Happy New Year! – I hope you didn’t miss me too much! :)

It’s been a minute! I hope you have been well as best as you can.

It’s 2026 and I am continuing on this creative journey. Let’s face it, I never really left. 🙂 However, my recommitment is to bringing you along for the tiny steps that are still adding to my journey.

In 2025, I realized though I had diligent reminders to blog, I never carved out the time. Key word being ‘carved’. There was the challenge of being in two places at the same time or being in one more than the other. I quickly realized it was not a competition!

In 2025, there was also the tariff changes affecting small businesses with regards to shipping to the US that affected my shop. That was definitely not a motivator to keep creating. I still am figuring out my shipping to the US since this was 75% of my business income. I have had to pause it for now. But like I said I am still here! I still believe in my little handmade dream and hope I can reimagine that vision in 2026.

I think it’s only when you start showing up for yourself (stop cancelling the things you want and need to do for you), then the things that are important to you really click and you make time for them because they are part of the nourishment that makes you you and sustains you in a way through everything else.

Did I create in 2025?

I absolutely did! All the photos captured in this posts are from 2025 makes. In small batches and through creative collaborations for blogs and pattern testing, I created these pieces. These were highlights that kept the machine whirring at times when it would be dormant for months. Not to worry, that season is changing and it has already started.

My goal is not any lofty plans that not even I can hold myself accountable to knowing my busy schedule. The goal is movement – whatever that looks like…small creative intentional steps! These will be finishing my fabric organizations (that has been a minute), mapping out some fabrics I need to sew or taking a moment to map out some ideas for my small business in the next month or so – nothing elaborate or overly ambitious with strict timelines. I have enough timelines in my life as a project manager and full-time student (yes, back to grad school…last lap I think lol). I am talking about the doable things amidst all the moving parts that is my current schedule.

Some little lessons along the way

One of the lessons learned last year was that existing in the cracks and not waiting for the big chunk of time and moments to get going is a place to start. Granted I said start. 30 mins one day adds up over time as opposed to no minutes in a day of focused work.

For example, this blog that I am writing right now was done after my morning workout before I started my work day. 🙂 I figured if I got up to workout for 30 mins at a certain time, it will be guaranteed I will have about 30-60mins of creative/business time before I start my day.

Another lesson was the idea of two things being true at the same time. I know, I know you are probably saying, more than two things can be true at the same time. For many of us though, we are in that space. All I have to say is I hear you and see you. We move ahead nonetheless. It’s important to recognize where you are as only you truly know your capacity. That doesn’t make it easy but a good friend reminded me that it is also important to understand the seasons we are in. It means that seasons change, so you won’t be there in wherever you are for too long. 🙂

Truly I hope you have been well and thank you for still being here!

I hope to connect with you over the coming months and bring you along on this adventure we have been on for what…12 years now for some of you… wow! Okay maybe the blog was not started then or was it? I will need to go check on that haha.

Anywho, I am wishing you and yours the best year ahead of much health and strength and possibilities!

The creative chronicles continue!

Bless

Uta CvZ