winter*

Thanks for being here for another seasonal update. As always, I'm sharing what I've been making, what's been inspiring me, and where this pattern-design journey is headed—still a work in progress, still figuring it out as I go.

Your support, curiosity, and kind words continue to mean the world. 

Here's what's been happening lately.

A look at this seasons create, grow, and inspire.

create*

Fresh from the studio — a peek at what I’ve been working on, from repeat patterns to playful sketches and new ideas taking shape.

The holidays were lovely—lots of family, friends, celebrations, snow, and more ❄️ 

We've had a record winter here in Upstate New York. As I write this, it's once again snowing. I admit, I prefer a winter of snow over just a cold winter.

Thank you to everyone for your curiosity, support, and valuable feedback on the Etsy shop. It was a success, and I am truly grateful and humbled by the interest and continued support. I'm working on a re-order of linen tea towels and napkins, and I plan to expand the line for early spring—bunnies, flowers, and lots of color. 🐰🌸

With this long, cold winter, it felt like January was 800 days long! I find myself dreaming about spring—warmth, color, and all things blooming. I've been circling back to some patterns I created earlier and seeing them with fresh eyes. Some are perfect candidates for new stickers, future greeting cards, napkins, and tea towels. There's something satisfying about revisiting work and discovering new possibilities in it. I'll share updates as new things arrive and go live on both Etsy and Zaba Creative

grow*

Updates on where things are headed — new designs, product development, and the (sometimes wobbly) path of building something meaningful.

My site has had some tweaking lately—I'm almost done building out Zaba Creative to be able to sell both there and on Etsy. There's also a handful of stores in the Upstate area that will carry napkins, stickers, and tea towels. I'll update as soon as I have more firm details to share.

 So much growth happened last year, and I'm thankful for all the opportunities and looking forward to what 2026 brings. It continues to be a slow and steady journey—one thoughtful step at a time. 🌿

inspire*

We are Olympic Winter fans in this family, so we were thrilled to celebrate the opening of the games last weekend. So much action to follow, so many amazing athlete stories—it's honestly the best two weeks of February! ⛷️🏂🥇

Beyond the competition itself, I'm always drawn to all the artwork that surrounds the Winter Olympics—the logos, the symbols, the visual identity of each Games. I found this cool site that walks through the history of Olympic logos from 1924 to 2022. The graphic designer in me couldn't resist diving in. It's a quick visual read if you're curious.

 This year's 2026 Winter Olympic logo caught my attention—it's called "Futura" and it's this beautiful, simple, ice-white single-line tracing of the number 26. The story behind it is what I like most: it's inspired by a child's spontaneous gesture, like tracing "26" on a frosted window with your finger. That simple, human touch in the snow—there's something really lovely about that concept. The design won by public vote (75% of over 871,000 votes!), and it's meant to represent sustainability and the idea that small gestures can change the world. 

What do you think? Does it resonate with you, or do you prefer the bolder, more traditional Olympic designs?

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In case you’re curious—Zaba means frog in Polish (my last name growing up). It’s a lucky symbol and a quiet tribute to my roots as a first generation Polish American.

If you know someone who might enjoy these creative updates, feel free to pass it along — I’d love to grow this little circle 🫶.