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For what feels like months now, I’ve been saying things like “I can’t wait to show you” or “new things are coming soon.” And I meant every word. My love for designing bonnets, reimagining forgotten textiles, and creating one-of-a-kind pieces hasn’t gone anywhere - it’s how this whole journey began.
The summer I created this bonnet will always live in my heart. Lily was a content little baby in her playpen, and Marc was working part-time - which meant I had precious time and space to create.
But the truth is, 2024 brought some big changes. We downsized our operations and moved the Sweet As April studio back into our home this past March. That move has given me a much-needed reality check. Working from home now isn’t quite the same as it was in 2018 or 2019, when I managed the business from what’s now our living room. Back then, Marc was home with me full-time. I could put on headphones, get in the zone, and pour myself fully into my work.
That year, I made some of the most beautiful one-of-a-kind bonnets. Pure joy, stitched into every detail.
Now, the tables have turned. Marc works full-time outside the home, while I’m here managing homeschool, therapy appointments, motherhood, and still trying to keep SAA running at the level it always has.
And over these past few months, I’ve had to admit something to myself: it’s not possible to do everything. This business has gone through a rebrand and a major shift - artistically, physically, emotionally - and I simply can’t expect myself to run it exactly the way I did in a completely different season of life.
My current home studio isn’t exactly inspiring - not like the downtown space you’ll see further down - but it works. I even sleep in this room, which makes it a little unconventional, but we make it work.
A lot of these changes have unfolded organically. Introducing my exclusive prints, releasing my own artwork, and collaborating with other independent artists has brought fresh energy to SAA. The website is regularly stocked with beautiful, heirloom-quality bonnets - something I’m proud of.
Back to summer 2023 - the year my creativity soared. Some of my favorite designs were born during that season.
But there’s still a part of me that’s been unsettled. And it’s this: I miss upcycling.
It might sound like a strange thing to need, but there’s something deeply fulfilling about taking forgotten fabrics, discarded clothing, and unused materials and giving them new life. That spark - the joy of transformation - is something I haven’t been able to replicate in any other creative process.
And now, today. I’ve carved out this tiny desk space that I actually love. It lets me homeschool Leia and get work done side-by-side - her desk is right next to mine.
What’s been hard is figuring out how to offer those designs again.
When I had my studio downtown, I had the space and mental clarity to dive into those pieces. Music playing, door closed, every material in its place. Since moving back home, I haven’t had the time - or energy - to create that kind of space again. Honestly, I’ve been in survival mode. Fulfilling orders, teaching lessons, updating the website, showing up for therapies, being mom… it’s been a lot.
My downtown studio. I’m not sure my heart will ever fully heal from giving it up. I loved this space more than words can express - I even wrote my landlord a love letter when we left. It was my sanctuary.
And in all of that, the space just hasn’t functioned in a way that invites creativity. I’ve been getting by, not getting inspired.
But here’s the good news: I have a plan. A real one.
And no - this isn’t another “I can’t wait to tell you” post that leads to silence. In my next post, I’ll be sharing exactly how I’m bringing back the upcycled, one-of-a-kind bonnets you’ve always loved, in a way that supports the season I’m in now. It’s a path that blends creativity, motherhood, and sustainability - without burning me out in the process.
And here we are again, in the present. As the business begins to grow rapidly once more, I’m holding onto what matters most - being home with my kids and making this business thrive. The next step? Finding new ways to fit creativity into this space.
Thank you for sticking with me through all the shifts and changes. I truly can’t wait to bring this new chapter to life with you.
As always, love and bonnets guys, thanks for being here
