What a year 2021 has been! In many cases, looking at the headlines would have you believe that the world was ending. We all endured 2020 with a sigh of relief to see it exit, only for 2021 to come charging in yelling, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

Yet here we are. We’ve made it once again through a challenging year. We should be proud of that and celebrate our victory. 

Many productivity gurus recommend regularly reflecting on where you’ve been, what you’ve accomplished, and where you desire to go. That being the case, I wanted to take a moment to do just that.

This 2021 year in review post will highlight some neat things I’ve gotten to do this year and hopefully inspire you on your journey. 

The journey each of us is on is rarely a straight path. But it’s through the unexpected twists and turns that we discover more about our purpose.

Here are some highlights of my 2021.

• I began a partnership with Norboo Tibetan Handicrafts.

I’ve talked about them before - this arrangement is ideal because of our shared values. They create job opportunities for primarily single mothers in remote regions of Tibet. The result is high-quality bags that provide an income for these precious souls.

I am pleased to sell their products on consignment, as companies that empower women rank high on my list of those I desire to do business with. For an example of one of their products in stock, click here.

• A fire caused me to pivot my entire business model.

Originally, I had been hand-making each of my products. At the beginning of the year, I had partnered with Portland Garment Factory to manufacture my Carry Courage products. Then, the unexpected happened: their factory burned to the ground with quite a bit of my product inside. Read more about it here, or watch my explanation here.

This unfortunate incident turned out to be quite revealing for me. I realized that sewing – and thus, hand-making my products - is my favorite part of the job. Therefore it is the last thing I should outsource. It took that happening for me to re-evaluate. 

I pivoted into investing in my brand foundation with local woman-owned branding strategist Amanda Goff of Silver Keys Media to build my business the way I had initially planned. That has turned out to be a solid decision so far. 

• I wrote an article featured in Global Garbs magazine, explaining more about the beauty and sustainability of cork fabric, a primary material I use for my products.

• My Dreamer foldover bag was featured in Sustain the Mag.

Click here to read it! It is always a delight to band together with like-minded media companies to help cast the vision for a more sustainable future.

• Carry Courage was featured in:

LA Fashion Week at Joshua Tree, CA: https://youtu.be/4yRqEjoVRU0, and
NY Fashion Week in New York, NY: https://youtu.be/3viyaO5uKe4

• I participated in two collaborative photoshoots in Portugal!

Technically, one was in late 2020, but still. It counts toward my recent adventures.

• I launched three new products:

Free Soul sewing pattern with Sallie Tomato

Overcomer adjustable tote

Giver card wristlet

• Got the opportunity to tell more of my story with “What the Adalinda?” podcast.  Click here to check out the episode! 

Summing up

All in all, it has been a very eventful year. I’d say the dominant feeling that covers my 2021 is GRATITUDE.

Gratitude for:

… The opportunity to pursue my dreams of making a living doing something I love while supporting my family.

… The great support I’ve found for Carry Courage products. There are so many like-minded women out there who are looking for eco-friendly, sustainable, yet beautiful and high-quality bags. It’s been encouraging getting to know so many of you!

… So many powerhouse women in the media/social media space (many whose projects I mentioned above) who are not only doing great work promoting causes about which I am passionate, but have partnered with me in promoting my products.

While there are certainly things I could complain about, the reasons for gratitude far exceed them. 

Thank you, with the sincerest of sentiments, for reading this post and being a part of my journey! 

If you’d like to stay in touch and keep up to date on specials and new product releases, please drop me a note on my website and I’ll add you to my monthly newsletter!

Here’s to an amazing 2022!

Marisa