Okay, real talk.
If you’ve been here since I started publishing in 2011 and wondered, “Did she disappear from blogging?” — yes, yes I did. But not in a dramatic cancel my domain, vow to never share my life again, and delete all traces of myself online kind of way. More like a life got loud, days got full, and energy got diverted elsewhere way.
I’ve been busy momming. Busy working. Busy figuring out who I am now that I’m not the same person I was a few years ago.
Motherhood changed me in ways I’m still unpacking. Work has stayed fast-paced and demanding. The days blurred together, and by the time I had a moment to myself, the last thing I wanted to do was sit at a screen and “create” like I used to. When I did share it was via social media. My blog really fell to the backburner. And I didn’t feel called or compelled to pick it back up.
I used to share every detail of my life on here. I’ve now had a baby, got a promotion, went on countless trips, and experienced lots of beautiful everyday moments that I haven’t documented here.
I’m both the same person as before but also completely different. I’m sure that doesn’t make any sense, but I find myself still caring about a lot of the same things but through a completely different frame of mind.
I want to be busy, but in ways that are deeply intentional. I want to have fun, but in ways that also improve and better me. I want to share my life and connect with others online, but in a way that is respectful of my daughter and our family.
Something that I do find myself wanting to share about and build an online space for is my obsession with needlepoint.
Two years ago I took up needlepoint on an absolute whim in an attempt to find a creative outlet just for me. I figured it couldn’t hurt to try and loved the idea of getting off of my phone. Analog is having a real comeback which makes my 90’s baby heart happy.
I very quickly fell in love. Needlepoint became the rare thing that let my mind quiet down and still feel creative. It was calming, grounding, and surprisingly joyful. The kind of hobby that feels like exhaling at the end of a long day.
Because I am somehow physically incapable of not oversharing my life, I started sharing my stitching on social media. I dove headfirst into the needlepoint community, started engaging with the weekly check ins like Stitchmail Monday, WIP Wednesday (Work in Progress Wednesday for needlepoint newbies), and Finish Friday. My stitches started getting better. I began working on more complicated canvases, buying fancier thread, and taking courses to learn how to self-finish and try new decorative stitches.
And as I did this my marketing brain started to itch. I started noticing the gaps in the industry. And I wanted to get involved. I wanted to be a creator again, but this time in a whole different way.
And so I’m back. But differently. This space is still me. Still honest. Still figuring things out in real time.
But now it also has room for creativity, needlepoint, and building something small and beautiful on purpose.
If you love beautiful materials, crave a calming creative outlet, and are balancing a lot you’re exactly who this is for.
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