I’ve been quiet these past few months—wandering, shifting, rethinking. Walking away from old paths and into new directions. And if there’s one thing we can all agree on, this year (2020) will go down in the record books.
For me, it has been both the most incredible and the hardest year of my life.
Business? It kept moving. Not in the way I had planned—not with the same speed, flow, or even ease—but it stayed afloat. I kept designing, learning, growing, and finding my way forward. I deepened my knowledge in digital marketing and redefined what success means to me.
And while I juggled all of that, my two beautiful kids (then 1.5 and 4.5) were home with us. With my husband, we somehow managed to keep the house running and our businesses alive, all while parenting, keeping tiny humans entertained, and making space for life in between deadlines. It wasn’t always pretty, but we did it. My passion projects, BraveArt and Curious, kept my creativity alive when everything else felt like pure survival mode.
It has been a year of so many contrasts. Growth and grief. Hustle and rest. Joy and heartbreak.
The Hardest Goodbye
This was the year I lost my biggest hero—my dad.
The man who taught me how to build relationships, to work for myself and never depend on others, to take care of what I own, and to never buy the cheapest but always the best—because quality lasts a lifetime.
He showed me how to be honest, to enjoy the things I’ve worked for, to save, to invest in friendships, and, most importantly, to always keep my hand in God’s hand.
He was my wingman. A giant in our family. And though the loss is immeasurable, I stand today with strength that is beyond human understanding, knowing that I carry his lessons forward.
A New Way Forward
Through the uncertainty of 2020, I found something I had lost: the reason I started KunsHuis in 2010.
I wanted freedom. The ability to create on my terms, to support my family while having the space to be a mother, wife, daughter, sister, and artist—without constantly fitting life around deadlines. Somewhere along the way, I let the expectations of clients, the hustle of freelancing, and the never-ending cycle of ‘more’ take over.
And I realized something: It’s time to do business differently.
Not how it worked 10 years ago. Not even how it worked last year. But in a way that truly aligns with this new season of life.
So, from January 2021, KunsHuis will be wandering in a stunningly new and exciting direction.
The path ahead isn’t fully mapped out yet, but what I do know is that I am stepping into a version of my business that gives me life—not just takes from it.
The Journey Continues
2020 took things from me that I will never get back. But it also gave me the clarity and courage to step into what I’ve been craving to create for years.
And for that, I am grateful.
If you’ve been walking this path with me, thank you. I hope you’ll continue to wander alongside me as we step into the unknown—because, as always, the best journeys are the ones we take together.
With gratitude,
Nelett
