Year-In-Review

Wow! I feel so grateful to have spent another year creating for you. Here are some reflections of 2024:

I think I started the year off strong, feeling super creative and confident that I could continue making handmade products for an entire year. Each month was like a mini journey for me as I worked to develop characters and ideas. I typically work intuitively and love being in the flow and open to discoveries. With this in mind, I’m going to share an overview of each doll I made in 2024 and some thoughts about them.

Margo

She was one of the most fun to create and I love that she is based on a real girl. Margo got balloons added at the end because a collector insisted they be included. I’m so glad accepted the challenge because it was such a fun addition.

Frankie & True

OMG! My first attempt at adding a companion and it was the most adorable Corgi named True. I’d vote this duo the most likely to become my first children’s book characters.

Sundae

She was created after several failed attempts. I realized I was doing that thing my mama always says gets in my way-thinking too much. Sundae reminded me to have fun or don’t do it. I’m thankful for that.

Tallulah

I was thinking about visiting my friend Deepa in Amsterdam and remembering her tell me about the Tulip fields and then that sent me down the rabbit hole of researching flower markets of the world. Then Tallulah was born! p.s. I made the tiny tulips out of paper & wire, and the tiny tote out of canvas material.

Mayte

This month was a challenge for me emotionally and creatively. I wasn’t feeling especially inspired by anything until I remembered the Met Gala was happening! I wish I had been brave enough to go avant garde, but ended up with an ode to gold.

Junie

Hello doodle boots! Okay, my inspiration came directly from a shoe brand I admire-Brother Vellies. Then naturally being from Texas, I had to add a cowgirl hat. It took me forever to find these hats and then I had to break out my hand drill to modify them. Totally worth it!

Starlie

I volunteered to work at check-in at Sub-summit this month where I met a subscription box owner named Starlie. I immediately stole her name for this month’s muse. I love how she turned out, especially the sequin collar. Also, fun fact-I made a patriotic backdrop by glueing red, white, and blue strips of reflective metallic foil to cardboard. It was quite the adventure :)

Saylor

I absolutely love Saylor. She would be my 2nd runner up for most likely to be a storybook character.

Some of my favorite details are the mixed patterns of stripes and polka dots in her outfit, the tiny anchor on her top, fiery red hair, and most of all that paper origami sailboat hat.

She was SO much fun to imagine!

Astrid

By far the most popular, Astrid is a circus-themed ornament that truly stole the show. She was my favorite to create this year and also received the most positive feedback from collectors. I’m not sure why, but I can just feel her backstory so vividly.

Fun fact: I have a mental “name file cabinet” where I collect names from all sorts of places. I got the name Astrid from a movie called White Oleander with Michelle Pfeiffer. Her daughter’s name was Astrid, and I remember thinking how unique it was.

Dorothy

Who doesn’t love The Wizard of Oz? As I was thinking about what costume a Mini Muse might wear in October, Dorothy instantly came to mind. To give it a little more of a Mini Muse twist, I swapped her iconic ruby slippers for red wellies and paired them with a gingham romper. I also added a woven basket, which was so much fun to create. If you’d like to see the process, check out this reel!

Rory

I definitely binge-watched Gilmore Girls this month, and it inspired me in more ways than one!

Rory is my little forest forager and the first Mini Muse to have an actual hand. I made it using polymer clay and baked it on a wood dowel for a natural, earthy touch.

I often gather inspiration by creating a list of words related to a central theme, and that’s exactly what I did this month. My list included words like: Autumn, mushrooms, forest, foliage, woodland creatures, acorns, crisp leaves, and cozy vibes. These words really helped guide my creative process.

Felicity

There’s something truly special about watching the ballet from backstage. In college, I worked as a quick changer to earn extra money, which allowed me to attend every nightly performance of The Nutcracker by The Tulsa Ballet. I was even asked to take flowers on stage for the principal ballerina, and those few seconds on stage were magical. Needless to say, I had to honor this unforgettable memory by creating my own version of a Nutcracker ornament. Hello Felicity!

Whew! What an incredible year of creativity. I’ve really enjoyed putting together this review because it allows me to reflect on everything I accomplished in 2024 with my subscription business. As I move into year 3, I didn’t want to rush ahead without taking a moment to celebrate and honor each month’s creations. Looking back at everything I made this year reminds me of how much growth and joy I’ve experienced, and I’m so grateful for all the support and inspiration that has fueled my journey. Here's to another year of creativity and new milestones!

xo,

Nikki

P.S. If you’d like to join in on the fun become a member of the Collector’s Club!