2017 was quite a year, full of ups and downs, deaths and births, wins and losses. It always feels strange for me to have things personally going well when the state of the world is so dark and crazy. There is dissonance there but in a way motivates me even more in my work of helping people create their own personal sanctuaries.
In January I was in mourning. My Grandmother had just passed away and it was a shock and a huge loss for me and my family. My spirits were lifted after the Women’s March. We sold prints of my painting, “In Chorus” and with your help we raised $15,000 for women in need.
The highlight of Febuary for me was going to my girlfriend’s baby shower in Philli where me and my besties from the last 20 years hung out in a cozy farm house for the weekend and feasted, gossiped, danced, hiked and drank too much wine. The lowlight was the loss of our Uncle John who is deeply missed.
In March we launched our online shop. We’d been working on the design and development of the shop for eight months — and I’d been dreaming about it for years (but afraid to take the leap). It felt really good to get the shop out in the world and has been a game changer for us to have a steady stream of income from the shop instead of relying on outside partnerships for our income. A huge thank you to all who have supported our little online shop!
In May we finished the long, drawn out and stressful search for a Kindergarten for Ida. We got in into the dual language public school of our dreams and felt a lot of relief and excitement!
In June we launched our jacquard textile line with Valdese Weavers. This was a major dream-come-true for me. The line is now available at Calico Corners and Fabric.com.
We also went on a trip to Tulum!
…and to Napa for our Cousin’s wedding!
In July we finished our bathroom remodel of the 2nd bathroom in our home.
I went on a trip to Sante Fe with my girlfriends to celebrate 20 years of friendship.
Also, Ida started Kindergarten!
In September we moved to our new studio that we completely gutted and remodeled over the summer.
In October, our new book, The New Bohemians Handbook, Come Home to Good Vibes came out. It was both exciting a nerve wracking to release this book into the world but it has been SO amazing to hear, already in the few short months that it’s been out, how you all are brining good vibes home with some of the ideas we share here. Honestly it makes me so, so happy.
Also in October, we launched our second round of designs with Selamat to the wholesale market to rave reviews. This photo became our #1 liked photo of all time on IG, garnering nearly 50,000 likes. The bed will be available for purchase from our site in April of 2018.
In November, our bedding line hit select Target stores and target.com. Many styles sold out right away, which was of course very exciting for us.
When I got back home, the very next day, we launched our collection for Pottery Barn Kids.
I spent the last two weeks of the year spending quality time with friends and family, doing arts and crafts with Ida (this is her work) and reflecting on the year, and all that lies ahead.
After writing all of this down, it sure sounds like an extraordinary year. Of course, what I didn’t write about were all of the hardships that this year entailed. Besides the personal losses of loved ones, I also faced challenges at work. I had money issues with my first year of having payroll and a full-time staff. There’s a serious learning curve there. I learned a lot about myself as a boss, my own failings and shortcomings and how my propensity towards avoiding conflict is a dangerous slippery slope when managing a staff. I was traveling a ton and wore myself thin. I dealt with a lot of minor health issues mostly because I wasn’t practicing enough self care, exercising, getting enough sleep, taking my vitamins etc. I also dealt with the omni-present juggle of being a working mom and trying to split myself in two by being present at work and at home. And our hope of getting pregnant with baby #2 did not happen this year either. Alas, as my wise mother says, “You can have it all, just not all at the same time.”
I don’t share this to complain. Quite the opposite, in fact I am DEEPLY grateful for this time. I have an incredible support network that starts with my husband and parents and radiates outwards to my family, extended family, staff, friends, neighbors, and of course you all, my dear readers. I now leap into 2018 with fierce feeling of excitement and abundance for what is to come. I am humbled by the success I was met with in 2017 and hope to continue on this path and pass it forward as much as I can in 2018 and beyond. With a heart full of gratitude,
~JB
from Jungalow http://ift.tt/2lKN95w
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