Celebrating 2017

Last week I encouraged you to celebrate the wins of 2017 before we close the year.

My post was a bit of a pep talk about letting go of self-criticism and comparison. Perhaps I gave that pep talk in part because I needed it, too.

I'm proud of what I accomplished this year. Here's some of it:

• I taught 6 new classes on Skillshare
• I painted more commissions than any previous year (more commissions than all the previous years put together)
• I hosted another Handmade Joy Exchange (and 40!!! people participated!) 
• I sold some old favorite paintings
• I designed a Tea Towel Calendar that made Spoonflower's top 25 designs 
• I was featured in Botanica, the third volume of the Uppercase Encyclopedia of Inspiration

• I released a new fabric collection
• I interviewed 10 Artists and hosted 34 Sketchbook Conversations
• I designed, printed and sold my prettiest art print calendar yet
• I'm in the first phases of a fun collaboration
• I've been on a roll painting houseplants

And personally, too:

• I adopted 2 sweet cats

• I rearranged my studio and repurposed/painted a "new" desk
• I grew butternut squash for the first time and have a nice harvest stored in the basement to eat this winter
• I painted the front door and shutters of our home a fun, joyful blue
• I went on a vacation for the first time since we moved here

All of these are very good things!

This past year was also a challenge for me. I never did get into a daily habit of working in my sketchbook. There were some goals I didn't reach. There were projects that didn't work out. There were failures and frustrations. I also struggled with a long creative slump. Ebbs and flows are a natural part of creativity and coming to terms with (and being patient through) ups and downs is important and is hard.

In 2017 it felt as if I finally started to find my footing, my inspiration and my understanding once the summer was over. Looking back, I mourn a bit for the summer. For wasted time. Wasted opportunities (all those flowers I didn't paint!).

But I think some years are like that. Some years, although they don't necessarily contain personal sorrows or tragedies, are tricky nonetheless (I'm looking back at other, more difficult years... compared with them, this past year was a cinch!).

Maybe they are years of growth and understanding. Sometimes growth doesn't happen in a visible way. Sometimes growth is internal, hidden, quiet. I'm learning to accept that. Accept the ebbs and the quiet, internal development that happen before other kinds of more visible growth can occur.

My words for 2017 were Create and Nourish. I feel like I didn't do a very good job with them, like I hurtled through the year and the days flew by too fast for me to be fully present. I'm looking at words for 2018 that will help me to evolve and grow and slow things down a bit (whether or not that is truly possible, I do not know!). I want a word that is more open. Looser.

I have high hopes for 2018. I have ideas and plans. Among other things (as I mentioned the other day), there will be changes for this blog. I'd love to be able to say I have it all figured out, but I'll be honest and admit that this is still a work in progress.

Thank you, 2017, for the gifts of insight that you've given me. And dear friends, thank you for being here. Thank you for encouraging me and supporting me. Thank you for coming along on this journey.

I'll be back in 2018! Until then, I wish each of you a peaceful, joyous end of the year. A happy Solstice and, if you celebrate it, a merry Christmas.