Life is so weird. Time flies by and so much stays the same, yet so much changes. I’m always trying to move forward and make decisions that launch me forward towards my goals. Looking back over the past two years of queenikathleeni, it seems like I’ve been spending a lifetime creating for my brand but at the same time two years really isn’t long at all. I think of all of the work I will look through when I’ve been doing this for thirty-five plus years and all of the beauty that I will be surrounded by. It’s such a great little day dream. The decision that really launched me forward was when I decided I did in fact want to create for life. How wonderful.

This past year has been nothing but an incredibly challenging blessing. The flow of work is still the most challenging aspect of my business. I either have way too much work or not nearly enough and while I’m still working upwards of 35 hour weeks at my day job, there seems to never be enough time in the day to accomplish all of my dreams. I have too many ideas that cost too much money and here I am, making them happen little by little, living a life filled with passion.

As I look around right this second, there are dishes piled up in the sink, my apartment is still not set up like I want it to be and don’t even get me started on the laundry that’s hidden in a closet because those things have to wait. I have canvases stacked in my car, an entire closet dedicated to storage for shipping materials and product storage, paint under my fingernails, and we haven’t been grocery shopping for a good four weeks. It seems like the sacrifices are endless when you start a business when you’re 22. I see all of the vacations my friends are going on…things I might never be able to afford. I see the weekends slip away while I’m working on a big project that I’m getting underpaid for, yet I still want this life. I still want this life because it’s my mess and this is my life’s purpose.

I have so many dreams that I haven’t even scratched the surface of, but I think of where I started and where I am now after two years and there is no doubt in my mind that I will be able to accomplish all of these things. I have met some of my best friends because of my artwork and I’m forever in debt to the people who have helped me get to this point out of just the kindness in their heart. Thank you for following, sharing, liking, commenting, purchasing and supporting in any way that you have in the past two years. I am forever grateful.

Happy 2nd birthday queenikathleeni. You are a beautiful ray of sunshine in this messy life and I’m kind of proud to call you mine.

xo-

qk