monday's workspace inspiration :: curt barker

Today's workspace inspiration is from writer/artist and gravy member Curt Barker.

"Vacation doesn't always mean not working. So if you DO have to work while you're on vacation, it's great to have a nice view. This is Lake Como in the background. Not pictured are 25 other vacationers and we're all "geeking out" on our laptops and iPads. After a long day of bike rides or boat rides or just kicking it by the pool, it's fun for us all to "work" together checking email, editing photos, and in my case, coding a website. Want to see what I'm working on from the shores of Lake Como? Here it is."

Curt's abstract paintings are on display at New Village Arts Foundry in downtown Carlsbad. He's got a solo exhibition with an artist's reception from 5:30 to 8:30pm on Thursday 9/22. Come join the fun!

celebrate national coworking day with us!

To celebrate this spirit of community, connection and collaboration, coworking spaces all over the country are doing something special, San Diego included! gravy is part of a collection of local coworking communities that are collaborating to increase awareness and promote coworking as a resource for the local business community. Together, we are asking attendees to pay an entrance fee of $10 which will benefit the Boys and Girls Club! Let's pay it forward by helping kids get a leg up in life! 

Want to join in? Here's what gravy's servin' up for Carlsbad!

Tuesday, August 9 :: 10am - 3pm

Vital Climbing Gym

6102 Avenida Encinas, #L

Carlsbad, Ca 92011

Vital is located behind the YMCA Gymnastics Center. Get your free ticket here. 


Participate in the workshops of the day and have a chance to win a service/product donated by our fabulous gravy community!

Timeline:

11-12pm :: Social Media 102 :: Designed for someone who's on Facebook and/or Twitter but doesn't really have a strategy. Short topic discussion and 1-on-1's presented by gravy member & entrepreneur, Carol Farrar of NCSD Properties.

1pm-2pm :: Bring Your Idea to Market :: Have a product/business idea? Find out how one entrepreneur took her idea and got it on the shelves! Short topic discussion and Q&A's presented by gravy member and entrepreneur, Nanette Meneses of Happi Tummi.

Here's a sampling of the services and products that will be raffled off to attendees:

+ Custom Stationary Package, donated by Erika Firm of delphine

+ 1 hour free of graphic design services, donated by Kim Viernes of zoom in design

+ 2 tickets to any New Village Arts Theatre performance in Season 11

+ 1 hour free of IT consultation, donated by Hung Vu of Vu Consulting

+ $50 gift certificate to Three Sisters Jewelry, donated by Zoe Mohler

Would like to come but can't get kid coverage? gravy's got your back! Knuckleheads Gym (next door to Vital) is offering gravy attendees a super special rate of $5/hour per child for a maximum of 2 hours. 

Hope to see you there! Get your free ticket here.



If you can't make it to our event, check out the participating San Diego coworking spaces near you!




Thank you to our contributing gravy community!

gravy girls strike a pose

thank you so much to megan of megan ann photography for donating her time and talent to gravy at our last coworking jelly! she did headshots of our members at the beautiful studio of paper and thread! we are grateful to have such inspiring entrepreneurs around us!

hey this coworking thing's kinda fun. can't you tell? ;)

some work and lots of play...gravy style

gravy in training...triathlon and mile pier swim bound!

that's right, when we're not coworking, we are coplaying.
we love the balance of life, because that's what keeps us going.

come join us!

jelly sponsor :: 3 questions for kam shave ice

How's this for an actual edible summer treat? Shave ice, people! Ilima Martinez of Kam Shave Ice is going to share with us her passion, her process and, you guessed it, her shave ice! Come share in the aloha at our friday jelly!


How did you get to where you are now? With a sincere love and yearning for my family's homeland, I knew bringing a piece of Hawai'i to San Diego was something that I would be happy doing in my business. As a long-time hula dancer on the mainland, this is what I'd spent over half of my life doing, now I was able to do it in a different way with Hawaiian Shave Ice. Almost everyone has a favorite story about a trip to Hawai'i and nothing makes me happier than hearing all about it and seeing a customer's excitement as the relive their memories all over again with the simple pleasure known as shave ice.


What's the most fulfilling work experience you've had? Once, a kupuna (elder), born and raised in Hawai'i was so touched when she had our shave ice, it brought tears to her eyes, she gave us honi (kisses),  and a huge hug because she said it brought back her childhood memories of growing up in Hawai'i.


What's the most challenging work experience you've had? It's funny but I have so much fun making and serving shave ice, that I actually forget to ask customers for money. It almost makes me feel guilty to get paid for what I do!

monday's workspace inspiration :: hera hub

Felena's inspirations

Today's workspace inspiration is from Felena with Hera Hub, a coworking space for women.

"Being able to connect with beautiful, passionate, enterprising women like this is my workspace inspiration.  It’s so fantastic to watch new collaboration opportunities sprout every day! It has been said so well by so many involved in the coworking movement… 'just because you work for yourself, doesn’t mean you have to work by yourself.'”

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.