Let Them Dress Themselves

I remember someone telling me this story years ago..small towns talk .. if you don't know anything about that you are blessed.. but anyways..

My daughter was standing in the lunch line at school. She had dressed herself that morning, like she always did. Weather and trends meant nothing to her. She just wore what felt right at the moment on that day. One of the lunch ladies said, “Boy…you can sure tell that’s Kelly’s daughter.” I knew exactly what she meant. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone. She wasn’t performing. She was just being. And I realized back then that I had given her something without even meaning to: permission to be herself.

Lately I’ve been thinking about that moment a lot. Especially as I’ve been learning more about Etsy, algorithms, keywords, trends, and all the ways you’re supposed to do things if you want to grow a shop. I’ve tried to design trendy things. I reeeeaalllllyyyy have. But they never feel right as I look at them on the screen. That’s probably why you’ll never see me chasing whatever’s popular that week or month.

Instead, I keep making what feels honest to me. Which is exactly how I’m showing up to this new shop.

I’m writing this after I posted about a baby that is coming. It's one of those moments in life that’s so full of hope and tenderness. But even when you’re happy for something, it can stir up everything inside your heart... memories, grief, nostalgia, longing, and that quiet ache of knowing how fast time moves.

And somehow, creating art for those moments feels very true to me.

One of my favorite pieces right now is a Billy Strings lyric design that says "Freedom"

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4453726231/bear-freedom-lyric-9oz-candle-soy-candle

The little bear feels to me like he's giving you permission to slow down and be yourself as you light the candle. The same kind of permission I unknowingly gave my daughter.

Another is a vintage Hyland cow png - I can see it especially on a toddler tshirt or a onesie..but it's listed as a png so you can put it on anything you want.

https://porchlightletters.etsy.com/listing/4458046738/baby-cow-clipart-png-highland-calf

None of my designs were made to “perform.”They were made to feel.

That’s what I’m building now. Not a shop that follows trends, but one that follows intuition. A place for people who want art that feels like truth, not marketing. So if you browse my shop and notice it doesn’t look like everything else on Etsy — that’s on purpose.

It’s dressed like it wants to be. Just like my daughter was. Just like I am.

And honestly that feels like the only way I know how to make anything worth keeping.

Cllick here to get to my Etsy Shop

Each piece is made slowly using ideas I love and without trying to fit into anyone else’s box.. cuz I really don't know how to be any different. Thank you for clicking through to check them out.. i really really appreciate it!

Have I told you lately that I love you? You are amazing in my book. :)