Small Steps (Leading to Now)

2012 · 2011 · 2010 · 2009 · 2008 · 2007 · 2006

Mar/April 2012

* Just in time for Spring, new garden products are introduced! See my post with pictures about it here.
* My new studio changed my world. See what I’m talking about here.
* Our home was featured on Design Mom’s blog in her series “Living With Kids.” I’m a huge Design Mom fan and was honored have our home spaces on her gorgeous blog. See/read feature here.
* Launched my once a year sale of The Whole Shabang. It was a huge success. This was the third year I’ve offered the one day sale – always super fun.

Jan/Feb 2012

* My brand new e-course launched – a collaborative project with Beth Nicholls, called The Business Soul Sessions: Where Passion Meets Profit. The e-course was a great success with amazing feedback.
* Brand new gift, home, and stationery products debuted at the Atlanta Gift Show. Read more here.
* Launched kindness missions – love this project. You can see the first kindness mission here.
* Made a huge decision and moved into a brand spankin’ new awesome studio (outside of my house and into the Pearl District). More of the story here.
* Got a new logo! Full story here.
* My artwork was featured on a full page (back page) of the latest issue of Where Women Create magazine.
* Apartment Therapy featured my home’s half doors (an alternative to baby gates). See feature here.

Nov/Dec 2011

* Made a huge decision to scale back the online shop in a major way. I wanted to follow my heart, big risks and all. More details here.
* Held a last minute cyber Monday sale which was a huge success (over 300 orders, over 500 products sold). Read more about it on my blog (a thank you note) here.

Sept 2011

* Attended  The Creative Connection Event as a panelist and pitch slam expert. Read/See more details on my blog.
* My article on how to paint a painting without one single paintbrush was published in the Sept issue of Somerset Apprentice. Read/see more details on my blog.
* Launched Hello Soul. Hello Business with award winning entrepreneur Beth Nicholls and opened up registration for our upcoming e-course called The Business Soul Sessions: Where Passion Meets Profit. Read/see more details here.
* Happily celebrated five years of running my creative biz!

Aug 2011

* Many brand new products were added to the online shop from my home decor line, including clocks, photo frames, mirrors, and so much more.
* My article on “Pricing Tips for Your Creative Business” was published on The Etsy Blog.
* Redesigned the blog to match the new and improved website and added a much requested “Search” feature.

July 2011

* I ran my e-course, Flying Lessons: Tip + Tricks To Help Your Creative Business Soar a second time – super successful and so fun to help so many creatives chase their business dreams!.
* My brand new exclusive home decor line launched with Creative Co-op. It was a dream come true partnership and products included furniture, pillows, and many other creative home decor items. Read/see more here.
* New products debuted via my gift line with DEMDACO, including many many creative space products (think magnet boards, organizers, new wall art formats, and soooooo much more). Read/see more here.
* I have a several page feature inside Jenny Doh’s highly anticipated new book, Art Saves. I am so honored to be a part of this book and its message. It speaks to my heart, big time.

May 2011

* My greeting card line launched with Calypso Cards at the NYC Stationery Show – super exciting for me. See/read more here.
* Launched a brand new online shop with improved features functionality. Love the update. Read/see more here.
* My work was represented by my licensing agent, Courtney Davis, at the SURTEX show in NY.

Mar/Apr 2011

* Was the featured artist in the March issue of Somerset Studio. This was a dream come true – a 10 page spread that features an article about my creative journey plus many of my latest paintings.  Huge thanks to Christian Olivarez (and Rice Freeman-Zachery for writing the article) for this amazing opportunity! Read more of my thoughts about this on my blog.
* Announced big plans to partner with Creative Co-op for a home decor product line!

Jan/Feb 2011

* Lots of exciting new products debuted at the Atlanta Gift Show including tons of new wall art, artist sketchbooks, whimsical everyday ornaments, a holiday line, and highly anticipated girlie figures! See/read more here on my blog.
* The Kelly Rae Roberts Collection (my line with DEMDACO) ranked #1 alongside Willow Tree in the inspirational gifts category in the Jan issue of GiftBeat -. This is awesome news – thank you, retailers and buyers! See/read more here on my blog.
* Checks! Kelly Rae checks debuted (so fun). Read + see more here.

Sept/Oct/Nov 2010

July/Aug 2010

* My new e-book series launched called Flying Lessons: Tips + Tricks To Help Your Creative Biz Soar! Super proud of these. Response has been tremendous (thank you!)
*We moved into the old 1911 bungalow that we completely gutted and renovated in 13 weeks. It was a huge accomplishment and undertaking. And it was an amazing feeling to finally move it. Photos and tour here!
* My wall art line ranked #1 in the July issue of GiftBeat in the wall art category. This was HUGE! More details here.
* Was featured in the August issue of Where Women Create (love this magazine!) where I shared an interview on the business side of what I do!

