Summary

You wake up already behind. The to-do list is longer than the hours in the day. You fall into bed exhausted and wake up to do it all again. And in the middle of all this chaos, there's this little voice saying, "I miss creating. I miss having something that's just mine." But when? How?

In this episode, recorded from a hotel room during a work trip, Kathleen shares how to maintain your creative practice when life won't slow down. You'll discover why bringing your embroidery on the road keeps you connected, how to reimagine what creativity looks like in busy seasons, and why three stitches in a hotel room is exactly enough. This is permission to adapt your practice instead of abandoning it.

You'll hear about:

1. What busy seasons actually feel like (and why you're not failing)
2. Why you need to let go of what worked before (your practice can look different now)
3. Creative rhythms for busy times (portable projects, micro-sessions, simple work)
4. What Kathleen's learning traveling for work with her embroidery project
5. What to protect and what to release in chaotic seasons
6. The unexpected gift of constraints (what busy seasons teach us)
7. How staying connected now makes returning easier later
8. Permission to do less, choose simple, and be imperfect

Takeaway: Busy seasons don't last forever, and your creative practice doesn't have to look the same all the time. Three stitches a day keeps you connected. Portable projects fit in the margins. Simple, repetitive work doesn't tax your tired brain. You're not abandoning creativity by adapting it—you're honoring it by finding a way to keep it alive even when life is chaos. Release the guilt, lower the expectations, and trust that staying connected matters more than being productive.More from Artsy Lyons

1. Start stitching with the Stitch Deck
2. Free DIY name sweater video tutorial
3. Free Canva templates to create DIY name designs
4. Check out the shop: artsylyons.shop
5. Follow me on Instagram: @artsylyons

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