
consumerism, creativity, and play
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I've been thinking a lot lately about the why behind this little shop of mine and the value or meaning it brings to my corner of the world. I have a lot of feelings about waste and consumerism, how so much is disposable or not made to last, how it just keeps getting easier to buy more for less and get it faster. And yet I am also endlessly inspired by the creative energy of artists everywhere who make beautiful things, and I want to see them thrive and keep creating.
I don't have it all figured out, but I know that I want to keep making things and putting them out into the world. And I can do this as gently and conscientiously as I can; I can be slow and thoughtful about how my goods are made. I'm realizing maybe this means Dozi will stay small, but I think I am okay with that, because it feels true to who I am. Growth doesn't have to mean bigger impact, it can also mean deeper joy, greater freedom, continuous learning.
Each year I immerse myself into a new idea for a calendar, and this year the word "play" kept coming to mind. I wanted it to be colorful, but also a bit scrappy with a hand-drawn feel. It's a reminder to let curiosity lead, to explore and wander, to try something new without overthinking or worrying about the end result. All things that I am hoping to have more of in my life, because in the process of growing older, I've become perhaps too pragmatic and forgotten how to play.
Speaking of play, I've been feeling the need to make things with my hands, fiddling around with fabric and doing some hand-sewing. Designing all the 2025 calendars and planners required a lot of time at the computer - moving shapes on a flat screen, trying out different colors with a click of a mouse. It made me yearn for something more tactile, less digital. Sewing always leaves me feeling more calm and centered, but for whatever reason I rarely make time for it. I've been intentionally leaving out some of my favorite scraps (sacrificing a clear work surface) as an invitation to play.
Below are some little pyramids I made from the scraps, and I've been imagining how they would look as a keychain or bag charm. Maybe I'll have a small collection of handmade things in the shop just for fun? We'll see. It'll give me another reason to sew.
Thanks for reading this far, and for staying with me through my creative explorations and adventures.
Wendy