May/June 2010

* Signed on with a reputable licensing agent + got my first logo all in the same week (!) – details here.
* Traveled to the NYC Surtex show where my work was represented – more details here!
* Got super delirious during my 24th week of pregnancy – see for yourself
* Lots of new product debuted at the Atlanta Gift show, including interactive art blocks, laptop skins, and iphone skins!

Mar/Apr 2010

* My artwork was featured on the cover of the March/April issue of Somerset Studio magazine – this was incredibly thrilling for me to see – details in this blog post.
* My husband and I are moved back to Portland, OR! We bought a 1911 fixer upper and began renovations!
* We also announced that we were pregnant for our first!
* I was a guest curator for Jenny Doh’s Crescendoh launch – a ton of fun
* Launched my very first e-course and boy was that exciting. Response was beyond awesome.

Jan/Feb 2010

* Taking Flight reached over 100 reviews over on amazon (published in Fall, 2008). Overall rating of 5 stars. Amazing!
* My last and third article about the beauty of friendship was published in the winter issue of Somerset Life magazine. Really loved writing these articles for this magazine.
* New gift products from my line with DEMDACO debuted in stores nationwide, including new wall canvases, journals, magnets, and decorative art girlies (which were a big hit).
* I did signings at the Atlanta and Dallas Gift Shows in DEMDACO’s showroom – first time, and it was crazy good.
* I co-taught with friend Mati Rose at An Artful Journey, a three day creative retreat held in Los Gatos, CA. Read + seem more photos and details here.

Nov/Dec 2009

* Studio and home was featured over on Apartment Therapy – a top notch design blog. See + read feature here!
* Attended DEMDACO’s national sales meeting where new product lines were unveiled. More details in this blog post.

Sept/Oct 2009

* My second article about friendship was published in the September/October issue of Somerset Life magazine – gorgeous photos accompanied this article.
* Also, my article on collaborative painting was published in the September issue of Somerset Studio magazine – I write about my experience of painting several collaborative paintings with my dear art friend, Mati Rose.
* I taught at the Be Present Retreat on the Oregon Coast – read more about it in this blog post.
* My work was featured on the cover of Underwired Magazine – a premier magazine in KY.
* My work was published in a new book called Creative Time + Space by Rice Freeman.

August 2009

*Taking Flight celebrates its one year anniversary!
*First ever Kelly Rae calendars and datebooks (for 2010) debut via Brush Dance!

July 2009

*A new + improved version of this website debuted – designed by Christine over at Darling Design.
*Raised over $6000 through blog donations to help one very special woman. Details here.
*Was featured over at the Bright Side Project as well as the Sister Project.
*My first in a series of article about the sweetness of friendship was published in the summer issue of Somerset Life - a publication dedicated to inspired artful living.

June 2009

* My new gift line debuted with DEMDACO. The line included tote bags, necklaces, keepsake boxes, and more. View collection here and here.

May 2009

* Attended Donna Downey’s Inspired event in NC as the keynote speaker – had the best time. Read more + see photos here.
* Took a leap and hired a part-time creative assistant – so glad I did!

April 2009

* A photo tour of our home was featured on decor 8, a popular design blog. Read more + see photos
here.

March 2009

* My new Seattle studio space was featured Studios magazine.

February 2009

* Taught at The Artnest creative retreat in Utah – best time ever. Read more + see photos here.
* Was interviewed by Alison Lee over at craftcast.com. Listen to interview here.

January 2009

* A large series of wall art reproductions called ” The Kelly Rae Roberts Collection” debuted via DEMDACO in stores nationwide. This was a huge deal and I’ve been absolutely surprised and delighted by the response. Read more + see photoshere.
* An article I wrote on my painting process was published in Memory Makers magazine, a premier scrapbooking publication.

November / December 2008

* Moved to Seattle, WA and set up a new studio in our house. See photos here.
* Was interviewed by author Brene Brown, creative business owner Karen Walrond, and popular design blog, Indie Fixx.
* Through blog donations, helped raise over $5,000 to build a home in Africa for one special family. Read more + see photos here and finished home here.

October 2008

* Taught two classes at Portland’s Art + Soul creative retreat. Also sold prints and other goodies on vendor nite and participated in an author signing at this event. Read more + see photos here.
* Was featured in a new mixed-media book released by Interweave Press titled Mixed Media Self Portraits.
* Traveled to Cortona, Italy to teach for one week at a creative retreat. Oh my, it was wonderful! Read more + see photos here and here.

