Winter Solstice reflection and Intention setting

Every year on the Winter Solstice, I set aside time to reflect on my year and set intentions for the year to come.

I am feeling very proud of the hard work my team and I put in this year, particularly around launching our newest collection, Native. We kicked off the launch with a preview event at LOCZI Design for our Bay Area clients and it was so cool to share the inspiration and process in person. I love any opportunity to connect with designers face to face, so this event (along with trips to my Austin and LA showrooms) were definitely among my 2018 highlights. Here are some other highlights of the past year:

Our Botanica wallpaper was featured in Sunset Magazine’s Best of the West

We introduced a monthly insider newsletter, the B-Side, full of multi-sensory editorial content

Increased sales by 70% compared to 2017 and generated a profit for the second year in a row

I brought on a PT employee and paid myself a salary (actually, stipend or bonus might be a better word for it, but still!)

We donated 7% of our year-end profit to organizations that offset carbon with amazing, impactful projects (more info on this to come!)

Our Native Collection wallpapers were a finalist in Interior Design’s Best of Year awards (Residential Wallpaper category)

On a more personal note, I feel like I’ve grown into my new role as a mother and have found more flow between parenting and my work. Gotta say, that feels REALLY empowering.

What a year! So what’s next?

When Laila was born, I gave up my San Francisco studio and moved into a home workspace. After nearly two years of working from home, the convenience no longer outweighs the isolation and loneliness. This year, I am planning to expand my creative community, especially within my area of the California coast. Some ideas I am considering include teaching workshops, building a shared creative workspace, and lots of collaborative projects. Very excited to explore a variety of opportunities and see what manifests.

I also plan to increase the time I dedicate to designing and making art. This is my favorite part of my job, and has been too often pushed aside. If any designers or artists out there have tips for making this shift, I’d LOVE to hear them!

Wishing you all a happy holiday season, and a wonderful year ahead!