Later 2023! Hello 2024!

I don’t know about you, but 2023 was a doozy! Just about everyone I know had a heavy year in one way or another, on top of all the things going on in the world. While it was a year of growth and learning, I’m very happy to bid it farewell.

I started 2024 out so sick, I basically slept for two days straight and didn’t do all the business planning I had intended. But what I was able to do was to think & reflect about what I want out of this next year and how I want to show up in my personal life, as well as in my business. 

Every new years I like to choose a word for the year. 2023 was Gratitude. And it felt very aligned with how the year played out for me. I spent A LOT of last year doing shadow work as well as going through a form of therapy called EMDR. If you’re not familiar with what EMDR is, give it a google. It is intense and hard, but on the other side of it is a nervous system that is balanced and no longer in fight or flight mode. I finally addressed a lot of internal trauma and I have never felt so calm in my life! I honestly don’t even feel like the same person anymore.

Because of all of this work I did for the better part of 2023, I was able to finally start showing up in my business like I always wanted to, which made for an amazing end to the year. So gratitude was pretty on point. I’m grateful for all of you who have supported me and my dream. I’m so grateful for my husband and parents, who have all been an incredible support system for me. And I’m grateful that I did the hard work, which planted so many seeds in my life.

This led me to my word for 2024, which is Bloom.

I have been feeling pulled to show up more authentically, to create a business that is fully aligned with the life I’m manifesting and to stop playing small and worrying what others might think. 

So what you’ll be seeing around here is a lot more of me and all my hippie dippy, woo woo ways! haha!

But in all seriousness, I will be incorporating more of the spirituality aspects that feel in alignment with my brand. Personal growth is very important for me and I want my pieces to be a celebration of the inner journey. 

This brings me to my lineage. A huge part of my own journey has been connecting with my Hawaiian ancestry and it has created an urge to use my art as a way to continue learning about my ancestors as well as discovering my place and purpose in this big, beautiful world of ours. I have ideas that I’m beginning to flesh out, and I can’t wait to show you the Hawaiian art I will be adding into my jewelry. 

I’ve also started out the year with learning a new technique, which is wax carving. I plan on documenting more of this process as I learn and I can’t wait to see how this will elevate and transform my style.

So that’s where I’m at. 

After a year of digging, planting and watering, I can’t wait to see what adventures and opportunities bloom for Zaffera, and for all of us, this year. 

Thank you so much for being on this journey with me. You’ll never know how much I love and appreciate each one of you.

Love, Erica