Showing Up Anyway

I know… I promised myself I would post weekly. Well, life happens.

Just because I haven’t been sharing much here on the blog doesn’t mean I haven’t been creating. In fact, I’m really proud that despite being hit by spring germs and navigating a few health challenges in our home, I’ve been able to keep up with my Surface Pattern Design Immersion classes and a few other projects.

Since this is the space where I want to share my journey, I thought I’d open up a bit about both the successes and the struggles I’ve been experiencing lately.

Let me start with control and perfection, my most persistent challenges. These show up every single time I create. Even with my students, I have to constantly remind myself to honor their self-expression and give them permission to be exactly where they are. And yet, I struggle to offer myself that same grace. I often want results that don’t match where I currently am, and it can be hard to feel proud of my growth.

I’ve been reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, and one of the practices she encourages is replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations. So here is mine: My creativity always leads me to truth and love. I am exactly where I need to be. Growth takes time, and I move forward every time I take the next step.

Now, let’s shift to the fun part...the things I’ve been working on these past few weeks.

The Artist Date

I went on my very first “artist date.” Have you ever heard of that? I hadn’t either. In the book, Julia invites us to take our inner child (the artist within) on a weekly date. Along with morning pages and other exercises, it’s meant to reconnect us with wonder and curiosity.

I went to a coffee shop I love and spent time there child-free and pressure-free. I wrote, I observed, and I simply enjoyed my own company. It felt refreshing in a way I didn’t expect. The goal is to do this weekly, so I’m hoping to carve out time again this weekend. Where should I go next?

A Painting

I’m part of a vibrant, creative community, and this past Sunday we worked together on a collaborative painting. Even the kids joined in, which made it even more special. Now it’s my role to bring it all together and finalize it.

To be honest, I felt a little intimidated at first. I spent quite a bit of time just staring at it, trying to figure out how to contribute without overpowering what was already there. Starting was the hardest part. I’ve since added a few symbols that reflect what we believe, and I’m hoping to add just a few more touches before calling it complete. It’s a work in progress, but already such a meaningful representation of our community.

A Flower Mural

How exciting is it that I’m painting a mural?

This one is for a friend’s daughter, and it is just the sweetest project. I absolutely love the colors and style she chose for her wall. I only wish I had more time to finish it faster; that’s another one of my ongoing struggles: finding enough time to do everything I want to do well and with care.

I’m hoping one more solid day of work will bring it to completion. I can’t wait to see it finished.

My Garden Collection

As we near the end of the immersion program, we’ve been focusing on building a cohesive pattern collection, and this has been so much fun.

I’ve already created a few patterns, including my hero print. There are still small refinements to make, but I’m genuinely proud of how far I’ve come. Two months ago, I knew very little about Adobe Illustrator. I was a Photoshop person through and through… and now I’m creating full repeating patterns. It honestly feels a little surreal.

There’s still so much to learn, but I’m starting to see the results of all the effort I’ve been putting in. It’s been such a worthwhile investment.

Outside of all these projects and my full-time job as an art teacher, I’m continuing to show up daily in small ways. Drawing, coloring, gardening, exploring fun places with my family, reading about creativity… little shifts that I know will lead to something bigger over time.

Because that’s what I’m learning: it’s not about doing everything perfectly. It’s about showing up, again and again, with honesty and intention. Trusting that even the smallest steps forward are shaping something meaningful.

And maybe that’s the real work, learning to create with openness, to grow with patience, and to believe that something beautiful is unfolding, even when it feels slow or imperfect.

More soon. 🤍