Happy 2018! I've never done a recap like this before, but since so much happened this year I thought it would be fun to break down everything this business of mine accomplished month by month.
January 2017
• I spent the first month of the year designing my first fabric collection for Cloud9 Fabrics. Most licensing collaborations work far in advance due to production and marketing involved. So about a year later I got to see the collection launch!
• Also in January I started my first series of the year, #30PaintedThings! This helped me practice painting all kinds of things; I need to go back and turn some into new patterns
February 2017
• I designed Valentine's Day themed wine labels for Speak Wines which launched this month!
• I started my next series, #30PaintedFlorals, which sparked a still running love affair with painting florals. These series are so helpful for developing your style, and keeping your skills fresh
March 2017
• I started to experiment painting with acrylic instead of my usual watercolor. Not so much an easy task at first!
• I shared a series of watercolor pattern digital wallpapers on Design*Sponge
• I launched my first enamel pin design
April 2017
• My floral series was shared on Martha Stewart's blog!
• HGTV Magazine included one of my prints in their May issue!
• Nervously booked my first official portrait session with a professional photographer and ended up having a blast! Darian was so much fun to work with, and investing in photos to use across my site and online was well worth it. I plan to do a fresh session in 2018.
• Set up a pop up shop at West Elm with my friend Maggie of Walkingman Studios
May 2017
• A new print collaboration with Greetabl launched
• Worked on lots of things behind the scenes including branding for Poppy & Bear, Prim'd Marketing, and packaging for Love Life Soap Co. throughout the summer. I will actually be doing less branding projects this year.
• Visited family in Alabama and participated in Art in the Park in Jasper, AL with my mom and step-dad (so much fun!)
June 2017
• More branding and design work - survived summer in New Orleans!
• Started #30MorePaintedFlorals (still a few more left to complete...these are mostly acrylics)
• Launched my Casetify collection of phone cases
July 2017
• GOT ENGAGED while visiting California!!
• Started working with Lulujo Baby on fun patterns for little ones
• Appeared in my first podcast interview - one of my major goals for 2017!
August 2017
• Worked really hard on and finally launched my second Skillshare class, From Painting to Pattern: How to Create Repeat Patterns using Photoshop. You'll see more classes from me in 2018!
September 2017
• My collaboration with BIRCHBOX launched (!!)
• Got to see samples of my fabric collection, Gather
• Launched new tea towels to the site! Tea towels are actually difficult to produce, and I was thrilled to complete the design of these. More to come this year!
• Continued #30MorePaintedFlorals
• Celebrated my 28th birthday and we took our engagement photos! Wedding planning has also begun... :D
October 2017
• Continued painting, and getting products ready for the holiday season
• Took a break from most client work to focus on my product line and 2018 calendar
• Appeared in my friend Jenni's podcast, The Type A Creative
November 2017
• Showed my work and new products at Palmer Park in New Orleans
• New prints for Lulujo Baby launched!
• Collaborated with Oh So Beautiful Paper on a free holiday menu download
December 2017
• Showed my work at Palmer Park and the Ogden Museum in New Orleans
• My fabric collection Gather finally launches!!
• Sold out of my 2018 calendar design (can't wait to make next year's)
• Created my second Skillshare class Expressive Florals: A 7-Day Painting Challenge
• Worked on some fun things behind the scenes that don't launch for a WHILE
• Tried to take a break at the end of the year, continued wedding planning
Thoughts on 2018
This year I am excited about everything ahead business-wise, but for now I am focusing on getting married in March and moving (still in New Orleans) even before that. Actually, I am moving right next to my studio space. So personally, it's a big year!
One of my main goals for this year is to find more balance with my work and life, which means taking on only my most favorite types of projects and projects that make sense for my time involved. I will be focusing ALOT this year on evolving my daily systems to be more efficient, fun, and effective. I am also taking this year to finally start painting original art at a larger scale (size AND quantity wise). I would like to focus more on textiles and products for the home decor world, as well as original art that collectors will love to have in their homes. I will see how this plays out :)
Would you like to see something from me in 2018? Please share in the comments or send an email to hello@julietmeeks.com! Thank you so much for following along with me on this journey! For all the latest updates, find me on Instagram where I tend to post more often. Happy New Year!
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