2026, but make it handmade
I quit Adobe Illustrator to fully lean into the handmade vibe of 2026.
I’ve been inspired by a lot of tactile projects lately…and I mean, Bonnie helps with that. She’s deep into puzzles, painting, and imaginative play, so perhaps I’ve shifted too. Less screen time, more hands-on time. Fewer pixels, more paper cuts.
I stumbled upon this pouch sewing pattern and now I’m wondering if sewing might be the thing I try this year. And then, because *the algorithm*, I found this fish baguette holder sewing pattern, which is frankly a delight and has no business being that charming.
P.S. If you’re wondering: I did switch to Affinity for vector-based art when needed. Illustrator and I are on peaceful terms. We’re just not hanging out anymore.
Inside My Studio
I’ve been wrapping up a commission this past week and also painting purely for fun which feels like a small but important win.
One creative idea I really want to tackle this year:
a William Morris–inspired abstract watercolor pattern.
William Morris was known for richly detailed, nature-inspired patterns, handcrafted aesthetics, and a belief that art should be both beautiful and functional. I’ve always admired the way his designs feel intricate yet cohesive and everything flowing together organically.
I want to see if I can break that down to its core and rebuild it in my own way: looser, more abstract, and fully watercolor-based. Very much leaning into the handmade aspect of it all.
Consider this my unofficial-official fun resolution for 2026.
I’ve also been prepping for a studio sale to open up space for new work. I have a ton of test prints - most of them perfectly lovely, some with minor color tweaks and I’m planning to release originals for the first time ever. Studio spring cleaning is coming, likely late March.
What I’m Cooking
It’s that strange point in the year where it’s still freezing outside, yet stores are aggressively trying to sell us swimsuits. Which can only mean one thing: tomato soup season.
Confession: I’ve never been a huge tomato soup person. I love the idea of it: grilled cheese dunked into warm soup is elite. But eating a full bowl of tomato soup? Historically not my thing.
Until I made this one from Samin’s latest book.
It’s rich and creamy without tipping into bisque territory. (Am I the only one who can only eat a small cup of bisque? It’s always just a bit too much.) This soup, though? I enjoyed eating it just as much as dunking grilled cheese into it…which is saying something.
Also, a few great pairings for when you’d rather snack than cook:
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Popcorn with grated Comté and cracked black pepper. Even better with wine or bubbly.
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Guittard semisweet chocolate chips + strawberries. Alternate bites = basically chocolate-dipped strawberries without the effort.
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Crudité with seasoned rice vinegar and flaky salt.
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Straight-up candy. Have you tried these licorice? I’m not a licorice person, and yet excellent.
What’s Inspiring Me
I think I first saw this during a dissociate-scroll on Instagram, but it also lines up with what I’ve been hearing lately:
Increase your surface area for luck to hit you.
At a recent work conference, the keynote speaker talked about sharing what you’re doing as you’re doing it. Attend something interesting? Share it. Try something new? Talk about it. The more people see you in motion, the more likely they are to connect you to the right people when the timing clicks.
So go to the thing. Reach out to the person. Experiment. Share a little.
Don’t do everything in a vacuum and keep your eyes open. Something has a way of landing when you do.
What I’m Reading
I’m officially desperate to find a can’t-put-it-down book for my upcoming long-haul flight to Paris, or at least a few shorter books that will keep my attention.
So I need your help: what’s the best book you’ve read lately that completely hooked you? It doesn’t need to be Pulitzer-level. It just needs to pull me in.
If only the second book to Shield of Sparrows were out already… or if Sarah J. Maas would surprise-drop book six. Fingers crossed.
But news flash, a few short stories dropped on Amazon so I might save these for the flight.
More handmade things to come.
— Katie
