jelly sponsor :: 3 questions for megan ann photography

We are in for a treat. megan ann photography is offering FREE headshots for gravy members at our 7.22 jelly! check out her amazing urban, journalistic style!


How did you get to where you are now? If you would have asked me five years ago where I would be now (in my career), I would have never thought the answer would be "professional photographer".  I was on a path in the "corporate world" to pursue a longtime dream of working in sports.  It was a great path that fulfilled my goals and perfected my skill sets in business.  But then a funny thing happened, I got my hands on a camera, started taking photos of my friends kids...and I'd found my new passion.  The past five years have been spent building my business while having a full time job as a project manager.  In March of 2010, however, a layoff at my corporate job allowed me to finally do what I've always wanted and have full time photography business.  It was a true blessing and I've never looked back.

What do you love most about your job? My clients.  Seriously, I work with some amazing people and am so blessed to be a part of building memories through photography.  My clients are my friends, my encouragement and my biggest fans.  I can't build a business without them and am grateful for all of the beautiful moments I am able to be a part of.

What do you find the most challenging? There are so many photographers in Southern California. This is not a bad thing, but it definitely puts pressure on photographers to continually improve and differentiate themselves from one another.  It's not a competition...instead it's a chance for us to learn from one another and strive to build a business that reflects how hard we work and the connection we have with our clients.  We live in one of the best areas of the country for photography, so it's extremely motivating to be the most passionate and dedicated businesswomen we can be.

jelly sponsor :: 3 questions for paper & thread

Please welcome Lori Ruedi, owner and designer of paper & thread, an invitation design studio. gravy's next coworking jelly will be hosted in her beautiful carlsbad studio. Come join us friday, july 22!


How did you get to where you are now? I started my professional career teaching high school English.  I loved teaching, but loathed my nightly homework (grading) and just didn't feel the passion for teaching that I saw in so many of the great teachers at our school.  Crafts, sewing and invitations have always been my creative outlets, so I took a leap and opened an Etsy shop.  With my first orders, I got a taste of working for myself and knew that I needed to be running my own invitation business.  I continued to grow my business while teaching.  At the same time, I had my son and was trying to be a teacher, business owner, mom, wife, etc.  Something had to go, so I took a giant leap that many people couldn't understand, and I took a leave of absence from my full-time job.  I figured if things didn't go well, I could always come back.  Thankfully, that wasn't the case.  With a lot of hard work, a little bit of luck, and what I feel is a unique product, I have been able to work from home and continue to grow my business.  I now have 2 assistants that help with production, an in-home studio/workshop where I meet with clients, teach workshops and produce all of our digital work, and what I consider a very blessed life.  

What's the most fulfilling work experience you've had?  I'm so lucky because each of my clients are at the start of new chapters (weddings, new businesses, etc.) and the experience of designing for them is such a joyful one.  Probably the most fulfilling recent experience was designing the logo and business collateral for a photographer, where I used her own handwriting for the logo and stitched the business cards and dvd sleeves.

What's the most challenging work experience you've had?  Every work experience has been a challenge in its own way, but my own biggest challenge is trying to find a balance between work and family. 

gravy on tap

you've heard it. gravy is all about work, eat, and play. and that's exactly what we did on friday.
worked a little, played some, and then eat (ohh...that's right, drink too). the lost abbey provided a great workspace amongst the beer barrels, great vibe, and then the most educational and fun beer tasting event to "tap" off the day.

come join us next time for more work, eat and play.

gravy team

dynamic views for blogger

gravy blog in mosaic view

ok this is too cool.

if you have a blogger account, here's a quick way to change up the look/feel/navigation of your site using blogger's dynamic views.

are you feelin a bit tumblr-ish? try out mosaic. old skool polaroids? check out snapshot. reorganize by recent, date, label or author. can't decide? just toggle back and forth on the right drop down menu.

send your viewers your new (albeit longer) url for a fun new way to check you out. have fun!

thank you how about orange for the heads up!

monday's workspace inspiration :: clay a go go

today's workspace inspiration comes from gravy member, devonee at clay a go go. a great inspirational story for celebrating the 4th!


"My inspiration comes from so many places…the color of the sky, what side of the bed I wake up on or the sound of the ocean on an early morning stroll.  However, this Monday, I am inspired by the FREEDOM to inspire to do and be anything that I want to be.  How amazing it is that we have the ability to dream and create anything we want in this beautiful country we live in. 

I often look at an American Flag that was given to us by a dear Marine family who lived in our neighborhood during 2 tours in Iraq.  This family exemplified the sacrifice that so many have made for me and you!  This flag was proudly flown over the Iraqi desert on the anniversary of September 11th!  WOW!  It still gives me chills when I think about that image…scorching desert, dust, proud marines, and my flag!  So, every national holiday, we fly this special flag to remember and thank all of those who have served to allow me to create and play with paints, colors and clay!  What an amazing gift!  The gift to freely inspire to be anything!

Happy Fourth of July!  Celebrate in our freedom!"

jelly sponsor :: vital climbing gym

the people. the space. the vibe.

you just feel it: energy. freedom. fun. it just oozes out of the roll-up garage door. we love everything about vital climbing gym. co-owner, david sacher, was fully on board when we proposed the business idea of coworking in their vibrant, inspiring space. the exposed natural materials (wood, concrete, steel); the low, modern couches; the loft. all of these touches are beautifully and simply done to make way for the stars of the show: the climbing walls and the people on them.

shoe rental: 2 bucks. 

coffee and snacks: a buck. 

wifi: free. 

the steel framed signs not only tell you the what's what; they also convey the culture and values of the company. vital climbing gym does something unique - they give you their trust. open 24/7 to their members, you have the freedom to explore and have fun day or night. more importantly, their honor system nudges you to think bigger than yourself -- to be accountable, to "be cool." 

want to be a part of their community? ladies' nite on mondays, a bouldering clinic, movie nite. vital climbing gym mixes it up and keeps it fresh. yup even for the little kids! friend them on facebook, stay in the loop and check them out for a little inspiration - business or pleasure!

monday's workspace inspiration :: hocoa

today's workspace inspiration comes from gravy member, sam at hocoa. 

"My father was a pilot growing up, so my brother and I grew up around airplanes. We always wanted to fly. My dad thought it would be a good idea to buy a salvaged airplane and park in front of the house.  I was 5 years old when we got it. All of the neighborhood kids loved it, we had more adventures in that plane. Oh yeah, we also crash landed it 90% of the time! I have that picture hanging in my office to always remind me of the good times and to always think outside of the norm.  Whoever would have thought to have a salvaged airplane instead of a tree house?"

thanks for the inspiration, sam!