A Season of Change

As 2024 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year that has been full of twists and turns. It’s been a year of personal and professional growth, challenges, and big decisions, and I’m entering 2025 with a renewed focus and sense of purpose. This season of change feels like the perfect time to share an update on what’s been happening with Noticeably Noted and what’s on the horizon.

A Heartfelt Thank You

First and foremost, THANK YOU. Whether you’ve purchased a design, favorited an item, shared a social media post, or simply taken the time to explore my shop, your support has meant the world to me. I’m so incredibly grateful for each and every one of you.

From the very beginning, this community has been a source of encouragement and inspiration. Knowing that my designs bring joy to your homes and lives motivates me to keep creating and striving for more. Your continued support allows me to do what I love, and for that, I am endlessly thankful.

A Year of Highs, Lows, and Change

A Summer of Connection: During my first break in employment this summer, I took a much-needed trip to the East Coast to see family and friends. It was a beautiful opportunity to reconnect with loved ones, recharge, and find moments of joy amid uncertainty. Being surrounded by familiar faces reminded me of the importance of slowing down and appreciating the little things.

Health Journey: This year has been a lesson in recognizing the ebb and flow of life and how priorities shift over time. At the start of the year, I focused heavily on nutrition and strength training, losing about 20 pounds. However, as the stress of my second contract falling through combined with a challenging start to the school year for my kids hit hard this fall, I found my focus shifting elsewhere, and I regained the weight. While this was frustrating, it reminded me that progress isn’t always linear. There are seasons where health goals take center stage and others where family or career require more of my energy. I’m learning to give myself grace and trust that I’ll return to those goals when the time is right.

Creative Growth: For the first time in years, I carved out time for personal growth by taking creative classes. I finally dove into learning Procreate, which has added a new layer to my love of illustration. I’ve also been exploring Canva for photo editing and marketing images, which has been a game-changer for my business. Reigniting my creativity has been one of the most rewarding parts of this year, and I can’t wait to apply these skills to new designs.

Navigating Business Challenges

You may know that I’ve been a full-time web designer for over 15 years, and Noticeably Noted began as a hobby business to help me hone my print design skills. This year, I lost my full-time job not once but twice due to contracts not being funded. While this was incredibly stressful, I’m ending the year on a hopeful note with a new job starting next week.

While there have been years where Noticeably Noted outpaced my full-time income, 2024 marked my lowest revenue since the first year of the business. One major factor has been Etsy’s policy changes. Out of an abundance of caution, I’ve decided to put my Etsy shop into vacation mode indefinitely to review every design and ensure full compliance with their policies. This was a difficult decision, but one I felt was necessary to protect the integrity of my work.

Focus in 2025: A Creative Journey

Despite the challenges, I’m incredibly excited about what’s next for Noticeably Noted. I’ve made a big decision:

All designs going forward will be 100% my own original artwork.

In 2025, my focus will be honing my illustration style and creating new designs from scratch. I’m also planning to reimagine some fan favorites in my own artistic voice. This is an exciting (and time-intensive) journey, so the first new collection likely won’t debut until spring 2025. My goal is to illustrate the top-selling pets in my unique style by the end of the year.

While this means fewer new products in the short term, I believe this shift will lead to a more cohesive and personal collection that truly reflects my vision.

What’s Next: Professional and Personal Goals

As I enter this new season, I’m excited to embrace both professional and personal growth. On the professional side, I’m diving into my new career while continuing to refine my creative skills. On the personal side, I’m ready to:

Resume strength training (hello, sore muscles!).
Actually hit my daily water goals (or at least try—I’m looking at you, neglected water bottle).
Continue exploring creative classes to keep the inspiration flowing.
Make time to journal (I always feel better after I get the never-ending list of thoughts out of my head and onto paper).

Most importantly, I’m reminding myself to be gentle as I balance everything. Life’s a marathon, not a sprint, and sometimes the best thing you can do is take a deep breath, laugh at the chaos, and keep moving forward.

From Chaos to Creativity: Here’s to 2025

This year has been a rollercoaster, but it’s also been a year of growth, reflection, and new beginnings. Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Your support has kept me going through the tough times and motivated me to keep dreaming big.

Here’s to a bright and creative future for Noticeably Noted. I can’t wait to share what’s next with you.

With gratitude,
Laurel Hamilton
Owner & Designer, Noticeably Noted