I’m an illustrator, surface pattern designer, and fiber artist from the southern US. I still live here with my husband, young son, and our three quirky cats.

I’m a homebody and find it hard to change up my daily routine. With my son back at in-person school this year, I’m thankful for my newfound “free” time to explore all the art and fiber design I have stored away in my head. I start my day with a mug of lightly-caffeinated warm tea latte and a peruse of other creatives’ work on Instagram while I ease myself into awakeness. Tasks of the day vary, sometimes leaning toward admin and editing, sometimes filled with hours of sketching and illustrating personal and commissioned projects, sometimes with product designing and prep for my little shop.

Along with art and handicraft, I also share outfit-of-the-days and inspiration, and like to muse on personal style and what having a “sustainable wardrobe” can really mean. My true style can be best described as “70’s art teacher aesthetic.” Current favorite color combo is mustard yellow paired with a peachy, dusty pink.

Like most artists, I’ve been making since I was little. Drawing in notebooks, sketching up outfits, crocheting chains and chains of stitches. My drawings made their way out of my sketchbooks and onto my jeans, skin, and even my walls.

In late 2015, I had my son. The early days of motherhood made me feel like attempting any task, let alone something creative, was almost impossible. It felt like, if I tried to start anything, I’d immediately be interrupted by an angry, crying baby or a mess to clean. I gave up on attempting anything and barely left the house on my own. We didn’t realize it at first, but I was suffering from pretty severe postpartum depression.

When I finally reached out for counseling over a year after having my son, one of the first things my therapist had me do was make a list of all the things I liked to do and the hobbies I had given up on during PPD. With the homework of doing one thing off that list each day, even if just for fifteen minutes, I eventually found my way back to one of my first creative loves — illustration.

I have a desk where I do most of my editing and a lot of drawing but finding digital art and getting an iPad opened up a more accessible way of making art for me — portability, an endless color palette, digital brushes and pencils, and multiple drawing programs to try. I can take my iPad with me as far as on vacation or as near as the living room couch.

My art is honest, warm, and welcoming. My designs are inspired by vintage fashion and color palettes of old vintage prints. They are also inspired by the wildflowers I grew up with, like the lilac bushes and yellow jonquils in my grandma’s front yard, or the dandelions that lined our curvy, old small town road.

it’s my hope that my art is like a little bright spot in your sometimes weary day-to-day. Life isn’t always sunshine and butterflies, but sometimes, it is.

see some of my recent projects here.

about tales of butterflies

I started tales of butterflies back in 2014 as a place to share outfits that featured handmade, modified, or mended items along with my crochet accessories and clothing. At the time, the blog was called “Waters Wears,” and also trying to upstart a little crochet accessories shop alongside it.

The made-to-order crochet side of things never worked out too well for me, but it helped me find my way into the amazing community of fellow fiber artists and slow fashion designers. In 2015, I designed my first crochet pattern while pregnant with my son. Now, I’ve shifted from crochet design to my first creative joy, illustration.

But tales of butterflies is more than outfits, crochet, and art. I want to share my little daily attempts at seeking and reaching creativity. My goal is for tales of butterflies to be a place that’s cozy, inspiring, creative, hopeful, and encouraging.

If you’re a fellow mama making in small windows of time, I hope you’ll pour yourself a cup of your favorite tea and settle in here. (And if you’re not, you’re still welcome here, too!)

see the latest journal posts here.