Well friends, it's that time of year once again! 2024 has come to a close. I started the year with really bad burn-out and some health complications from overworking myself. It took a long time to recover, so I spent the early half of the year really focusing on that recovery. 
I also switched paths and left the toy industry after 4.5 years. I decided it was time to revisit my love for cartoons and my new job has been such a great dive back into that world.  The last few months have been so transformative for myself in both my mental health & creativity.  I can't wait to carry this energy into 2025 and continue this journey! It's going to be a strange year because *gestures at everything* but I'm trying to make the most of my personal bubble. I have a lot to be grateful for. 

Lows:
- Like I mentioned above, I dealt with quite a few health issues this year. I continued to experience that wrist pain I was experiencing at the end of last year. I never really got a straight answer on besides it not being carpal tunnel. Regardless, with lots of rest & stretching I am on the mend from this, but I do have some occasional flare ups. I also had a few other medical firsts such as my first trip to the ER & first CT Scan (1st kidney stone woohoo lol) And lastly, my whole family got COVID for the first time in May. I think I slept that entire week straight. It was so awful! 

- Mom and Dad also dealt with a lot of health issues, and we have a lot of unanswered questions. I'm just so glad I am still able to live with them and help out where I can. ❤️ (shout-out to remote work!!!) 

- We lost our pretty girl, Jasmine, in April. It is always so hard to say goodbye to a pet, but at least we know she's not suffering anymore after being sick for so many years. Jasmine had a long and wonderful life with us, and I'm so grateful I had so much time with her these last few years while living with my parents. 

Highlights:
- My "nephew" Toki was born in January! (technically I think he's actually my 2nd cousin or something of the sort) I'm officially Aunti Kati!! It's been so special being able to watch him grow up all the way across the globe in Japan. I'm so grateful for video chats! I did get to meet him in person though, too, in September. It's also so incredible having been able to see him play with toys I designed. I'll always have little Toki in my mind whenever I make kids content forever and ever. I'm doing it for you, lil man! 

- At the end of April, we adopted our kitten, Ringo! He is now 10 month's old and so full of energy! He and Felix get along great and love to play together. 

- As I hinted to above, I started a new job! 🎉 In September I was hired by Huntress as a Production Artist for their Security Awareness Training (SAT) cartoons. I know it's kind of a big jump to go from designing toys to telling stories about Cyber Security, but it's been so fun being able to work on something story-based after all these years. I can't wait to see what cool stories we tell in 2025! 

- With my new job comes some opportunities to travel! I got to visit Washington DC in October and it was wonderful getting to meet my new co-workers and dive head first into what Huntress is all about. I can't wait for the next one!

- Finally got myself an iPad!! This has been a HUGE game-changer the last 2 months in fixing my burn-out. It makes it so convenient to draw away from my desk and feels like a nice separation from my work life vs my art life. I also got some new bookcases to re-decorate my office. It's coming along nicely! Finally gonna properly display my dolls in a curio cabinet! 

- Deleted my twitter account after 13 years for some much needed social media separation. I mostly just use Instagram now and it's helped me spend less time scrolling tbh! 

Here are some of the goals I achieved this year!
GOALS FOR 2024
- Read 55 books ✔️
- Fill a 100 page sketchbook (Got halfway there!) 
- Crochet 10 projects (5/10)
- Develop my portfolio with more character design exploration and toy and prop designs too! ✔️

(Due to my wrist pain, I wasn't able to draw & crochet as much as I wanted to early this year, so those goals weren't met, but I'm going to set them again for 2025 and hope for a better outcome!) 

So with that, here are my goals for next year!
GOALS FOR 2025
- Read 35 books 
- Do at least 10 craft projects (crochet, painting, clay, etc) 
- Go to at least 5 events / shows! (Movies, Plays, Concerts, Travel, etc! I want to spend more time on experiences this year) 
- Join a virtual 5K walking challenge with a 1 year completion goal. 

And of course our favorite part - let's revisit my art reviews from New Year's past! (see below!)

I hope you all have a wonderful 2025. Cheers! 
Happy New Year!
XOXO
​ - Kati

Wow, what a year! 2022 was easily one of the hardest years so far for me and my family. We really dealt with a lot of hardship, loss, and change. But we made it through and it's time to celebrate the good that happened.  However, I do also want to share the lows as well because sometimes we put such a pressure on ourselves to live a "perfect" life on social media. And sometimes life isn't just a bunch of pretty pictures (or doodles). 

