For the entirety of my creative endeavors, I chased perfection. I edited and over-thought everything until the pictures were pristine, stitched in perfect lines, and everything was curated like I was sending it off to a museum. Naturally after years of that I lost the spark along with the glitter, the giggles, and the joy. For me creating was my center and was a way to control my adhd brain and something i eventually turned into a headache and anxiety. So, I paused. I stepped away. Now that I’m back almost 6 years later, I’m not just returning. I’m reinventing.  

My shift from pressure to pleasure has been a long road. In 2019, when I hit pause on my creative life, It wasn’t burnout—it was a quiet rebellion against performance. I needed space to remember why I started making art in the first place. Now my return is all about eliminating the pressure and bringing in playfulness. Now, I’m creating with laughter. I’m forcing myself to remember that layering with leopard print makes me smile. Stamping kiss marks and hearts like little love notes to myself. Illustrating has become an outlet again and I’m back to weaving bold colors with random texture that I can’t stop running my hands across. My art has become more of a playground than a product and I love that for me.  

Playfulness for me is going to look a lot like bright white backgrounds that’s going to pop like confetti. Gold accents that shimmer in the light and make me smile because who doesn’t love a pretty gold foil. My fiber will be full of texture and I can’t wait. I am so excited to get back to creating. I am learning that playfulness isn’t carelessness. It’s fearless. Its trusting instincts, embracing imperfections, and letting myself just find joy in creating. I am going to use creating to stay connected to my truth. Building a brand all over again is a lot of work and I’ve got nothing but time and patience. I am stepping away from trends, templates, and algorithms. I have a whole new manifesto. I believe in art that makes me smile. I believe in pink dreams and animal print therapy. I believe in editing my work until it feels like sunshine. I believe in stepping away if it feels too heavy. I believe creating is my power and most importantly, I believe joy and thoughtfulness is the most radical thing an artist can offer.  

XOXO,

Savi Monroe