summer* 2026

Thanks for being here for another seasonal update. I'll be honest, this one took me longer to sit down and write. As always, I'm sharing what's been happening, what's been on my mind, 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.

I like keeping things simple — each post follows the same rhythm: a glimpse into what I’m creating, how things are growing, and what’s been catching my eye or sparking inspiration.

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.

After my mom passed away unexpectedly in March, I stepped away from creating for a while. When it came time to return, I found myself coming back to memories of her. The flowers, colors, and small moments that shaped my childhood.

Through June, I shared a month long series of patterns built around four flowers that carried me back to her: wild violets, lily of the valley, buttercups, and carnations. Each one holds its own memory. Picking bouquets for her from the yard. The sundress covered in violets I later turned into a skirt. The carnations that followed us through every Polish American celebration.

It became my way of honoring her while finding my way back to making art again. If you missed them, you can catch the full series here: here.

More images of the berry making here.

grow*

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

On the product side, I did a small run of dinner napkins to fulfill outstanding orders and resupply Porch & Paddle in Clayton, NY. Everything's available now in limited quantities at the shop, and I'll have more back online in my Etsy shop come October, with a fuller offering for the holiday season.

I also introduced something new: small linen napkins, 8"x8" and folding down to a sweet 4"x4". I'm calling them "Every Moment Napkins," because that's exactly what they're for. The perfect little gift, wonderful tucked under a morning coffee, alongside a snack, in a lunchbox, or under a cocktail. Jim and I have already put ours to good use. A bowl of ice cream and a movie the other night, napkins and all. 🍦

On the family side, we officially launched both girls into college this month. One little 
U-Haul, one very packed car, spicy weather, and 953 miles over three days. It was a whirlwind, but a good one, and it's a big reason the studio has been quiet this summer. Between saying goodbye to my mom this spring and now sending my girls off into their next chapter, it's been a season of full hands and a full heart. I'm easing back into things now, a little at a time, and grateful for every bit of support along the way.

inspire*

What’s been sparking inspiration lately — art, artists, books, music, textures, colors, and creative details that make me pause and look a little longer.

I want to spend this one on the Loon, an icon of the Adirondacks and something truly close to our family's heart. If you've ever spent an evening on an Adirondack lake, you know the sound. That long, wavering call drifting across the water as the light fades. It's haunting and beautiful all at once, and once you've heard it, you never forget it. Loons need clean, quiet water to thrive, so their presence is its own kind of good sign, a marker of a healthy lake. Our kids grew up listening to them with Grandma, and they still stop and listen every time, all these years later.

What's been especially wonderful is that over the past few summers, I've noticed the loons becoming much more present on the St. Lawrence River too. Hearing that same call carry across the water there now, somewhere I didn't always associate with them, has been such a welcome and hopeful sign.

This spring, I drew a Loon of my own, with hopes of eventually turning it into a full pattern. The pattern's still a work in progress, but a sticker felt like the right way to share it in the meantime. 

One for the Adirondacks, one for the St. Lawrence. You can find them on Etsy, on zabacreative.com, and at Porch & Paddle.

In case you’re curious—Zabameans 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🫶.