LOWS:
- Mom & Dad both had several health scares. It was hard, but I am so glad I am living with them and can help wherever I can. 
- We lost my childhood cat, Shadow, in April. I miss him so much every single day. 
- We also lost my high school art teacher, Mr. Pyng, in September. I will always carry his legacy in my art and remain forever grateful that he was part of my life. It was such an honor to be asked to speak at his memorial. 
- I really need to get outside more!! I spent way too much time indoors this year. 

HIGHLIGHTS (GOOD & BAD)
-Read 56 books! (108% of my goal) 
-Taught myself crochet / amigurumi (This has been SO FUN!) 
- Kari moved back to Madison! And so did Alyssa! YAY having friends in the area!! 
- Created a personal instagram account (@katidoodlesdiary) to continue on this journey of separating myself from my art. 
- Reconnected with a lot of old friends from both Highschool & College
- Was promoted to Senior Designer at Joyin! Super excited to be taking on more toy projects & growing as a designer every day through work. 
- Adopted my kitten, Felix, who truly was the best part of my year by far. 
- Created a series of fan art that merged Barbie Extra & Disney Princesses together. 

Here are some of the goals I achieved this year!
GOALS FOR 2022
- Read 52 books (one a week!) ✔️
- Create more with a focus on my own growth as an artist✔️ 
- Rebuild my relationship with social media in a healthier way by slowly creating content again with my new perspective in mind. ✔️
- Keep working hard at my job & learning as much as I can about the Toy Industry. ✔️ 

I am really proud of the work I did this year, in reconnecting with myself and feeling much more like a human than I have in recent years.  
So with that, here are my goals for next year!
GOALS FOR 2023
- Read 52 books 
- Get back into walking again! Play lots of Nintendo Switch Sports & Ring Fit, too. Maybe get Felix & Jasmine a cat stroller so I can take them out? 
- Get back into crafting. Sew some plushies & sculpt some dolls with clay! 
- Complete a full sketchbook. Try to draw for fun once a day. 

And, as always, I'll leave you with the MEGA RECAP of my art since 2011 when I first started this tradition. Making my inner-child so proud, each and every day. Love you, lil Kati. 

Have a wonderful New Year! Wishing you all the best. 
XOXO 
Kati

-Another year has passed, so it's time for my annual End of the Year reflection. This is my time to reflect on my art, my life, and my future. For those of you who are new here, this has been a tradition for 10  years now and I'm excited to continue. Let's talk about 2021!
 
If you didn't see my Year In Review from last year, here's a recap of my goals for this year:

GOALS FOR 2021
- Read 12 books ✔️
- Regularly create content for Avery's instagram account. 
- Build my character design portfolio
- Focus on my health again
- Learn to drive?? Maybe????
- Move out?????? Relocate??! Maybe?? 
- Work hard and have fun! ✔️

Although I only really reached 2 of these goals, I still feel like I accomplished a lot this year. Here are the highlights from this year! This time around, they are much more personal as I focused a lot more on myself, my friends, and my family as opposed to my art this year. Although I do have many art related accomplishments I am proud of from this year - they happened at work and they're not quiet ready to share yet. 😏But you'll hear more about all that next year!

HIGHLIGHTS
- Focused more on myself, and less on social media by enjoying hobbies again like sewing, reading, & gaming! 
- Moved into my mom's old office for my Work from Home studio. 
- Got vaccinated and boosted! 
- Had gum reattachment surgery in June
- Lost almost 2,000 followers on Instagram from lack of art posts (and I'm totally happy with it lol!) 
- Played the role of bridesmaid in 2 weddings this summer for my great friends Emily & Jacob in July and or Chelle & Evan in August. 
- Went to Walt Disney World with Kari!! 
- Got to finally see my cousin, Chloe, while she was home visiting from Japan after 2 years abroad.
- Started a virtual overseas "book club" with Chloe to keep us in touch & reading lots!
- Continued working at Joyin, reaching my 1 year anniversary as a full-time remote artist, taking on over 300+ projects
- Read 40 books! (333% of my goal!) 

In 2021, I definitely wanted to focus more on discovering who I am vs who Katidoodlesmuch was. It was like I had two personalities, and needed to reconnect with who I really am instead of who I wanted social media to perceive me as.  I felt a deeper connection with my friends and family regardless of the distance between us. Daily check-ins via text, video chat, etc were such an important part of my year. I'm still living at home with my parents, and treasuring the time we have together every single day. Plus, reconnecting with my love of reading had a very important role in my year.   
​
Here are my goals for next year:
GOALS FOR 2022
- Read 52 books (one a week!) 
- Repair my relationship with movement (This one is definitely important since I live a pretty stagnant life while working from home) 
- Create more with a focus on my own growth as an artist 
- Rebuild my relationship with social media in a healthier way by slowly creating content again with my new perspective in mind.
- Keep working hard at my job & learning as much as I can about the Toy Industry. 

