2011 Year in Review

Hello dear friends. How are you? Can you believe another year has passed us by? All of 2011's moments are gone with the summer breeze ...or maybe collected in your heart? I know I've collected so many memories, friends & lessons from 2011. 

Oh MY, what a wonderful year it was... perhaps my favorite yet. I have SO MUCH to be grateful for. Here's a list of fifty sweet-as-honey 2011 highlights:

• Rung in the new year with my best friends at an Avett Brother's show

• Lived in beautiful, beautiful Asheville, North Carolina and shared a country dream home with two amazing women, a kitty and a clawfoot tub.

• Perhaps 2011's most magical moment: I rode a bicycle through a forest wearing only a bikini. At the end of the trail I swam in a lake with a horse. 

• Illustrated the book Heart Thoughts by Louise Hay - coming out February 2012.

• Soaked atop a drizzly North Carolina mountain in a hot tub.

• Got a gym membership and became really active (for a while!)

• Danced my heart out at an Asheville drum circle

• Saw my artwork on an American Greetings Valentine's Day endcap

• Had a Thai massage that rejuvenated my mind, body & spirit

• Witnessed my best friend Heather get married

• Drank lots of Silver Needles & Tulsi tea at my favorite teahouse, Dobra

• Met my spiritual mentor, Alia

• Had my first facial and felt like a brand new person

• Realized that being alone is a gift

• Took part in a great art collaboration with my dear friends Peter & Kima

• Painted butterflies, flowers & lettering for Target's spring line. Saw my art on teapots, gift bags, mugs & so much more.

• Created packaging illustration for Sunbites

• Had my heart broken

• Had my heart mended

• Witnessed a misty mountain firefly extravaganza. I will never see anything like it again.

• Tried moonshine... and really liked it.

• My notecard set debuted with teNeues

• Had the best iced coffee of my life at The Mill in Lincoln, Nebraska

• Illustrated 10 cards for Madison Park Greetings - to debut in 2012

• Had gum surgery (ouch!) and finally got my teeth in healthy spirits.

• Took my Basil cat on oodles of walks through the mountains. He would follow alongside me with his fur poofed up.

• Participated in several craft shows and a few gallery shows

• Moved to the beautiful Pacific Northwest for a new adventure with Luke

• Ate the most delicious salmon crepe ever. 

• Had an amazing dream about a farmhouse, ferris wheel & a Milky Way meteor shower

• Learned (and still learning) to love rain

• Met the Pacific Ocean and stood in awe (first picture)

• Saw my first look at my home decor/garden line with Demdaco - to debut 2012

• Bought a pink Christmas Tree

• T-Shirts!

• Played countless games of Scrabble

• Let go of what didn't serve me

• Let go of many insecurities

• Created album art & posters for several musicians

• Met & hired the most wonderful studio assistant, Melanie

• Designed a blog for Ashley

• Saw my art published in several magazines & publications

• Reached 9,313 Etsy sales

• Met some of my favorite Portland artists

• Illustrated a journal for Chronicle Books - out in 2012

• Created art for Portland's Alt Weekly - Willamette Week

• Spent $456 in one trip to the Post Office (mailing Christmas orders!)

• Momentarily lost track of my bliss... but began to chase it again.

• Felt a (mostly) constant flow of abundance

• Made the entire year (actually THREE years!) without getting sick -- not even a cold!

- - - - - - 

It really has been incredible and I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store. Although 2011 brought some amazing experiences, there are areas I need to nurture a bit more. For example - I should be exercising regularly, spending less time online (more time in stillness), becoming a bit more stable with my finances, nurturing my relationships and above all, really looking within and asking whether I'm living the most authentic life possible. 

Much laughter, light and happiness to you all in 2012. 

SO MUCH LOVE!!

Katie Daisy