Although it’s a busy time of year and I’m often “on holidays” at this time, I find it useful to look back at the year that has passed and look forward to the next year. Here’s a little wrap up, in no particular order, of the things that happened in 2014 in my life and business. This will be quite short and brief because I’m writing in mini-breaks during toddler duty!

Mini Originals

At the end of last year through the start of this year I painted a bunch of mini original paintings. It was my first foray back into traditional painting since moving to digital when my daughter was born. I enjoyed them immensely and auctioned a number of them on this site. I’m planning on doing a lot more in the new year when my current project is out of the way.

Finished writing the third novel in a trilogy

Speaking of the current project, this was a big one for me, and well overdue. After the mid year goal of having my last book published flew by, I made it my mission to get my trilogy done once and for all! This meant putting a hold on ALL other work until it was done. No new paintings, dolls, anything that isn’t related to the book until the book is published (except vital business tasks like emails and shipping orders!). It’s been my focus for months now and will be finished very soon. The manuscript is done, edited, and I just want to give one final read through myself before it’s ready. I’ve done a stack of illustrations and just have 6 left to paint before they are done too. I’m aiming for a mid-late January release date!

DIY Darlings

My DIY Darlings dolls range was a joy this year, and I worked on them a lot, refining existing patterns and creating new ones. I also made some really fun videos about them.

New Logo

After many years with my old logo, I worked with one of my favourite designers, Sarah Dixon, to create a new, updated, more readable logo (because really, my name is hard enough to spell and pronounce already!). I love this new design so much!

New Art

Some of my favourite new paintings I did this year were Bonded, Autumn Slumber, and Dreamlike.

PSP Tubes released

This year I’ve started doing some more digital products, including PSP Tubes which have been fun to create.

Events

I missed out on my beloved Winterfest this year, but got to attend Sydney Supanova, and Book Expo Australia, which were both fantastic! At Supanova I went dressed as Sarah from Labyrinth, and my daughter visited briefly as Toby.

Gardening

On the more personal side, I’ve done a lot more gardening this year. Both because I enjoy it and my daughter is loving it, and for the greater environment as well, we are trying to grow a lot more edible plants and turn out little yard into a mini farm. Our veggie garden is doing well, and we just got some backyard chickens a few days ago as well!

And in 2015?

January should see the wrap up of my Memory’s Wake trilogy and then I can focus on other things again. I don’t have much more in the way of fiction books planned (well I do have lots of stories in my head still, but not the time to do them yet!), but am hoping to release more colouring books and some art technique and business how-to books. For Memory’s Wake I will also release boxed sets and a guide book after the trilogy is finished as well.
I can’t wait to start doing some non-book paintings and more doll designs again too. I’ve been so focused on getting Memory’s Wake finished that I haven’t even looked at all my other to-do lists for ages!
Happy new year everyone! How was your 2014 and what do you have planned in 2015.