Portland Explosion

Chris and I went to Portland this past Saturday through Tuesday. It was an amazing trip to visit an amazing friend. Meg Hunt was our awesome host while we were there - taking us to eat all the great food and introducing us to some of the gems of the city.

I wish I had taken more pictures when we were actually in the city, but hey, I was having too much fun.

It was an awesome trip filled with adventure and food! The first night we got there was slow - as I had jumped on the plane right after having taught a licensing class at MCAD that same morning. Sunday was fantastic. Chris and I headed to Ecola National Park. We drove for an hour and a half and ended up finding an amazing view and some serene places. Here are some of the pictures we took while we were there!













Here are the rest of the pictures!

When we got back, we met up with Meg and had coffee at a cute spot near her neighborhood, and prepared for the next day.

Monday was amazing! I had come out to Portland on a mission - to guest speak in Meg's PNCA illustration class. Her students were awesome and really wonderful to work with and we made a series of patterns in a big friendly group, ate doughnuts that Meg brought for us, and laughed together at all the ridiculous things that were going on. It was a blast!

We were lucky enough to meet up with Roxy, one of our great friends who recently moved to Portland for an amazing internship at a local comic studio, and spent the rest of the night relaxing, eating, and having a grand old time at one of Meg's favorite restaurants & then with her friend Patrick at a coffee house.

In the morning, we met one last time for biscuits and gravy, walked around and said our sad goodbyes. It was too darn short. Until next time, Portland. Next time.

Travel: Coast-to-Coast & PDX Ace Camp with Erin Loechner

A Glimpse of the Portland Skyline from the Ace Hotel

A Glimpse of the Portland Skyline from the Ace Hotel

In 24 hours I had flown from Minneapolis to New Jersey, back to Minneapolis, then out to Portland Oregon. I had two back to back, life-changing trips scheduled and only a little time to plan. Tuesday night was a blur - I finished teaching a digital pattern making class at Minneapolis College of Art & Design, came home, packed and then woke up at 4 to catch my early morning flight to New Jersey.

I was excited and headed to meet with a new client. New Jersey was a lot more green and lush than I expected, and though it was hot and sticky there, it was really beautiful. My meeting was a blip compared to the long flight I had been on in the morning, and it seemed that I was out of there and back on a plane to Minneapolis in no time.

The next morning I set out on my new adventure : Headed to Portland for a workshop with Erin Loechner from DesignforMankind.com. Excited, I landed and made my way to the Ace Hotel.


Entryway of Ace Hotel in Portland, Downtown - Erin Loechner & Katy Tunis chat it up

I had heard great things about these stylish hotels and was pleasantly surprised by my room (which was decked out with vintage pieces and lots of rustic / industrial flavor.


My fabulous hotel room



I had heard about their taste for hiring different designers to outfit the rooms and spaces and was excited to see that each detail was taken care of, from the breakfast nook, to the muraled stairway.


Breakfast with Kristin in the Ace Hotel Breakfast Nook

I met my great roommates and headed to a meet and greet where I met a dozen other fantastic girls. Everyone was here to absorb Erin's wisdom, talk about giant goals and life plans, and make serious headway on both personal and business life.


Lunch on Day 2 with some of the girls from Camp

Everyone was such a sweetheart, full of gusto (a word I am going to adopt, thanks Ann) and ready to do big things. Our time was spent working through and discussing goals, plans, and common themes in our creative lives - as well as sitting down and getting to know each other over dinners and other fun events.


Food carts in Portland


Happy Hour at Matador with the girls


Looking down the table at Matador


Our last night in Portland with Tapas and good company

It was an adventure. I met some of the most wonderful people on this trip. I was a part of so many wonderful conversations, adopted so many amazing and talented new friends and found an even greater appreciation for those people that took the extra step to make their life plans grand!


Until next time!

Thanks, everyone at PDX Ace Camp! I can't wait until we meet again!