It’s hard to believe 2025 is over and 2026 is beginning!

New Art

Looking back at 2025, I didn’t draw nearly the number of pictures as in 2024, but I’m happy with the ones I did! It was primarily a Scandinavian year, which makes sense given the number of Scandinavian festivals I attended (and often demonstrated at). I revisited a drawing of twinflower that I made back in 2013, which I had not been satisfied with at the time, and determined that I could freshen it up without redoing it entirely, and I’m pleased with the improvements. Not one to back down from a challenge (at least when it suits me), I also made a flaming tiger, per the request of a friend’s son. The tiger was purely for fun; he wanted to see what I could come up with, and I had fun making it, even if it is outside my usual subject matter.

Three Commissions:

I had three commissions this year, one a portrait of Dessi and the Kids, a pet portrait of a dachshund named Hazel, and a Tiger Swallowtail. Butterflies and flowers are infinitely easier than people (and dogs fall somewhere in between), but at least my husband was able to look at the portrait and say, “Hey, I know those people!”

Card packs

When I order cards for packs, I make a huge order at one time, so it isn’t something that I do often. But after running out of two popular packs, I felt it was worth revamping them a bit and reordering. It also meant finally ordering the Little Critters collection that I’ve been planning on for over a year!

Books

People have long been encouraging me to do my own children’s books, as I do enjoy writing (which you may have guessed by the little poems and descriptions I write for each piece). I had been reading Scandinavian fairy tales over the winter, and I found two that sparked my imagination and could translate well to children’s stories. So I did spend time on a bit of writing this year, and even some sketching for potential illustrations. Unfortunately for me, I find writing much quicker and easier than drawing, and after illustrating the Isaac books by Angela Henderson, I’m well aware how much work illustrating is! But we’ll see what the new year brings and if the sketches turn into color illustrations.

Events

I was invited to a new Scandinavian event this year, the Daughters of Norway Convention in Sioux Falls, SD; it’s held every two years and travels around the country, so I doubt it will be held so close again, at least for quite a few years. Then there were the three usual Scandinavian festivals: Moorhead, Twin Ports, and Hostfest (Minot). At my non-Scandinavian event, I joined my mother-in-law and her mother, sister, and niece as we all had booths together at a holiday craft sale in Burnsville.

Looking ahead:

Besides the usual Scandinavian festivals (Moorhead, Twin Ports, and Hostfest), I’m planning on selling at the Sons of Norway District 1 Convention in Willmar, MN, in June, and at the three-day international FinnFest in Duluth July 31 – August 2. I have a drawing idea in mind as a special for FinnFest – according to Finnish legend, the northern lights came to be from foxes running so fast across the snow that their tails sparked and sent fire up into the sky. It certainly paints a fun image! Finally, I will hopefully be back in Burnsville in November.

In the meantime, per the request of the Swedish Gift Store, I will probably be doing a few drawings based on the town of Lindstrom, like their Swedish coffee pot water tower. It’s possible the Tomte will find himself up there . . . I will also probably keep working on Scandinavian fairy tale picture book idea (with lots of research into the printing/self-publishing process, as that’s a major hurdle to overcome). If I make good progress, I will start sending out hints regarding the story!

It’s nice already having ideas to get the year started!