🎀 A Cautionary Tale from the Pink Bow Studio

After 17 years at home with my children, I leapt headfirst into the working world again — not exactly easing in, but diving into 14-hour days fueled by creativity, passion, and an IV-level supply of Coke Zero before noon.

And well… after five months at this pace, my body finally staged a full-scale protest.

This morning, I ended up in the ER with dehydration and muscle spasms so bad in my neck that I couldn’t lift my head without literally using my hands. I spent three days this week down for the count, which is both humbling and mildly comedic when you realize you’ve turned into a human bobblehead who forgot to drink water.

Over the years, I’ve proudly worn the title of Serial Crafter — and honestly, I’ve earned it. I’ve crafted for holidays, birthdays, and some of the best themed parties you could imagine. I used to appliqué and embroider my children’s clothing (right up until they decided they were too cool for that 🥲). I’ve made custom baby bedding, built furniture for the American Girl Dolls, designed countless Halloween costumes (I never want to see chicken wire again… just sayin’), and drafted floorplans and perspective drawings for personal design projects.

I’ve added vinyl and HTV to every possible surface and/or garment, made jewelry, painted custom pumpkins, murals and went through a wreath making phase. I cranked out over a thousand masks during the 2020 pandemic. I’ve made gifts for teachers, gear for cheer squads, swag for community sports teams — and yes, even a custom bed for the dog (because obviously, he needed one).

But in all those years, I never once put crafting above my own well-being.

Until now.

Building Pink Bow Clay Co. has been the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding creative adventure of my life. I’ve poured countless hours into color recipes, website building, branding, photographing, and preparing for my first shows and boutique launch — and I’m beyond proud of what’s come to life.

Still, I’ve learned something important (the hard way):

✨ Even the prettiest clay cracks when it’s not hydrated.

So, here I am — a little wiser, a lot more hydrated, and currently held together by steroids, pain meds, and Gatorade — realizing that building a dream shouldn’t mean breaking yourself in the process..

Pink Bow Clay Co. is about joy, creativity, and connection — and if I want to keep sharing those things with the world, I have to remember to refill my own cup, too.

So here’s to balance, to boundaries, and to learning that sometimes the best creative tool isn’t a new cutter or clay recipe — it’s a good night’s sleep and a tall glass of water. 💕