Finding My Way (One Whale Pouch at a Time)
For a long time, I thought I needed to “figure it out” before I could move forward as an artist.
What’s my style?
What’s my niche?
Am I even an artist… or am I something else?
The truth is, that pressure kept me stuck more than anything else.
I’ve worked in so many mediums—stained glass, crochet, painting, design—and instead of seeing that as a strength, I treated it like a problem. Like I was scattered. Like I hadn’t “arrived.” I kept thinking that real artists have a clear voice, a signature look, a defined path.
But reality doesn’t always work like that.
Starting Smaller Than I Wanted To
At some point, I had to accept something I didn’t love at first:
I needed to start smaller.
Not smaller dreams—but smaller steps.
Instead of building an entire brand, a full product line, a perfectly cohesive collection… I made one thing.
A whale pouch.
That was it.
And honestly? That’s where something shifted.
The Whale Pouch Changed Everything
That first pattern wasn’t just a project—it was proof.
Proof that I could take an idea, simplify it, and actually finish it.
Proof that my style didn’t need to be perfect—it just needed to be mine.
Proof that I didn’t have to wait until I “figured everything out” to create something meaningful.
It wasn’t complicated. It wasn’t groundbreaking. But it was real, and it was done.
And that mattered more than anything.
Artist or Designer?
This is something I still wrestle with.
Am I an artist?
Am I a designer?
Do I need to choose?
When I paint, I feel like an artist.
When I create patterns, I feel like a designer.
When I build something that someone else can recreate, I feel like I’m somewhere in between.
For a while, I thought I needed to pick one lane and commit to it.
Now I’m starting to think… maybe I don’t.
Maybe the overlap is the point.
Letting Go of the “Big Picture”
I used to think success meant having everything mapped out—a full shop, a clear brand identity, a consistent product line.
Now I’m learning that success can look a lot smaller—and a lot more honest.
It looks like:
Finishing a pattern
Improving one design
Making something I’d actually use
Sharing it, even if it’s not perfect
That shift—from “build everything” to “build one thing well”—has been huge.
What’s Next: Creating Kits
One of the most exciting things to come out of this process is the idea of turning my work into kits.
Not just finished products—but something people can make.
There’s something really meaningful about that to me. It’s not just about selling an item—it’s about sharing the process, the idea, the experience of creating.
And honestly, it feels like a natural extension of where I’ve landed:
somewhere between artist and designer.
Accepting Where I Am
I don’t have everything figured out.
I still question my direction.
I still change my mind.
I still wonder if I’m doing it “right.”
But I’ve stopped waiting for clarity before taking action.
Right now, I’m focusing on:
Starting small
Finishing what I begin
Building from real progress, not perfect plans
And if that leads to something bigger? Great.
But for now, I’m okay with this:
One finished piece.
One clear step.
One whale pouch at a time.
I’m not chasing perfect anymore—I’m building something real, one piece at a time.