looking back at 2012 & a blissful New Year!

my word for 2013 is BLISS.

it took a lot for me to commit to that word. i felt like it might be a bit too overzealous, yet my heart kept on wanting, bliss, bliss, bliss.

and i realized that, to me, bliss is all about doing the things for me that make me feel best. 

that means more slowing down, keeping things simple and calm, watching the sun set, admiring the night sky, relaxing, breathing, taking time for yoga and meditation, and walking slowly.

my word for 2012 was BLOOM, which turned out to be all about grounding and growing. 

when i look back at the year, i feel like i didn't DO anything. 2010 and 2011 were filled with goal-reaching achievements and staying on task. and i realized that didn't really suit me.

so i vowed that in 2012 i'd get back to my roots and all of the things that were most important to me. and when i went back through my blog archives, i realized, i still did quite a bit.

2012, i am so very grateful for...

*the crazy cold in january that taught me to slow down and realize work doesn't need to be hard.

*the chance to spend lots and lots of time at the beach.

*started my Juliette Crane Art page on facebook.

*began selling prints and cards wholesale to shops around the US and UK.

*found new inspiration in doorways, old writing, nature, and labels.

*my lovely and talented husband who built the perfect platform for my online courses.

*the launch of my second e-course, HOW TO PAINT A GIRL.

*beach-inspired paintings like always, it is yours, set free, and a sense of place.

*moving How To Paint An Owl to the beautiful new ecourse platform.

*flowers from my husband on valentine's day. 

*time to watch the clouds and missing home.

*seeing a fox on the beach, which moved me to paint lots and lots of foxes and helped inspire my online course HOW TO CREATE WHIMSICAL ANIMALS.

*heading to artfest and teaching How To Paint An Owl at my first big art retreat.

*time to enjoy spring flowers.

*teaching my How To Paint An Owl e-course.

*being featured in Artful Blogging magazine.

*my photo featured in where women create magazine.

*the owl museum in Malaysia purchasing my artwork for their permanent collection.

*seeing artwork from the how to paint an owl gallery.

*revamping my studio to become the ivory room.

*going on nature walks and reading agatha christie novels.

*remodeling our bathroom.

*the beginning of my snooter paintings.

*the start of painting BIG.

*getting back to playing again with my artwork in mindy lacefield's paint your story class.

*planting my very first vegetable garden.

*launching a second session of my How To Paint A Girl e-course.

*seeing artwork from the How To Paint A Girl gallery.

*the evolution of the snooter paintings starting with the FLOWERING LION and BE TRUE.

*getting back to painting owls whenever my confidence wains. 

*all of the spring flowers blooming early.

*the snooters evolving again into wild imaginary creatures like everything will be okay, you are enough, with faith, march ahead, lady bird and follow your heart.

*painting outside, seeing baby bunnies, and enjoying breakfast on the backyard patio.

*launching How To Paint An Owl as a self-paced course.

*trying out and sharing lots of my favorite art supplies.

*launching creative sugar.

*launching How To Paint A Girl as a self-paced course.

*reading Under The Tuscan Sun and starting to write my memoir

*the snooters evolving into fancy owls with legs like mind spring and happy flowers like together.

*launching my third online course, How To Create Whimsical Animals.

*continuing to diagnosis my creative process to get unstuck and keep painting.

*teaching a lesson for the online course life book.

*going to a cabin in the woods to start writing my first ebook (coming in 2013).

*the creation of art magnets, prints, embellished journals and art cards...submitted with originals to somerset studio magazine.

*discovering my love of instagram.

*being asked to include a painting in the local gallery exhibition 44 Presidents.

*an interview by tamara laporte of willowing for life book.

*seeing whimsical animals from my life book lesson.

*the creation of whimsical animals paintings like dreamers will save the world and with one heart, connected.

started art journaling.

*old sketches for new mixed media inspirations

*falling in love with fall, flowers and taking photo walks.

*taking part in the local gallery exhibition The Wild Wood of the Imagination.

*being published in Pasticcio Quartz.  

*falling in love with the beautiful mistakes of bleeding art tissue paper, which become part of my creative process.

*being featured in my owl barn's 2013 calendar

*seeing artwork from the How To Create Whimsical Animals gallery.

*launching How To Create Whimsical Animals becomes a self-paced course.

*publishing a photo blog on tumblr

*launching my first mini course, Backgrounds and Layers

*teaching in Christy Tomlinson's 12 Artsy Ornaments of Christmas class.

*being invited to teach in port townsend, washington in june 2013 with mindy lacefield and danielle daniel for the sugar and spice art retreat (so excited about this!).

*sending paintings to my first out-of-state gallery, artisans on taylor in port townsend, washington. 

*decorating the christmas tree before thanksgiving.

*being interviewed for Brava magazine (out this month...sneak peek coming soon).

*my first big photoshoot...with Brava magazine (so much fun!).

*filming videos for my new website with the uber-talented Dave Kreisman.

*working with my lovely husband on the beginning of my website redesign (coming soon!).

*falling in love with panting BIG.

*the opportunity to take a 3 month sabbatical to refuel my creativity and get back to painting, writing and living calmly.

looking back at the year 2012, it wasn't about DO-ing, but about  grounding deeply to allow myself to BLOOM. and then doing a bit too much to remind myself to stay calm and relax.

at the end of 2011, i reminded myself that "everything will always fall into place."

in 2012, i learned to make the most time for what and who i really love. i remembered the importance of getting back to what heals and inspires me, so i can share it with the world. and i saw that even the craziest dreams can come true.

this encourages me to KEEP ON DREAMING, always. but with the knowledge that things can come easily and calmly. especially when i'm on the right path.

so as i move into 2013, i commit to BLISS.

What are your words and wishes for 2013? 

......................

ps. if you're looking for something to spark your intentions for the new year, i had so much fun going through the lovely susannah conways's free downloadable Unraveling 2013 Workbook.

happy new year!