And of course, it wouldn't be a true Katidoodlesmuch end of the year reflection without the best part. Here are ALL my Year End Reviews since 2011. I can't believe I have been doing these reflections for 10 years now! As you flip through, I hope you can see all the hard work I've put into my craft & the improvements along the way. Thank you to everyone who has been there from the beginning, or any step along the way. I am forever grateful for the support. 

I wish you all a wonderful new year filled with love, laughter, and lots of glitter. ✨

​Take care,
​XOXO Kati

It's a bit of a cliché at this point, I'm sure, to reflect on the hardships of 2020. So, I will strictly be sticking to the positives on this post! I had a lot of successes in 2020, and I'm incredibly grateful to be able to say that. 

If you didn't see my Year In Review from last year, I included a few goals for 2020. Here's a recap:

GOALS FOR 2020
- Find a job or freelance projects in animation or toy design
- Read at least 8 books
- Storyboard a scene from Alienated
- Play piano as much as possible!
- Keep building my portfolio
- Travel!!! Lots of weddings coming up! 

Now, here are the highlights from this year (you may notice, I did accomplish a few of the goals from above!!!!) 

HIGHLIGHTS
- Was hired as a freelance designer for Joyin in June. 
- Promoted to full time designer for in November. 
- Read 9 books! 
- Made an instagram account for Avery (@alienated_avery) 
- Started playing piano again
- Continued living with my parents and living at home. 
​
I think the theme of this year for me was definitely Rediscovery. After feeling some of my all time lows earlier this year, I finally feel like I'm myself again. I am able to partake in the hobbies that used to make me so happy. I have fallen in love with art again. I am home, I'm happy, I'm safe. And most importantly - I am healthy. 

Here are my goals for next year:
GOALS FOR 2021
- Read 12 books
- Regularly create content for Avery's instagram account. 
- Build my character design portfolio
- Focus on my health again
- Learn to drive?? Maybe????
- Move out?????? Relocate??! Maybe?? 
- Work hard and have fun! 

Now, for one of the most fun parts of these year end reviews - ALL THE THROWBACKS! 

2019 has certainly been an interesting year for me. With lots of ups and downs, there is lots to reflect on. Things twisted and turned and took me places I never imagined I would be come this time last year. 

HIGHLIGHTS:
- Developed pitch for animated series, Alienated
- Graduated from MIAD, magna cum laude!
- Celebrated my golden birthday on May 22nd
- Moved to Chicago and worked at a tech company for 6 months in production
- Created an animated short for FFRF
- Went to CTNx for the 2nd time
- WENT TO DISNEYLAND!!! 
- Moved back to Madison before the holidays

GOALS FOR 2020:
- Find a job or freelance projects in animation or toy design
- Read at least 8 books
- Storyboard a scene from Alienated
- Play piano as much as possible!
- Keep building my portfolio
- Travel!!! Lots of weddings coming up! 

Thank you so much for all your support this year...and the last decade! I've officially been drawing for 10 years. Check out this thread detailing the last 10 years through my art. 
​

PS: Do you have a 2019 Calendar yet? My Girls & Pets calendar is still available! Purchase today on my Etsy! On sale now for only $12.

Kati Doodles: Girls and Pets!
This semester, we were prompted in Susan Kwas' Professional Practices for the Illustrator course to keep up with a weekly Instagram prompt. I decided to draw weekly illustrations of different girls and their pets. I created 16 images throughout the semester to post each week, and have now compiled the collection into a 2019 Calendar! That's right! My annual calendar is back. ​

​Come see me!
I will be selling my work once again at the MIAD Holiday Sale!  I look forward to seeing you there. 
​Thursday, November 29, 6 – 9 p.m.: Be among the first to see the art and design works for sale. Preview Night admission is $10. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
Friday, November 30, 5 – 9 p.m.: Sale, free admission
Saturday, December 1, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Sale, free admission

Laser Cut Gift Bag
In addition to the vinyl sticker, we also worked in the MIAD maker space using the laser cutting printers to create these gift bags! These will be great skills for my future as a senior and my upcoming thesis show. ​