December recap, a year of The Traveling Silversmith, and 2024 plans

So I took about a month long break 🫢

Unplanned, but so so needed. December is a busy time of year — both in life and business — and I got a smidge overwhelmed amongst all the expectations, to do lists, and fun this time of year brings. Writing got thrown to the end of the list and honestly was stress-inducing, so I removed the expectation and pushed the next Substack letter to 2024. Thanks for being patient with me! 🫶🏼

December recap

Last we talked I was giving myself permission to let go on the business front and allow myself to enjoy the magic of the holidays a bit more (more cookies, less marketing). I’m proud to say I actually did it — I only did about 10% of the original content plan for December, and folks still showed up! My business had it’s highest sales numbers for a holiday season yet 🎉

After two and a half years building Meghan Elisabeth Art, I feel like I’ve finally found the content, marketing, and flow that works for me — and creates results. I’m so excited to take these lessons into 2024 and see what happens!

But let’s get into what I’ve been up to in December, the spark notes version:

Restocked brick and mortar stores for the holidays
Launched a mini collection of popular + gift-able pieces
Starlink, our satellite internet, broke (my partner fried some stuff by accident 🫣)
We visited friends in Port Angeles and I finally found some cool postcards to send to paid subscribers! (Thanks for your patience, you’ll be getting happy mail very soon! 💌)

Took off two weeks from work to spend with friends + family!
⛷ Went skiing with my family
Had a gingerbread house contest (I made a log cabin, my partner made a mini Bruce 🫢)
Ordered, stamped, and packed all the packaging for the next year
Went to the Chihuly glass museum! It was my first time but I used to carry around a book of his work when I was a kid, so it was extra cool to go see in-person (just art kid things 💀)
Silver materials restocked!
New Starlink in the mail 🥲

Cookies, tea, and books were also consumed this December!

December was super busy and overwhelming, but also so so lovely. I struggle when I’m not in my own space or in a routine, so the two plus weeks of holiday traveling and visiting ended up feeling a little much. But seeing friends and family is always a treat and brings so much love and joy. I think I may just be looking forward to having a house to go back to in-between festivities next year 🙃

Speaking of…

Happy 2024!!

I hope you had a lovely New Years celebration! 🥂

Our original timeline had us leaving after New Years for our 2024 travels, but due to a broken internet set up we’ve been waiting for a new satellite dish to be delivered. It just came in the mail today so hopefully it’ll be installed and functional by this weekend!

The beginning of the year always brings so much discussion (and pressure) to plan and set goals. I think those two things are really important, but they have to come from a place of excitement rather than dread — which often is the case when someone else throws out their framework/10 step process/ super-overwhelming-steps-that-make-me-feel-incapable (you know the ones). This year, I’m trying something different:

First, I’m letting excitement guide me. Second, I’m making it a game. I put together a BINGO card for 2024, and then BINGO cards for each quarter to keep up the excitement (inspired by this video). B is for business/creative, I is for interpersonal, N for never gonna happen/reach goals (include the free space!), G is for achievable goals, and O is for out of my control events.

Why I like it: it takes the pressure off to do every goal on my list, it allows me to dream while also having small goals, and it gives a hit of dopamine every time I cross one off (hello ADHD motivation)! This is the first year I’m trying it, so I’ll give you my final assessment in, oh, 12 months from now 🙃

Some of the notable things in the plan for 2024:

Lots of skiing this winter! We’ll be traveling throughout the mountain west and west coast region of the United States and Canada to ski as much as we can this season. We bought the Indy Pass this year and are so stoked to ski some small mountains and experience real powder (and not just PNW concrete). Cross your fingers for snow! ❄️
Alaska! We’ll be taking 6 whole months this spring and summer to drive to and from Alaska. I’ve never been, and we’re both so excited to experience this remote and gorgeous region of the world!
I’m going back to school 🫢 I’m beginning the process of completing prerequisite courses to apply for nursing school in 2025. The business is still very much my priority throughout this year, but I’m preparing to share my energy with another career in the future!
Lots of collaborations in 2024 for MEA! I have so many plans for the business this year. This is a year of growth and success, I can feel it in my bones and I’m so excited to put in the work to make it a reality 🌟
We’ll be looking for a house 🏡 A bittersweet event. We love the camper, but by the time we’re back from Alaska I think we’ll both be ready to be living in a house again. Don’t worry, Bruce will never be sold if we can help it 🚍

Happy Birthday 🎉

A year ago I started The Traveling Silversmith 🤯

A year ago we moved into a truck camper, I moved my business on the road, and I started writing you letters every other week (ish) about it all. It’s been one of our favorite years to date.

There are 23 letters. Here are some of my favorites: