A YEAR IN REVIEW : 2015 HIGHLIGHTS

This year has been freaking incredible.  When I began thinking about 2015 and what it meant to me I was overwhelmed (also a little sad about how fast it seemed to have flown by).  Although when I really analyzed each month and everything I've done this year, I had a hard time processing how it all fit into 12 months. It flies by but it doesn't. Time is weird. I am incredibly thankful for business growth and the continued support from this wonderful online / social community (and of course from my family and friends!).  Using social media and this little blog to share my work is an amazing thing, I'm constantly in awe that I have 'fans' and forever grateful for the encouraging comments! 

I hope you don't mind taking a little walk down memory lane with me today.  These are my most prized professional and personal moments from 2015...

1. Collaboration with Hallmark
Back in May I was approached by Hallmark to collaborate...ecstatic to say the least. I created a four piece Valentine's greeting card collection.  I got to post a little sneak peek on instagram last week. I will be sharing more on this including where to buy and all four designs from the collection next month!

2. Travels; Antarctica, Argentina, and Iceland
I feel so incredibly blessed to see the world. Traveling has become a top priority.  It is truly priceless as experiences like these mean everything to me. I am so lucky to have my sister who shares a love for adventure, culture, nature, and making spontaneous travel plans.  This year we conquered two new continents with a trip to Antarctica...we had to fly through Argentina to board the ship to Antarctica so we decided to extend our stay on the way back so we could explore Buenos Aires. We've both had been wanting to visit Iceland after seeing magical photos of it over the past couple years.  This was totally unplanned and we threw it together in less than two months.  It's quite easy to get around Iceland and it far exceeded my expectations so I am beyond happy we made this happen! We just have two continents left and with a trip to Japan in the works for next year, we will just need to get to Australia. So exciting to be achieving this goal with my big sis.  You can read about my trips in more detail as I blogged them by day earlier this year; Antarctica, Argentina, and Iceland

3. Urban Outfitters artist series
This year Urban Outfitters launched an online artist series print shop.  I was asked to contribute my ferns print. It is such an honor to work with a company I love so much and have admired for a long time. Every once in awhile a styled shot pops up on my instagram feed and I'm like hey there I am...so cool.  You can check that out here, the print is offered in more sizes than I have on Easy and also with multiple framing options.

4. West Elm Local
I was asked to become a part of West Elm Local, an initiative recently started by West Elm to support local artist communities and encourage store managers to carefully curate their individual stores. I just love this.  So far I am in Estero, Orlando, and two Miami locations (Florida Only). We even got to go up to Orlando for an in store event this summer!

5. Stationery Product Line Expanding
This year I began to expand my stationery / product line by adding greeting cards, notepads, gift wrap, and more.  I signed on to Etsy Wholesale so retailers can now place wholesale orders directly on there. I have always wanted to have a super fun flowery product line and after gaining confidence from the past few years of illustrating for wedding clients and other companies I am finally ready for this next step, which leads me to my next highlight of 2015...

6. Signed on for National Stationery Show
A long time dream becoming a reality in 2016.  I am terrified and more excited about this than anything in business so far.  I CANNOT WAIT! The money for my booth space has been paid, I completed the Trade Show Boot Camp e-course...it is official!  I will be painting my buns off in the new year. I can't wait for you all to see what I have up my sleeve!

7. Photoshoots 

Every year I am absolutely floored at the talent that asks me to be involved in photoshoots.  A few highlights were sending photos off to The Mrs. Box launch, The Four Seasons Haulalai that was shot and styled by some of the best wedding vendors out there; Jose Villa, Summer from Grey Likes Weddings, and The Venue Report.  And a French Blue & Lavendar inspired shoot by Best Photography that got featured on Green Wedding Shoes.

8. Plum Pretty Sugar x BHLDN
The lovely ladies at Plum Pretty used one of my floral prints for their beautiful robes. It is currently being sold at BHLDN.  So exciting to see my artwork on fabric! I mean... ekkk!

9. Baby Friends
My friends have been such a huge part of helping to grow my business; their advice, willingness to listen me whine / analyze / talk my ideas out, and their encouragement are the biggest blessings.  We use the term 'baby friends' because that's literally how long we've known each other, since childhood. Several of my close friends welcomed little ones into their lives this year and it's so fun to be apart of their joy by sharing my talents (and playing auntie).  Can't wait to share the rest of the stationery items we came up with for Heather's shower...

