I can see (i.e. alphabetical by class name or teacher name) so it’s still a pain to find what you want.

There are filters on the search page that let you narrow down the choices, either by topic (examples: authenticity, gratitude, starting over) or by techniques (examples: art journaling, food & cooking, sculpting). The filters are kind of weird though — Pipe Dreams, which is a metalsmithing jewelry class, is listed under authenticity, happiness, and individuality.  Searching by topic definitely doesn’t work for me, though I’m sure some people must find it useful.  When I searched using the “jewelry” filter, nothing was found, but I know for a fact there are at least 5 classes that involve making jewelry.  I know that Stephanie Lee has three classes, but when I searched using the drop down menu via teacher name, nothing came up for her. (Actually I searched a few other teachers as well, nothing, so I don’t think that function works at all.) So that functionality definitely needs some work. As it stands, it’s very frustrating to navigate, which sort defeats the whole vibe of the site!

Finally the part of the Brave Girls University that I find the most annoying and makes me *almost* wish I had waited a month to sign up is the fact that a LOT of classes are listed as “coming soon” — so when I signed up, thinking I would get to take some classes by Stephanie Lee and Dina Wakley. Unfortunately, most of the classes I am interested in taking aren’t open yet. So I feel a little misled, since all of the advertising says you will get access to all of the classes once you sign up.  If the class isn’t open yet, you can’t access it, obviously.

Now, granted, it’s only the 4th day, so hopefully a lot of the new content will be added in soon, but if you are looking for specific classes, you might want to check that the class is open before you sign up.  For instance, Stephanie Lee is listed as having three classes, but only 1 is open so far.  Dina Wakley has 4, with only 1 open. Christy Tomlinson was listed as a teacher in the advertising but doesn’t have any classes yet. (I saw a comment on Facebook that she was very busy in August so wasn’t able to make the launch; she’s not even listed on the teachers page at the site, so maybe she has changed her mind?)

The worst part about the “coming soon” classes is not so much that I have to wait for the content (but waiting is soooooo hard!) but that there’s no easy way to see if a class is open yet without clicking into the classroom, on the search page I mentioned above, when you first land, there are 18 classes currently shown, 4 of them are “coming soon” but you can’t easily tell that without trying to open each classroom.  If they had a text overlay over the image showing it as coming soon, that would save me a lot of frustration trying to find a class that I want that is available.

{Now I did find a tweak for that if you are already a member: if you click on the “meet the teachers” link on the main site, you’ll see all of the classes listed by teacher and these links have “coming soon” written next to the name of the class.  So I’ll be finding my classes from this page from now one!}

Despite my complaints, I have to say that all-in-all, Brave Girls University is awesome and well worth the admission fee!  I didn’t sign up for the Brave Box, so I can’t offer any thoughts on that, but for the school itself, I highly recommend it… but I’d recommend waiting a month or two before signing up so that all of the kinks can be worked out.  I think the school could have used a little more work before it went live, but I’m sure that it’s hard to iron out the technical details without having students actually using the classroom, so I totally understood from the start that it might be a little confusing the first week or so. I’ve loved all of the classrooms I’ve visited so far and I know that I’ll be inspired all month long.  I’ll probably end up keeping BGU next month, too, but the jury is still out of that one.

Now, as a teacher of online classes myself, I have to admit that I’m curious how this system will be beneficial to the teachers.  From what I’ve read, it seems like the teachers only get paid based on a percentage from people who sign up using their link.  Since I heard about the class from three different teachers, that means that two of them promoted the school but didn’t get the sign up credit from me joining based on their recommendation.

Plus, some of the classes cost significantly more than access to the school — Stephanie Lee’s class, Homesteader Metalsmithing Revamped, sells for $150 but it will be in the Brave Girls University classroom under the $25 monthly fee. (It’s “coming soon” though so don’t think you can save $125 by signing up for BGU instead, at least not yet.) Sure you get lifetime access to the class when you buy it direct (and, as a student, I have to say it’s 100% worth every penny!), but you could have 6 months of access for the same price from BGU which includes access to dozens of other classes as well.

I must confess, I’m wondering if teachers will be pulling out of the school if they aren’t making enough money, unless they are looking at the school as promotion, in that students who enjoy their classes in the University might decide to buy other classes directly from them. However, with as content packed as BGU is, I’m not sure how well that idea will work.  As a teacher, I have mixed feelings about the school and I’m curious to learn more.  As a student, I love it.

So have you signed up for Brave Girls University?  If so, what do you think?

