When I first launched Design for MiniKind, I had assumed it would be a pint-sized version of what my other blog was at the time – a place to catalog great products, inspired artists and creative ideas from around the web. Yet the more I delve deeper into my favorite makers and projects and gifts, I’m realizing that there’s a new theme emerging: children are awakening a serious creative spark in their parents. It’s true with Lenka. With these photographers. With Bianca. With Michaela. Gone are the days of believing we were in our prime, creatively-speaking, before our kids came along. Now it seems (and this rings very true with the following artist), the best is yet to come.
My friend Ez is a fearless mother, gifted photographer and endless inspiration. Her site, loved by many, began out of a need to seek beauty and serenity in the everyday, re-focusing her perspective to get through an incredibly difficult personal experience. I’ve long admired her for this ability to turn her own life’s lemons into virtual lemonade, sweet and kicky and ready to be enjoyed by all. Naturally, when she released a set of [incredibly charming] illustrations she’d created out of the blue, I knew there was more to the story.
And there was. When her teenage daughter left for a week-long summer camp last year, she channeled her worry and anxiety into something positive (Ez’s M.O., if you haven’t yet realized), sketching an adorable creature participating in a camp-themed activity daily until her daughter returned. And her daughter wasn’t the only one who loved the sentiment – Ez’s Instagram community quickly praised the illustrations she’d posted of the series. The unexpected response, coupled with Heather Ross’ Prints book
Since that day, she’s been creating illustrations for her recently-released shop – once again, providing the world with a sweet taste of virtual lemonade (I’m eyeing Margaux for Bee’s nursery).
When I asked Ez to share some of her story, she mentioned she’d always been a doodler and that her mom often provided a sketchpad to help her keep calm in church, restaurant dinners and cross-country drives. Throughout her schooling years, her notebooks were always filled with far more sketches than lecture notes. “I used to see this habit as a weakness,” Ez writes. “But several years ago I had the realization that I actually pay closer attention while drawing, and that the mindless action of doodling brings a quiet focus to my brain that would otherwise be too overwhelmed with distracting thought and noise to concentrate.”
Isn’t that a beautiful portrait of creativity? Ez’s tendency to fidget sparked a new hobby in herself as a child. A hobby that, now, years later, is bringing peace to her soul and beauty to the world.
I don’t yet know whether Bee will be a doodler, but I can only hope that I’ll raise her to believe that her talents and interests are uniquely suited for her. That her passions aren’t weaknesses – as nontraditional as they might seem at the time – but are lemons, providing flavor and depth and sweetness to her spirit. And that, someday, she might be brave enough to – like Ez – open up a lemonade stand of her own.
Image Credit: Creature Comforts Shop / Ez Pudewa (all work available for purchase)
Related: 21 more art prints for kids!
I really liked this post, Erin. I’ve followed Ez’s blog for a long time but somehow missed the post about her past. I had no idea and really appreciated your thoughts about creating visual and digital lemonade – and that we need to pass to our children the understanding and appreciation that whatever they do has value. Thanks for a sweet post, have a lovely weekend!
Thank you, Emily – I couldn’t agree more about passing this onto our children! :) Sending you some digital lemonade for the weekend!
This is just a beautiful piece of writing. From Ez’s amazing art, to your realization of kids’ creativity inspiring their parents. I feel that so strongly- It’s so much more fun for me to make art with my daughter than it was alone. There’s more experimenting, joy and silliness, which is a welcome replacement to the feelings I had previously of making art for the finished product.
Thank you, sweet Jeanette! And gosh; isn’t it so interesting how kids can spark such creativity among us?
super cute!!!
I love this post,very strong ideas about life,how we are in childhood and how to transfer this in our adult life. Thank you,I discover a world through you.This is my first time looking at your blog:really amazing!Lots of things to learn and to remember..
“Children are awakening a serious creative spark in their parents. … Gone are the days of believing we were in our prime, creatively-speaking, before our kids came along. Now it seems, the best is yet to come.” This is profound and perfect and TRUE. Beautifully put.
Ah, thank you sweet Janette. :)
Amazing post! Your writing is beautiful and EZ’s story is very inspiring. I love her artwork. Definitely, a success story for Ez. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you, Mariana. :)