The Year That Was: A 2025 Creative Wrap-up

As 2025 draws to a close, and I find myself in the twilight zone that is the days between Christmas and New Year (seriously, I have no idea what day of the week it is), let’s take a look back at the year that was…

The NOT-AI Doll Trend

Remember when those AI dolls were spreading like a disease all over socials? Well, I remember it as a time when human artists took a stand against it and created their own human-made versions. I created my own version and it was spotted by the lovely peeps at Merry People. Wanting to participate in the doll trend but not use AI, Merry People reached out to me to create three custom illustrations to embody their customers. I truly admire Merry People for taking a stand against using AI and seeing the value in hiring a human artist. And how fun are the outcomes…

More Published Books

Two books I worked on this year were released into the world: Finding Toby’s Smile, written by Krystal Wade, and The Great Chilli Chase, written by Bronwyn Spencer. It’s been a joy to see both of these books being enjoyed at home and used as tools in the classroom. I also worked on a third book this year, Ostentatious Ostrich, written by Cynthia Collins, which is due for release in early 2026.

Recognition for a Wonderful Book

Finding Toby’s Smile was a finalist in the SLVR Children’s Book Awards, which celebrate self-published authors and illustrators. It was recognised in the “Big Feelings and Beyond” category. As a story about helping children understand their feelings and how to deal with them, it was such an honour for our book to be recognised in this way.

Author Krystal Wade

We Launched a Book

I had my first ever book launch! We launched The Great Chilli Chase at a lovely bookshop in Brisbane called Quick Brown Box. With our family and friends, we did a reading, I spoke about my illustration process, and we sold every single copy we had brought with us. It was a truly special way to celebrate the coming together of this book.

More of a Good Thing

The very first book I worked on, Up and Down On a Rainy Day, got a reprint! My skills have developed a lot since this book was published in 2020, but it still holds a special place in my heart. I love seeing it every time I go past the Library Shop at the State Library, and I always check if it’s on the shelf at the library (though I love it when I can’t find it, because that means it’s been borrowed and is being enjoyed at home).

So cheers to 2025 for being such a fulfilling year. To every client who trusted me with your stories, thank you. Let’s do it all again in 2026!