Back into the swing of things

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged regularly — I guess it hasn’t been a priority, but I must confess I miss sharing my art from time to time!  In case you’ve been wondering what I’ve been up to lately:

1. I’m currently filming a new online class called Funky Fun Fabrics (tentatively — might change!).  This is a project-based class where I show how to make my mixed fabric journals like this one in my etsy shop: quilted journal. I initially had some technical difficulties, since this is the first time I’m filming anywhere other than at my art table, but I’ve worked out the kinks, just gotta find the time to finish up the filming so I can get to work editing.  Goal is to have the class finished by the end of the month.
2. Speaking of classes, I’m working on a few other classes as well.  I’ve changed my approach to doing classes — instead of working along with everyone else — i.e. filming as I go; I am working on having all of the content and videos done and ready for viewing before the first day of class.  In fact, I’m not even going to open the classes for registration until that point.  I ran into troubles keeping up when I was doing the Weekly Art Date class and I learned from that to never do that again!  I had a blast doing that class, but I definitely got in over my head pretty quickly. So now I’m changing it up and doing smaller classes that are completely finished before the first student even registers.  I’m hoping this will make for more enjoyable class experiences!  We just finished up the 30 Day Craft Cleanse and it was awesome not having to worry about getting the lessons finished, since they already were, and I could instead focus on interacting with everyone.  Way better!  (You can still sign up for the 30 Day Craft Cleanse by the way — it’s a work-at-your-own-pace type of class so your 30 days can start whenever you would like!)
3. In other news, I have been a busy little bee in my metalsmithing studio lately. Jewelry was my first craft love, many years ago when I was obsessed with making unique hemp jewelry, and I taught jewelry classes for many years to teens.  While I was teaching, my own jewelry fell to the wayside as I focused on developing cool projects for the students.  That time was awesome and I loved every minute, but now that I’m not worried about making doable projects for middle school students, I can delve into some more complicated stuff, like working with metals and resins. I haven’t photographed much of my work, but I’ll be working on that soon to show you some of my works in progress.  I’m working to fill my booth at a local craft mall before the holidays, so I have tons of pieces in varying states of progress.

Anyway… will update again soon with pictures!  Hope you are all doing well!  What have you been up to lately?

New Class: the revamped 30 Day Craft Cleanse starts July 1st

I am super excited to announce that the completely revamped and updated 30 Day Craft Cleanse is now open for registration. Here is the link:

https://coursecraft.net/courses/z9PGm/splash

All of the original content has been completely revamped and updated for 2015, with new lessons added and lots of new resources. I have a print-optimized 25,000 word PDF included with the class that you can download starting on the first day of class. The new class starts on July 1st, with a new lesson released every other day. All of the content is available to you indefinitely, so you can start at any time.

The special price from now until the July 15th is $7. [After July 15th, the class price will increase to $15.]

I’ve put a lot of time the past couple weeks on revitalizing this class, and I am very happy with how it’s turned out. In fact, I’m still working on the last few lessons, but I figured I’d get the class open for registration now, since people have been asking & so that you can mentally prepare yourself (i.e. buy last minute supplies!).

I’m super excited about the updated class, and I hope you will love it, too! Hope to see you there!

I will be posting soon with other upcoming classes & revamped classes (including a revamped version of the original Weekly Art Date class). So be sure to check back later this summer for more details.

Video: Gelli Printing with Crafty Moira

New Project: Daily Sketches (Project Life)

 

It has been SO LONG since I’ve posted here — truth is, for a long time, I wasn’t making any art.  Working on the house takes up way more energy than I expected!  I finally have my studio nearly in order (still needs some work!) and I have a functional art space again.  In an effort to ease back into making art on a daily basis, I started a new project inspired by one of Teesha Moore’s videos in the Artstronauts Club.

[If you haven’t heard of the Arstronauts Club, you should check it out!  I think it was $45 for a year’s membership, and it’s been awesome!  It took me a few months to finally start watching all the videos, but not that I’m watching them, WOW! Such inspiration!]

Anyway, Teesha shared a video of a journal where she did daily sketches of what was going on in her life that day — It made me think of the Project Life binder that I started (barely) and never followed through on — I love the idea of Project Life…. but It’s really not for me!  I’ve tried scrapbooking, too, and eh, not my thing.  But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to make something to remind me of what’s going on in my life.  So I bought some binder inserts, a binder, and a lot of assorted Project Life cards on ebay … and never used them.

When I saw Teesha’s video, it was like a lightbulb went off in my head — I love drawing.  I love little sketches. I already have the binder and the inserts.  I decided to order cards cut to fit — I knew I could cut them myself, but would I ever get around to it?  Probably not.  I really liked the sample of Bristol cards that etsy seller, Shadowlance, sent me, but I ended up going with 110lb Cardstock from Prairie Dog Paper Company. Both companies are great, so be sure to check them out.  Shadowlance offers a great selection of ATC blanks — I ended up buying a few sets of those instead of the custom cards.

If you cut your own Project Life sized cards, you will want 3×4 and 4×6 inches cut 1/16 of an inch under — meaning just a little smaller than the listed sizes.  The full size won’t fit properly into the binders, so by cutting them a touch under, you will have the perfect fit.  I ended up paying $23 for 150 cards (100 small, 50 large).  Yes, I could have certainly paid a lot less cutting them myself — but I consider the time saved totally worth the cost!

