What One Design Has Taught Me About 2025 So Far

We’ve reached the midpoint of the year, and I’ve felt the pull to pause.  To sit with the journey of these past six months and take a quiet inventory of how far I've come, both creatively and personally.

If I had to choose one pattern to represent the story of my 2025 so far, it would be “Quiet Strength.”
Its simple palette is calm yet grounded. Its rhythm is steady. It doesn’t shout, but it stands strong.
And that, honestly, is how this season has felt for me: a steady unfurling. Rooted. Resilient.

A Design that Captures More Than Color

I designed Quiet Strength during a time when I was learning to trust stillness. I used to believe progress needed to feel big.  Loud even. But this year, I’ve found so much value in the in between moments. The quiet work. The unseen hours. The subtle shifts in direction that lead to the most grounded growth.

Designing this pattern taught me that beauty doesn’t have to be bold to be brave. Sometimes, our most meaningful work comes from simply staying steady, even when we’re unsure where the path leads.

What This Means for My Creative Business

As a surface and textile designer, every pattern I create carries a story. Some come out playful and bright. Others (like this one)  speak softly but with heart.
Quiet Strength will soon be part of my home goods collection, available on cozy throw blankets, soft minky baby gifts, and calming seasonal wallpaper and fabric, through Spoonflower.

I love knowing that the story I put into this design might quietly live on in someone’s nursery, their reading corner, or even tucked into a thoughtful gift. That's the true magic of pattern.  It weaves into people's lives in ways we can’t always see.

Your Turn ~ What’s Your Mid-Year Vibe?

As we move through the rest of 2025, I’d love to know:
If your year had a pattern so far, what would it look like? Would it be bold and blooming, or soft and shifting? Would it echo the colors of healing, excitement, rest, or rediscovery?

Drop a comment or send me a message. I’d truly love to hear.

And if Quiet Strength speaks to you like it did to me, you can explore another full collection right here. Each piece carries a little of that quiet courage we’ve all needed this year.

Until next time! Stay steady, stay inspired, and trust the beauty in your pace.

Warmly,
Kelly