One Day in December {Beyond Blessed}

Design by Cris of Kiss My Tulle

It's that time of year again - when the lovely ladies of TWIPS look back at their year in review and relish in the joys, successes and maybe even some heartaches and make bigger and better plans for the upcoming year!!  I still feel just as lucky to be a part of this group as I did on day one - there are so many amazing women to look up to and go to for advice, it truly is wonderful!  A very big thank you to Layla for organizing this time around :o)

Image by JaNicki Photography

Since my post last year so many things have changed - like completely made a 180 changed :o)  Last year I talked mostly about my first miscarriage in February and this year I sit here with a belly full of baby!!  In October of this year, I wrote about our pregnancy journey - the trials we faced while trying to get (actually stay) pregnant and the road we took to this baby.  So I won't go into too much detail again, but all I can say is that we are beyond blessed to be in this position - less than 6 weeks away from meeting our little one.  We never gave up on our dreams of having a child and they are finally coming true!!  With each little kick or elbow jab I feel like the luckiest woman on earth :o)

We have been just as blessed with our "other baby" - Baci!  Here are some of the amazing things that have happened in 2012:

1}  We re-branded and are now officially simply Baci Designer!!  This is something we have wanted to do for a while and it is finally finished - our new brand truly showcases the work we do and the clients we want to attract.  I couldn't be more happy with the final look and I can't wait for all the other pieces to fall in line (new collateral, site, etc.) in 2013!

Image by Arielle Doneson Photography

Image by JaNicki Photography

Image by Arielle Doneson Photography

2}  We got to work with some amazing people!!  First we participated in our very first Styled Shoot with Arielle Doneson Photography and Kirkbrides.  Bonus for 2013 - some of the images from this shoot will be published in print!!  Already checking things off our "Goals List" before the year even begins!!  In the Spring we styled a family photo shoot with JaNicki Photography - something not wedding-related but seriously SO much fun!!  Already looking forward to doing more again next Spring!  We also coordinated our very first Styled Shoot (and did our first public floral work!) - a 1970's Chevron-inspired Bridal Shower - working again with Arielle Doneson Photography.  The images from these three shoots were published in Style Me Pretty, Baby Lifestyles Digital Magazine and 100 Layer Cake - truly a dream come true to be featured in some of my favorite blogs :o)

Just recently we completed yet another shoot with Arielle (our brains work so well together it's just common sense to keep collaborating with one another, lol!) with an Anna Karenina theme!  The results were insanely amazing and we can't wait to share them with the world :o)

Image by Caroline Hardoby

3}  Our shirley | edith line has officially gone wholesale!!!  Our couture kraft occasions cards are currently available locally in both NOTO locations and in Brooklyn at Norman & Jules.  Our goal for 2013 is to keep that going strong!

4}  We worked with so many amazing clients this year - including our very first international stationery jobs, both of which ended up on the other side of the world in Australia!!  We worked on several amazing weddings (designing custom stationery and coordinating) as we always do and took on some other fun projects like business cards, personal stationery, lots of showers (both baby and bridal!), birthday parties, charity events and even a housewarming party (that we planned in less than a week!).  The diversity of projects is so enjoyable and I feel like I've learned so much this year!!

5}  Like last year, we also continued to teach at The University of Akron for their Continuing Education and Workforce Development Program.  However, this year I authored and taught my own class not one set out for me.  While that was hands down the scariest thing I've taken on in business, it was an amazing success and I've met so many wonderful women while teaching.  The aspirations and goals of the ladies enrolled in my classes remind me of how we are always learning and that it's never too late to take on something new.  In 2013, I'll continue to teach, once again with a new class written by me - I am so looking forward to it!

Be sure to check out Lissahn's inspirational post from yesterday and Wendy's (another soon to be momma!!) post tomorrow!!