From Photography to Fondant: 5 Online Classes to Usher In the New Year

Well the New Year has come and gone and it's time to hit the refresh button on my life.  I've decided resolutions are a sham, so this year I didn't make any.  Every year I vow to lose weight (which unfortunately never happens just because I decide to do it at the start of a New Year) or be more organized and without fail it just doesn't happen.  This year I decided to do what I spent a good 20 years of my life doing - learn something new.  

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I loved being in school and if I had my way, I would be a career student.  But when I was in school there was never any time to take classes about the things that I really wanted to learn - I was too busy learning all of those 'necessary' things like math and science.  Now that I'm well out of college (I swear I actually feel physical pain every time I think about how long ago I was in college) I've decided it's time to start learning again.  I have scoured the internet and looked at over 50 online classes - some paid, some free, so that I could share with you a few classes that might spark your interest (and mine) this year.  

So welcome 2013, and cheers to self-improvement!

Learning Digital Photography. This is a course that was taught at the Harvard Extension school by a professor at MIT and recorded to be offered for free online. This course claims to teach students to "become better photographers through an understanding of the technical aspects and terms of a digital camera."  Sounds like a great place for me to start!  

Fondant Frills Cake Decorating.  This online course, taught by couture cake artist Maggie Austin, teaches students how to "create her signature frill ombré cake topped with sugar paste cabbage roses. Along the way, she shares industry know-how on cake display, artistic advice on color combinations, and her compelling cake story: how she overcame a career-ending injury, pursued a dream and built a thriving cake business."  The class costs 40 dollars, offers a money-back guarantee, and includes 9 HD video tutorials. 

Creating seamless Knit Toys.  I'm not much of a knitter, but I think these knit toys would make adorable new baby gifts and would be such a fun talent to have!  This class costs $20 online, and teaches students how to "use double-pointed needles to shape three different heads, a baby elephant, an adorable bunny and a winsome hippo".  Adorable!  

Learn (or improve) a new language.  I have a degree in French, and I have always loved learning new languages - I also dabble in Latin and Italian.  But over the years my French, especially, has suffered.  This year I've promised myself to make a special effort to renew and improve the language skills that I already have in French, and to maybe add a dash of something new in there, too.  The link above to open culture offers links to learn over 40 languages online - for free.

Design your own handbag.  Check out this class on how to design your own handbag.  The photo above is one of a final project - finished by one of the students in the class. Learn things from "planning your bag's unique shape and fabrics, to adding finishing snaps and straps. Brett provides you with a basic handbag shape that can be adapted into an endless variety of styles, including her tote bag, slouchy hobo bag, and curved top bag. Pick up more advanced skills such as constructing zipper pockets, creating pleats, and attaching hardware."  Sounds awesome!  

Here's to a new year, and a new you!  Good luck!