The Joy Edit - vol. 7

Hi Friend,

October has arrived, and I’m starting to settle into some of the little rhythms that come with cooler days—making tea in a favorite mug, curling up with a good book, and finding little pockets of time to stitch something by hand.

This week has also had me thinking about curiosity—trying something outside my usual lane, noticing what inspires me, and making time for the things I want to create, even when I only have fifteen minutes.

Nothing big or elaborate. Just little things that are making ordinary days feel a bit more interesting and joyful.

Here’s what I’ve been making, noticing, and enjoying lately…

For some reason, I don’t drink much tea during the summer. But as soon as the weather gets a little chillier? Tea season officially begins.

And I’m very particular about the mug I use. The mug is part of the whole experience! Over the years, I’ve collected quite a few favorites, and I definitely find myself reaching for certain ones again and again.

Here are my current top three. ☕️

And, in case you’re wondering what’s going in them lately—Peppermint & Creamy Vanilla. There’s something about a warm drink in a favorite mug that makes an ordinary moment feel just a little cozier.

I’ve subscribed to In Her Studio for years, and I still get ridiculously excited when a new issue arrives in the mail each quarter.

The magazine takes you inside the creative spaces of artists and makers—sharing their studios, what they create, and the stories behind their work. I love getting a peek into the places where other women make things. Every issue is filled with these beautiful little pockets of inspiration.

I’ll linger over the photos, notice how people organize their supplies, admire their collections, and inevitably come away with ideas for my own creative space.

And I have a little dream attached to this magazine, too: Someday, I would love to see Creative Calm Studio featured in its pages.

Putting that one out into the universe. ✨

For now, I’ll keep turning the pages, gathering inspiration, and making room for my own creative dreams to take shape.

Apparently, I’m having a sci-fi moment.

Science fiction is definitely not my usual genre, but somehow I ended up reading two sci-fi novels recently: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir and Annie Bot by Sierra Greer.

Project Hail Mary was fascinating. There was A LOT of science and engineering talk—some of which definitely went over my head—but I loved the concepts, the storyline, the character development, and especially the relationships between the main characters. It kept me interested all the way through.

Annie Bot was more of a mixed bag for me. I was really intrigued by the premise, but it moved a little slowly and just didn’t grab me the way I was hoping it would.

Still, I kind of love that I unintentionally wandered into a genre I don’t normally read. It’s a good reminder to occasionally reach for something outside of our usual favorites. You never know what might surprise you.

Every Christmas Eve, I give each of my kids an ornament.

The idea is that someday, when they’re grown and have homes and Christmas trees of their own, they’ll each have a box filled with ornaments collected throughout their childhood. (I’ll share more about this tradition as we get closer to Christmas because it’s one of my favorites.)

Which brings me to my latest project…

This year, I’m cross-stitching their ornaments.

I found a pattern on Etsy with six different little Santas and started stitching the first one this week. I have four kiddos, which means four Santas need to be finished by the beginning of December. And since the pattern has six, I think the other two Santas are going to have to stay with me. 😉

I love a project like this—something I can pick up for 15 minutes here and there and slowly watch come together.

Four Santas. Two months. Here we go. 🎅🧵

You don’t need three free hours. You need fifteen minutes and permission to begin.

I shared this reminder on Instagram this week alongside an embroidery project I recently finished. Watch the reel here 🌸

Before this project, I had never embroidered before. I knew how to cross-stitch, but there was still plenty to learn. And I definitely didn’t have hours of uninterrupted time to devote to it.

So I worked on it in little 15-minute pockets—between all the other things that fill my days. Stitch by stitch, those little pockets added up to a finished piece.

Sometimes we’re waiting for a big stretch of free time to do the things we want to do. But maybe we don’t need more time. Maybe we just need to give ourselves permission to use the little bits of time we already have.

Find 15 minutes for something you want to do.

Not something productive. Not something you need to cross off the list. Something that’s just for you.

Pull out the sketchbook. Stitch a few rows. Read a chapter. Make a cup of tea or coffee and actually sit down while you drink it. Wander through a favorite shop. Put on some music and play with your art supplies.

Set a timer for 15 minutes and give yourself permission to begin.