I’m halfway through this series, and into January so no more 2007 posts – you get 2018 instead.
2008
January 2008 has some very big news as I handed in my notice at my corporate design job and got ready for freelance life! I had another exhibition of my fabric purses (+ matching badges and notebooks), in Falkirk of all places. I was still busy writing Tokyo Shopping Guide posts from our second Japan trip including forever faves Kiddyland and Loft, and cool views and art at the Mori Tower. And I shared 7 random things about myself.
2009
January 2009 has another big milestone – the first product featuring my own characters – a Cakeify & Friends badge set. It’s still humbling that people choose my own characters over more well-known brands. There was also some new handmade things and an average day in the life. Sweetest is my resolutions post as it included a hope of staying self-employed for a year, and here I still am almost 11 years later!
2010
January 2010 starts with more resolutions that were mostly successful. I made enough money on Zazzle to order some vintage button shoes for myself – and I still wear them! I was using my gocco printer a lot, making mini button bags and packaging for orders. I was also amused to discover that I still use most of my favourite iPhone apps from 2010.
2011
January 2011 has a big Japan theme as I announced my Kawaii Japan book and shared some of the pages. I also designed a matching badge set and wrote a little guide to Osaka. My resolutions this year including a big Project Clearout, something that’s on my mind again this January.
2012
January 2012 has lots of new things – Bunny Squares pattern, wooden brooches and the first beginnings of my Look Around characters. On the other hand, it was time to say goodbye to Book Hearts, one of my most popular products ever. I made some big resolutions, which were way too ambitious, but I also started reading outings for lunch/cake and a book, which I should really get back to.
2013
January 2013 starts with more general resolutions and my first monthly wallpaper challenge, plus I reorganised my pinboard. I redesigned some of my cards, added my first ebook to Amazon and got two surprise gifts: a Cakeify pillow and an Aranzi Aronzo purse.
2014
January 2014 has no resolutions at all (because I was in the middle of deciding to sell my share of the Glasgow flat and move to the seaside) but I updated all my wallpaper calendars and shared some tips for keeping a 5 year diary. I started my Kaiwa Japan interview series with Emma of Emuse, designed a new Valentine’s card and bought myself a wallet from Zazzle.
2015
January 2015 gets back to resolutions (mostly successful) plus a new monthly wallpaper challenge and a more in-depth guide to keeping a diary. Looking back, I shared my handmade snowflake Christmas cards and the amazing hamper I got from Pusheen! I started my Payhip store to sell digital files, added some new fabric coin purses to the range and shared some fun behind the scenes photos.
2016
January 2016 has some exciting resolutions, a list of craft plans (that I failed miserably at) and another wallpaper challenge with patterns. I was busy planning my next trip to Japan and also shared a tour of my home studio. And we welcomed the next limited edition, Cotton Candy Ghosts!
2017
January 2017 has another set of mostly-failed resolutions and I announced my new monthly challenge of paper craft tutorials. I shared the handmade Christmas gifts I’d made, bought an iPad & Apple Pencil. and spent a lot of time snuggled under the Solar System comforter I bought from Society6. I added some new polymer stamps to my shop, plus a whole new product, sticker sheets.
2018
January 2018 has my best set of resolutions yet, that were mostly successful, plus I completed my reading challenge. Asking For Trouble got a new logo and I swapped my monthly challenge for a set of calendar bookmarks. I also started a bullet journal and shared some handmade gifts.
If you’re reading this in the future, you can also check out all my posts for January 2019.
