Happy Holidays 2016 - Forging Ahead

As we near the end of 2016, here are some highlights from the past year and a look ahead to the cool new stuff that I'm working on for 2017.
More Website Workshops ... and more to come!
In January I kicked off my second year of classes on website maintenance and marketing. This time the workshops were offered entirely online using a simple, high-quality app.

 I conducted sessions with people in several different states and got encouraging feedback to continue and expand to new topics.  As websites get easier (and more fun) to use they get more powerful. It's never been easier to run your own site and promote yourself online.

---

Let It Snow by the Cast of Star Trek

Winter Transformations

Google's Santa Tracker & Christmas Village

Unleashing a bunch of Cats on a Christmas Display

Best Cubicle Decor

Best Web Videos of 2016

Snow Lights

The Hidden World of the National Parks.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas by 27 Celebrities-in-1

Just a normal day in Canada

2016's Biggest Conservation Wins

Best Santa Ever!

Calvin & Hobbes would be proud.

Imgur's 2016 Best Of

Take a virtual reality swim with wild dolphins!

Tie Fighter snow wreck

The Year in Search

Bye 2016!

UI/UX design course completed
I completed an online course in UI/UX design and have already updated my entire workshop series with new things that I learned about optimizing websites for both users and search engines. Interesting side note: I did the whole course in three months via iphone at Udemy.com while on the stairmaster at my gym! 

App classes started!
After talking about it forever I FINALLY started two courses to learn app development. My dad wanted to get back into doing art and I wanted to learn to design apps so we have a pact where we each have to show our homework/progress at a weekly phone call. The accountability has been magical! I'm 20% done with my first project-based class (and very proud of a few first fledgling apps) and 50% done with a second course that's focused on learning how to code in Swift. I have a LONG way to go, but I'll keep you posted! 

Forging ahead:

• New Rates: it's now been a year since my last rate change for existing clients so the time has come for a gentle increase. As of 1/1/17 my hourly rate will be $75/hr. with a discounted nonprofit rate of $70/hr. 
• Website Workshops begin in January: taking cues from my own learning experiences, this year I'm offering project-based, hands-on labs every Saturday. Learn more at my Website Workshops page. 
• Online courses in the works: I am (still) diligently working on converting my Workshops into an online course, watch for that coming soon!

​I hope that you're holidays are filled with relaxing evenings and rejuvenating time reconnecting with family and self. As I look back on the year I'm simply filled with gratitude for you - my clients, friends and family. While I love technology and design, none of what I do would be any fun without amazing people to challenge me, to inspire me and to share it all with. Thank you and may your holidays be very merry. ~ Ame