10. Playing Painter & Photographer

When my worlds collide and I get to photograph a wedding that I've also designed stationery for it's just the best! This happened a few times this year with Ashley & Josh, Odette & Mark, and Caleb & Liz (going to share their full wedding after the new year!)... 

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for following along on my creative journey. 

Wishing you the happiest of new years!  See you back here in 2016! 

XOXO 

NEW YEAR : A FRESH START

 I know we are more half way through January already and I'm just writing my New Years post...there has been some radio silence while my sister and I were traveling this past month and I used this week to recoup (which was seriously needed).  I thought about what I had to say about 2014 and the new year and I've honestly been at a loss. Even my sketchbook page, I couldn't figure out an image for this post so I decided to use this photo of my scattered sketches instead. My emotions are spread wide across a spectrum of highs and lows.  Things have been crazy.  Business wise, I have been busier than ever before, almost too busy to keep up with everything now.  Which is just mind blowing for me. When you see something come to fruition that you've worked so long for...it's just hard to believe (but really amazing)  Personally speaking, I have been long ready to put 2014 behind me, that's all I will say about that.

This past year I worked with more brides than ever before.  Making people happy by providing them with something unique, painted from scratch, and designed in togetherness to represent their wedding day has just been the best.  I got in over my head this year and committed to a little too many custom projects (you live and you learn). One thing I learned through this is that my dedication to each project has to override the guilt that I feel by saying no.  I hate saying no to wedding projects but as my business grows I am seeing more brides want every paper / stationery aspect designed… to give the level of service required and deserved by my clients I am just simply not going to be able to take on as many anymore.  This is something I struggled with most of last year.  Of course a blessing to have plenty of work, but I feel the growing pains most when I sadly have to walk away from some requests.

Another highlight and reason my custom work will be slowing down is for different types of illustration projects.  I began my career out of art school doing freelance illustration and surface pattern design.  A long term dream of mine has been to collaborate and illustrate for / with other brands.  I would just die to see my illustrations on different items like home goods, more stationery products, in stores, etc (just ideas right now).  I'm pleased to say (while unfortunately I cannot disclose details yet) I've been approached by a few this year to begin collaborating and I am BEYOND excited about it and what this means for my company.   I know I'm being vague about all this but I will be sharing more soon.

For my brides, I have been working to create a booklet full of information about my process, faqs, helpful information about general invitation etiquette, timelines, etc.  I'm dying to get this completed as I  think it's going to be so informative and save everyone so much time in correspondence.  It will hopefully cover all design related questions and a new pricing structure for my "collection" versus custom designing. Really so exciting!

This leaves me with resolutions.  I am finally being honest with myself about new years resolutions, I hate them.  I feel they create undeserving and unrealistic pressure. If I were to have list, putting pressure on myself would be at the top anyways. We have January 1 in our heads like suddenly a reset button gets hit.  I've often found myself coming to the end of the year thinking the new year will be my deadline to start / stop whatever it is I want to change.  But to improve or change anything, time and dedication are needed most, not a sudden restart. I've realized that I work better when I create realistic short term (monthly and weekly for my business). And of course I have larger long term goals for the growth of my businesses and things I want to personally accomplish. With a freelance business, things can change on the daily and sometimes goals have to be flexible. I think most creatives and business owners are hard on themselves in general, being flexible and realistic about things we want to accomplish can definitely save some heartache. I post them by desk as a reminder of what I am striving for.  Do you have a way of tracking your goals that keeps you in line for accomplishing them on time? I would love to hear how others hold themselves accountable and implement changes!

If you've made it this far, congratulations.  I know I typically don't write too much here but I have been thinking about this blog a lot lately and what it means to me.  I have come to enjoy writing and sharing more this past year, especially as interest in my work has grown.  It is fun for me to give some behind the scenes insight and share full projects I've worked on rather than just one photo on social media.  I have some plans for more interactive (maybe diy type) projects, travel stories, and some more tips on illustration (since my first post seemed to be popular and I still get a lot of e-mail questions!).

 I'm excited to see what this year will hold and I hope everyone's has gotten off to a great start so far! I will be back soon with some fun travel photos from my trip to Antarctica and Argentina, it was beyondddd! Then I promise we will be back to regular painting programming soon.  Thanks for sticking around and visiting my little corner of the web.  You are loved and appreciated!  xox