When the pandemic hit back in March, I remember how hard it was to assess my friends & their moods. I have friends in many different places & stages of their lives, so their reactions to what was happening were all over the place. That being said, it took quite some time for the roller coaster of emotions to really set in. It’s safe to say that all of my close friends have gone through extreme highs & lows, with the initial Zoom happy hour overload then to “please leave me alone in my COVID depression” phase.
If there’s one thing that has made me really happy, I’ve noticed that a solid handful of friends have gone further into their existing craft or taken up new projects. With many of us going through phases of unemployment or partial employment, these breaks of work have forced us to try new things or get better at something we once left unfinished after a trip to Michael’s. I wanted to share a few people who I really admire & some of the things they have been working on to keep themselves sane.
Okay, let’s dive in!
Laura Grasso, Slingin’ Threads at Rad Radish Vintage
If you love vintage, you should peep Laura’s new shop! She decided to take her passion for fashion digital & I’m here for it. She’s got some killer taste. Shop Rad Radish Vintage on IG here.
Abbey Brown, Illustrating Feels
I love Abbey’s drawings because they are so relatable! She’s made some quarantine depictions that are so on point, I could cry. Check out all of Abbey’s work on IG here.
Perla Hernandez, Designing Cool Sh*t at Venus Pearl
Perla makes really rad design work & recently started her own brand called Venus Pearl. If you need a logo, a funky digital artwork, or Harry Styles stickers, she’s your girl. Check out all of Perla’s design work on IG here.
Katie Cooke, Embroidery Wizard
Katie has been diving further into the art of embroidery (with a touch of angst - I LOVE) during quarantine and I’m obsessed. Can we all agree that she needs her own shop? She doesn’t post too much about her projects, but if you want to add her (because she's awesome) or DM her about embroidery or art things, you can find her here.
Sloan Eveningstar, Renovating an RV
My friend Sloan has had a goal of purchasing her own RV for a long time & finally saved enough cash money to purchase this beaut. I’m a bit jealous but newly inspired to live the life of a hippie nomad. Follow her renovation journey on IG stories here.
Amber LaFrance, Makin’ Jewels at Bead Babe
In the thick of quarantine, Amber took her love for jewelry to the next level. I remember when she started really getting into it & it was intense. She turned COVID cabin fever into a new side hustle for herself & I’m here for it. I had a few convos with her about how the pandemic has brought us back to things from our childhood. The 90’s nostalgia in these designs are so comforting & I think that’s something we all need right now! You can shop her new goodies on Etsy here & IG here.
If you are a creative badass or know others with pandemic stories to be shared, please send them my way! I don’t think this COVID hellscape is going anywhere soon, so I think a little creative joy will help us all stay sane.
I would also like to say, it’s okay if you’ve been a useless oaf for the last few months. You’re not required to do anything if you feel like complete & utter sh*t.
If you’re struggling to feel inspired or need to talk about the state of the world, feel free to slide into my DMs. You’re not alone!