Rewind: Year in Review 2012

My oh my, another year has passed. Big changes happened in 2012, most of them completely unexpected but exciting nonetheless. Some of the BIG life events that took place...

nikkiMdesign partnered with the Buffalo Design Collaborative

My baby started Kindergarten

We sold our home in the city and bought a farm in the country

My husband changed jobs

My father suffered a heart attack

I became a grandma

I have been putting off reviewing last years goals. Why? Because I know that I did not reach most of them, but I'm okay with it now. I tried my best and that is all I can do.  :) 

So...let's REWIND!

2012 Goals:

1 Work with my partner to establish Nest Interiors as the go to showroom.

Accomplished with slight changes.

I established nikkiMdesign as a full-time interior design and commission artwork business. nikkiMdesign partnered with the Buffalo Design Collaborative bringing nikkimdesign into the commercial design market. I created an online presence with the launch of my new website and social networks, as well as working with White Orchard Home Furnishings to provide educational design seminars to consumers. I have networked with new associations and brought my artwork and crafts to local markets. I am quite satisfied with the results of this goal. 

2. Triple sales through my Etsy shop.

Not accomplished.

I only doubled my sales with Etsy, however, I sold prints through society6 nikkimdesign shop and doubled my work doing commission paintings. So although I didn't specifically reach the goal as it was written, I did expand my brand. :) 

3. Read 14 novels this year.

Almost accomplished. 

I read 10 novels.

4. Learn/create urban/street art. Large scale.

Not accomplished.

Unfortunaetly, I did not find the time to work toward this goal. I think it is a good one to move to this year though. 

5. End of year goal weight...115 lbs.

Not accomplished.

I really hate this goal. It is cliche and I just can't seem to care enough to pursue it seriously. I need to rethink this one. Part of me would like to shave off about 10 lbs. and the other part of me thinks I look just fine! Meh.

6. Finish refinishing the hallway staircase.

Accomplished! And then we sold our house! :-P

Hmmm. I guess I didn't do as bad as I thought.

I would love to know...

Do you set goals or resolutions? How was your year? 

♥♥♥

Dawn: A New Day

We have all had those days; the lonely one, the "I can't believe I just did that" one, the annoying one. We have all felt the heaviness that comes with terrible news, a weight that cripples and suffocates. Those moments that stop time. We have all experienced the darkness that creeps into our comfortable world and makes us feel as though we will never be whole again. 

And then, there is the Dawn; a flicker of hope, promise of new possibility, the light of a new day.

Thank you to everybody that left me a critique. I took into consideration all of your feedback and I am very pleased with the final painting. I wish you could see the original because the photos do not show the depth and vibrancy of color. 

Memory Lane

I was searching for a specific picture tonight which took me on a mini-adventure of time travel through photographs. I thought I would share a few with you.

Seven months pregnant with my third child. I remember when I received this photograph how poetic I thought it was that it captured my present, my past (the stretchmarks from my two previous pregnancies), and my future.

My grandmother. I miss her. EVERYDAY. She was one of the most beautiful people, both inside and out.  I wish I had asked her more questions about her life while she was here. Things like her favorite color, her desires and dreams, her favorite animal...

Yes, I did play the guitar once. And seriously, I could totally rock out Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. 

My gorgeous baby girl. I still can't believe she is going to be a mama. :) 

My handsome son. Honestly, where does the time go?

Mural Sketch

Here is my idea for the mural in Kenmore. It was not as well received as I had hoped, so it is possible that it might not happen, however I had fun sketching it and I look forward to adding a bit of color to the sketch in the next few weeks. I am never disappointed with an opportunity to brainstorm and be creative. ;-)

Window Stories

Window Stories is an initiative of the community organization Kenmore Village Improvement Society. Window Stories, will feature a variety of artwork created by professional painters and sculptures, students, and others. “Window Stories enhances the visual appeal and interest of the Village, while assisting commercial property owners,” says KVIS President, Melissa Foster.


My artwork is being displayed at the corner of LaSalle and Delaware Avenue in Kenmore. Walk over and check out some of my newer abstract paintings. 

Commission watercolor

The watercolor paintings for my client in California. 

Winter Blues

It is March, dreary March. The skies have been grey for too long. The days are stale and mundane. This time of year is always a struggle for me, and I'm sure, you. I try to keep positive by surrounding myself with the ones I love, reading great books, and crafting, but somehow, every year at this time I get down.

So, in order to keep my spirits up, I decided to crochet something cute, bright, and fun...and these little bears were just perfect.

Their bright colors, goofy proportions, and itty bitty hearts have brought a little spring into my world over the past few days. I've set them on my table in the kitchen in front of a vase of flowers, and I think that is where they will stay for now. I am able to see them in the morning when I get my coffee, in the late afternoon when I'm making dinner, and just before bed when I turn off the lights in the house for the evening. Every time I pass by, they put a smile on my face.

Aren't they just adorable? I think I'm going to make a whole family of them. 

Tell me, how do you beat the winter blues?