The basic premise is a sketch every day — I number each one so that I remember what date it was.  I started on April 27th, because why not?  I didn’t do a month card for April, but I did one for May — I’ll do one for each new month from here on out.  Here are my first week’s worth of cards — it’s small enough to keep up with.  I missed one day, because we were traveling and I forgot, but I made it up the next day by doing two at once.  Each card takes maybe 5 minutes.  So it’s a fast project.  And the cards look awesome in the binder sleeve — I’ll post a picture in a  few days on the finished spread.

Here are the daily sketches for the past week:

Back in the Saddle, so to speak…

Whew! Moving and living in a house while renovating it has taken way way way more energy that I expected!  I mean, I didn’t expect it to be easy, of course, but I definitely didn’t think it would take me until October to have my art studio up and properly functioning! I had it somewhat set up in August, which was still a good three months after we moved in, but it took me from then until now to have things organized well enough that I feel like I can get to work.

I’ll post some pictures next week, and I’m working on a new video with my new camera set up, but for now, I’d love if you’d check out my new etsy shop, Crafty Moira.

Boxes, Boxes, Boxes!

We will be loading as many of these as will fit into our truck today. We are moving 600 miles away and trying to do it without renting a moving truck. It costs about the same to make multiple trips in our small pickup truck versus one day in a usual, but it means that each trip, we (or just Nick, mostly) can work on the house for a few days before coming back to the apartment.

A tip for you: have something awkward to move, like a folding metal rack or a small desk unit with drawers that could fall out when you move it? By a roll of bubblewrap (cheapest on ebay) and wrap the item in bubblewrap before taping around the bubble wrap. No residue to clean from putting tape directly on whatever it is, and an added bonus: save that bubblewrap for down and dirty window insulation in the winter. It ain’t pretty, though you can easily hide it with curtains, but it works!

Just cut bubblewrap to fit your windows, spray the glass with water and stick the bubblewrap in place. It says up well, unless your pesky kitties decide to attack, and it is surprisingly effective!

Washi Winner + Washi Tape Discount Code

After MUCH delay (and my sincere apologies on that, and I’ll explain why shortly), I’m excited to announce the winner of the Wanna Win Washi giveaway:

There were 37 comments on the entry, so per Mr. Random:

The winner is Kath Hobson! who wrote: “Oh dear…only one???? Well in THAT case…black and white with some form of script on it…so very versatile. I could use it in every piece of art I create.”  Kath, please email me so I can send you the washi list — you didn’t leave me your email address! [If I don’t hear from Kath within 1 week, I’ll pick another winner!]

Kath has won:

• Her choice of any roll of washi tape from my current inventory (40 designs/colors in stock)
• Plus one random roll of washi tape!
• Plus 5 random rolls of deco tape!
• Plus 1 random roll of washi lace tape!
• Plus 1 random roll of cotton fabric tape!

Didn’t win? Don’t worry, I didn’t forget you, my lovelies! I created a discount code good through the end of the month for 20% off your washi tape purchase at Key Lime Supplies! (And, as a bonus just because I love you, you can use this discount on ANYTHING in the store, as long as your order includes at least one roll of washi tape!)  Just add all the items you want, enter the code: WASHIWOW & a 20% off discount will apply to your order. Offer expires 10/31/2012.

PLUS: For all of Columbus Day weekend, all washi tape is 25%! You can combine discounts for a SWEET deal on washi tape this weekend!

So… why so late announcing a winner?

My boyfriend and I bought a HOUSE!!!! This was completely unplanned for and unexpected! We started looking at houses on vacation for practice, since we weren’t planning on buying for at least one more year while we kept saving up, but… we found a house we loved, could afford, and decided to make an offer that was $5000 less than the already low asking price — we were shocked when our offer was accepted! We closed last week & spent our first (of MANY!) work weekends there ripping out all of the yucky carpets throughout. Next up: new windows!

Art Journal and Paper Crafts Auction in 1 hour!

You are cordially invited to a private auction event Art Journals & Paper Crafts #2 on Saturday, August 25 at  9pm EDT. You’ll get exclusive access to bid on and buy some of my most popular items. See everything that’s up for auction & guarantee your spot here – http://tophatter.com/auctions/5288?campaign=community

 

25% Everything @ Key Lime Supplies – 1 Day Only!

HUGE one day sale starts tomorrow — 25% off EVERYTHING in the shop — These are the best prices you’ll ever find at Key Lime Supplies!!! I’m going on vacation so this is my huge blowout sale before the shop will be closed for 1 month — get your Key Lime goodies now!

Sale runs from 4 am Thursday 8/9 until 4 am Friday 8/10 — all orders will ship by Monday 8/13.