With 2026 starting and already going strong, I shared a little 2025 Year in Review over on Instagram — a mix of wins, losses, and the reality of running a creative small business. I figured it was worth expanding on that here, because if there’s one thing 2025 taught me, it’s that progress is rarely a straight line.
One of my biggest wins this year was finally tackling the technical side of my website. I changed my server, fixed a bunch of underlying issues, and got yampuff.com running smoothly again. Along with that came the launch of my online shop directly on my site — something I’d been meaning to do for ages. Seeing over 100 sales roll in was genuinely exciting and validating.
On the other hand… the shop still basically operates at a loss. Small business math is brutal sometimes. RIP!
Another major shift this year was leaving my full-time teaching job. After years in the classroom, I transitioned to online tutoring and working on my small business full-time. I now work 100% from home, which is something I don’t take for granted at all. It’s been freeing in so many ways. I have time to go to the gym! To make and attend doctor’s appointments! To just….exist.
That said, the downside has been screen time. So much screen time. My time sitting in a chair, staring at a screen has absolutely skyrocketed, and instead of feeling energized to draw and create after work, I often feel completely screen-fried. And since my creative work is primarily as a digital artist, drawing means even more screen time!! Lately I’ve found myself wanting to read a book or do literally anything offline instead (including staring at walls) which is something I’m still trying to balance.
I also finally finished the Wands Tarot coloring pack, which feels huge. I finished the first half of the set absolutely ages ago. On the flip side… I still need to start and finish the Cups, Coins, and Swords packs! They’re waiting patiently. Or judging me. Hard to say. Whatever the case, the full Tarot coloring set feels almost impossibly far away. But I will get there!
And finally, a very fun win: I had an amazing trip to my hometown, New York this year! It was one of those trips that refills your creative cup in the best way. I saw Hadestown. I went shopping! The loss? I spent a lot of money. Will I ever recover financially? Who knows.
Looking Ahead in 2026:
As I move into the new year, I’m trying to take all of this as information rather than judgment. Wins and losses both count. They’re all part of the same story.
One thing I’m especially excited about heading into 2026 is my recent collaboration with Colouring Heaven — my Magic Bottles Coloring Collection. This was such a fun project to work on, full of whimsical details and magical little worlds tucked inside bottles. If you love fantasy coloring and tiny worlds, this one was made with you in mind! You can check it out right here!
And you know I wouldn’t leave you hanging without a New Year’s Freebie! To kick off the new year creatively, I’ve also made a free Year of the Fire Horse coloring page for 2026. The Fire Horse is all about bold energy, movement, and transformation — which honestly feels like a pretty fitting theme after the year I’ve had. You can grab that freebie right here and color your way into the new year! Just click on the image and you can download, or visit my Ponies coloring page collection!
Thanks, as always, for being here and supporting my art! Here’s to learning, creating, and even more coloring in 2026. Happy coloring!
✨🐎🔥
What is your Chinese Zodiac? I’m a fire rabbit!