September 2008

* Attended Squam Art Workshops where Mati Rose and I spoke to a gathering of attendees for an evening titled “Taking Flight Into The Creative Life”. Read more + see photos here.

August 2008

* A long awaited dream: my book titled Taking Flight: Inspiration and Techniques to Give Your Creative Spirit Wings was released + published by North Light books. It was released to great reviews over on amazon – one of the best weeks of my entire life. Read more + see photos of book release week here and here and here.
* Taking Flight was featured as the book of the week on premier art + design website, decor8. It was also the feature of many giveaways on various popular blogs + websites.
* Was featured as the daily muse on skirt.com
* Had artwork published in LK Ludwig’s newest book, True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling.

May 2008

* My first ever line of stationery products debuted at the famed nyc stationery show – super exciting. Stationery products became available for sale in stores nationwide and on the Brush Dance website.
* Signed a licensing contract for a home + gift line with DEMDACO, a large gift company.
* My studio was featured in the May/Jun 08 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine.
* Taking Flight book cover was released and placed on amazon.com for pre-order!

April 2008

* Attended Artfest creative retreat for the third time – always a good time with a ton of energy at this event in Port Townsend, Washington. Read more + see photos here.

March 2008

* My fourth Cloth Paper Scissors article was published – an article where I shared my techniques and creative process as it relates to using affirmations in art. Totally loved working with this magazine for a series of articles.
* Was featured inside the pages of Pasticcio Quartz, a stunning zine published by authors and artists Angela Cartwright & Sarah Fishburn.
* Was featured on two popular websites: modish and sparkletopia.

February 2008

* Was featured on two popular, momma oriented websites: cool mom picks and urban baby.

January 2008

* Signed on with Brush Dance, a publisher of greeting cards, journals, calendars and other stationery products.
* My third Cloth Paper Scissors article was published – an article about blogging for the soul.

December 2007

* Had a booth at the 37th annual KPFA art festival held in San Francisco. This was a large juried event – a favorite San Francisco holiday art + craft fair. I was honored to have one of my images used for their poster this year – very, very cool. Read more + see photos here.

November 2007

* Had my second article published in the Nov/Dec issue of Cloth Paper Scissorsmagazine. Article was about how to create patchwork collage paintings. Loved the response to this article and all the artmaking that came out of it!

October 2007

* Sold originals and prints at Portland’s Art&Soul vendor night. What a great experience – met a ton of new people and it was my first time vending at this art retreat – read more + see photos here.
*Left my part-time social work job to focus on art full-time. This was huge.

September 2007

* Had my first article published in Cloth Paper Scissors, a popular mixed media art magazine available nationwide. The article was about embracing possibility and our creative dreams.

June 2007

* Was published in Alena Hennessy’s new book Alter This!: Radical Ideas For Transforming Books Into Art, a book geared toward teaching kids the basics about altered art.

May 2007

* Was featured on decor8, a popular website featuring design inspired goods, indie art, and decor tips. Was also interviewed over at indie/pretty/perfect and on the wonderful Jen Lemen’s blog.

March 2007

* Signed on with North Light Books to write an inspirational/artsy book to be released Aug/Sept 2008.
* Attended Artfest for the second time – amazing experience. Sold originals & prints on vendor night (first time). Read more + see photos here.

February 2007

* Participated in the Girly Show, a group show at the Deja Design Gallery in LA. The artists included myself, Christine Mason Miller, Penelope Dullaghan, Mati Rose, Marisa Haedike, and Outi Harma. Seriously, an incredible experience and one of my all time favorite evenings. Read more + see photos here.

November 2006

* Participated in the 28th annual Celebration Of Craftswomen art festival in San Francisco. It was my first experience having a booth & selling my work at an art festival and it was an incredible experience. Read more + see photos here.

October 2006

* Attended Portland’s Art & Soul creative retreat for the first time – amazing experience, learned so much.

September 2006

* Designed and launched the first version of this website.
* Started working part-time at my social work job in order to focus more on art. This was tricky as my husband was a full-time student and we very much depended on my income, but it was well worth the risk.

August 2006

* Moved from Portland, Oregon to Oakland, California. Started selling originals and prints on etsy.

April – July 2006

* Started to experiment more with my style and enjoyed painting early works. Stayed up in the wee hours of the night creating while sleepily going to my full-time day job as a medical social worker. It was a passion filled time for me, these early days.

March 2006

* Attended Artfest creative retreat for the first time in Port Townsend, WA. Learned a ton & felt at home amongst all the creativity. Discovered my dream of wanting to become an artist. Read more + see photos here.

February 2006:

* Started to explore & experiment with painting…very humbling beginnings.

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