My Favorite Things 2024
The holiday season is here! I have wanted to start decorating since October, but I am a very strict not until after Thanksgiving kind of gal. This year I am looking forward to cozy days spent on the couch with movies and books, baking, and decorating. I'm feeling a very DIY holiday spirit this year and I’m looking forward to sharing what I come up with with you soon. Holiday season means gift giving season for a lot of us, so I put together a short list of some of my favorite things in case they help you cross some people off of your holiday list. I would also love to hear about your favorite things, so please post them in the comments or DM me over on Instagram.
For Your Home
Original Art (from me!) 😁
This fall, I took the leap and started my Etsy shop. We are still in early days, but this is the first time that you can purchase original art from me. Currently you can find fall and winter landscapes and a series of abstracts. Most of these paintings are small and my favorite way to display them is in a magnetic acrylic frame like this one.
Title: Aspen Meadow; Dimensions 5 x 3.25 inches
Tea Towels
I never feel like I have enough towels for my kitchen, and I have slowly been adding more to my collection. As I have started designing more for Spoonflower, I have fallen in love with their tea towels. There are so many styles! Here is my 2025 Calendar Tea Towel. If you are a quilter, you can also check out my full fabric collection TREAD on Spoonflower. They are running pretty great sales this time of year too!
For the Artist
Let’s Make Art
If you have followed along for a while, you know that my art journey started with Let’s Make Art. My parents got me a subscription box, a painting palette, and two paintbrushes and soon I was obsessed. If you are looking for an easy introduction to watercolor, Sarah Cray is an absolute delight to learn from. She even has watercolor workbooks now that look really fun. I recommend anything that Let’s Make Art does.
Table Easel
My studio is a 2 x 4 foot table set up in the corner of my living room in my one bedroom apartment. During long painting sessions I was finding that my neck and shoulders were getting tight, which led me to explore easel designs. Since I have such a small space, this table easel is perfect for my space. It is adjustable, and if I do not want it, it folds flat and goes on a shelf. The one I have is the Adjustable Flat Surface Wood Table Easel by Artist's Loft for Michael’s.
My Favorite Art Supplies
Winsor & Newton Watercolor Paints
I started with a small set of six tubes that I put into my own pans.
I started with a set of twelve.
I love these because they are waterproof and I can use them in paintings if I want.
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For the Reader
I read a lot, but I decided to narrow down my list to only two books and then a handful of author recommendations. Check out your local bookstore if you are buying books this year! If you are also obsessed with reading, you can follow me on Goodreads.
Sonny Boy
by Al Pacino
I really enjoy memoirs. I find learning about how people tick to be endlessly fascinating. Al Pacino’s memoir delivered on so many levels. I have always enjoyed his films, but knew very little about his theater work. His descriptions of growing up as a kid in New York City were so fun to read. It reminded me of listening to my grandparents talk about the past.
Ultraprocessed People: The Science Behind Food that Isn’t Food
by Chris van Tulleken
I am still talking about this book to everybody. I have been learning so much about how the decisions you make in your 30s can have a significant impact on your 60s, 70s, and beyond. This book is less of an “eat this, not that” books than a look at our industrial food system and how there is little regulation regarding what constitutes food rather than a cheap (literally cheap) impersonation of food. I’m not going to lie that I have changed some of my eating habits, like no longer drinking juice or eating cereal.
Other Authors I Love
Simone St. James (if you love a modern ghost story)
Keri Lake (if you like gothic and romance)
Laura Thalassa (for the romantasy fans out there)
Alex Finlay (if you like thrillers and mysteries)
For Work
Happy Planner
I currently have the 2025 Sunny Oasis Spiral Planner, which is their vertical classic layout. What I love about this planner is its goal setting pages for each month, but also the three tier vertical layout. I work a day job, I have a life, and I’m trying to build this art business “in my free time,” so this planner lets me compartmentalize all of those parts of my day in one spot.
Wooden Balancing Board
Have you heard that sitting too much is bad for you? I feel like I am constantly bombarded with how I should be standing more and while I do have a standing desk at work, my coworker got me hooked on a balancing board to go with it. The one I have is from Yes4All and it is basically a wooden board on top of a half sphere and you attempt to balance on it while at your standing desk. I LOVE THIS THING. I think it just gives you an opportunity to fidget a bit while you are working, which has increased my time spent standing so much while I am working.
Etsy Shops I Love
Lisa with SchwinglineShop | schwinglineshop.etsy.com
Lisa is the queen of stickers, keychains, and she currently has the cutest holiday ornaments and door corner decorations. She even offers personalization.
Anamarie of RockyMountainMamaCO | rockymountainmamaco.etsy.com
Anamarie creates beautiful handcrafted wooden items for your kiddo or your home. I purchased a bunch of her rattles for my friends that are having babies this year and I couldn’t be happier.
Artists I am Following
Casey of Well Spring Designs
This year, I loved following Casey’s deep dive into quilted clothing. As I was creating my first fabric collection (check that out on Spoonflower), I had dreams of creating her Marietta Dress with one of my fabric designs. Alas, time got away from me, but it is on my bucket list for 2025!
Bethanie Pack
Bethanie Pack is a local Colorado artist that specializes in landscape paintings inspired by the outdoors (sound familiar). I love the colors and brush strokes of her paintings and am so impressed and inspired by her plein air skills. If you are local, you can check her out at a market.
Katie Bromme
Katie Bromme paints these amazing watercolor landscapes. They always seem so peaceful and that she really captures the essence of a place. Every time I see one of her new paintings, I wish I could just step inside of it.
Emily LeMoine
If you have a pet, you have to check out Emily’s work. I discovered Emily when I first started painting and I found her pet portraits and custom ornaments to be truly amazing. Her animal-themed Valentine’s also always make me laugh.
What are you loving this year?
Let me know in the comments or send me a DM over on Instagram.