Hatch Show Print, Nashville

I recently shared a round up of all the fun things I did during my trip to Nashville, Tennessee last year, and today I'm going into a little more detail about one of my absolute favorite places that I visited.

Back in the 90s I was a graphic design and illustration student at university and technical college. My favorite medium to create was always letterpress and block printing. Give me a lino block and some carving tools, and I'll be content for hours. Maybe give me some bandaids too, because I'm a little out of practice!

Printing using these techniques has just always felt so satisfying to me. The fluidity of the carving tools as they make their way through the lino, the feeling of setting the type in place just so, that tacky feeling of the ink as the brayer rolls it onto the printing area, the clunk of the printing press, the feeling as it rolls smoothly over type, the reveal as the paper is lifted from the press or block... So satisfying to create in such a hands on way, especially in this digital world. 

When I was looking into things to do and see in Nashville, one place in particular caught my eye: Hatch Show Print!

Things to do in Nashville - Even if you don't like Country Music!

Have you ever visited Nashville, Tennessee?

For most of us, when we think of Nashville, country music is the first thing that comes to mind. As someone who does not like country music at all, Nashville wasn’t somewhere I’d really ever thought of visiting. But then last year Mom 2.0 (a conference for parent entrepreneurs and creators) happened to be held in Nashville and it gave me the opportunity to visit.

Now, I must admit, that before I really looked into Nashville I honestly didn’t think that the city would offer much to visitors like me, but the more I looked into it, the more excited I got about exploring. It turns out that whether you like country music or not, Nashville is a vibrant and colorful city with a ton of fun for tourists of all ages.

Today I’m sharing everything I did during my visit to Nashville. If you’re planning a visit and want to know what to do in Nashville that doesn’t focus too much on country music, then read on…

Playing Tourist in Colorado

Do you live far away from friends and family?

As an Australian living in Colorado, I'm pretty far away from most friends and all of my family. It's not always easy being so far away, which is why it's extra special when we have visitors from home. 

Of course, having the chance to catch up with friends and family is always the best part about having visitors, but the other thing I love about it is being able to play tour guide! Having visitors is the best excuse for getting out and about to places we've been meaning to visit, but just haven't gotten around to, and for revisiting favorites. Playing tourist in our own backyard was one of my favorite things about living in California, and it's pretty great here in Colorado too.

My friend Daniela visited us from Australia late last year and we had so much fun playing tourist in Colorado together. We visited some of my favorite places, crossed quite a few destinations off my Colorado bucket list, and spent a lot of time catching up on the past eleven years since we last saw each other in New York. I was pregnant with Mathilde last time we saw each in other!

Here's a look at our week of exploring Colorado during Daniela's stay. Feel free to use it as an itinerary for your own trip to Colorado or for when you have visitors here.

7 Must See Immersive Experiences in Denver

If you've been here a while, you'll know that immersive exhibits are one of my all time favorite things. 

And, if you're new here, hi! I'm Sally, and I'm a little obsessed with immersive art!

Here in Denver we're really lucky to have quite a few world class immersive experiences to visit any time we like. From whimsical worlds, to mind blowing science, to fun photo opportunities, there's an immersive experience for everyone.

Today I'm sharing seven must see immersive experiences here in Denver. 

Let's take a look...

Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art

Did you know that Denver has a museum dedicated to design and decorative art?

I didn't, until I recently stumbled across the Kirkland Museum. The striking yellow tiles of the building and signage for an Art Deco exhibition (one of my favorite design eras) caught my eye, and I knew I just had to check it out.

If you are a lover of fine art, decorative art, and furniture design, the Kirkland Museum is a must see.

With around 4,400 items covering a span of 150 or so years of art and design, there's a wealth of artistry on display in the Kirkland's distinctive building. I honestly didn't know what to expect before I stepped inside, but I'm happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. I found myself in awe as I made my way through each salon style room; smile on my face as I took in all the detail. And there's a LOT of detail!

Let's take a look...