Push Past Your Obstacles and Push Past that Fear Mindset!

You know that little voice in your head that says, "Maybe that's a bit too much for you"? Well, I’ve been hearing that voice a lot lately. As someone who’s been creating fabric patterns for a few years, I’ve always had my go-to styles—the ones that feel comfortable and familiar. But recently, I decided to challenge myself in a way I hadn’t before, and my mindset. My whole thing is “Create the Home of Your Dreams with Historically Inspired Fabric, Wallpaper, Furniture and Decor” I’m talking about diving into patterns like 5th Century Overlapping Circles to 18th Century Toile de Jouy and a bunch in between. 

5th Century Roman flooring

18th Century Toile de Jouy

These are designs that I’ve admired from afar for so long but never dared to touch. The intricate details, the rich history—just thinking about recreating them with my updated approach made me a little anxious. What if I didn’t do them justice? What if I got stuck halfway through? 

Overlapping Circles

Flame Pattern

Trellis Pattern

Guilloche pattern

But then I reminded myself that growth comes from pushing past those fears. So, I took a deep breath and started, one step at a time. I began with research, immersing myself in the history and techniques behind these patterns. Thankfully, I’m a member of a historical pattern design group called Evolution, from the Repertoire Course of Historical Designs, that helps...A LOT! Then, I moved on to sketching, allowing myself the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them. 

There were definitely moments of overwhelm, where I felt like I was in over my head. But instead of giving up, I focused on breaking down the process into manageable steps. I tackled one challenge at a time, solving problems as they came up. And slowly but surely, the designs began to take shape. 

trellis pattern

spot floral pattern

ikat pattern

Stripe/Garland Pattern

I can’t tell you how rewarding it’s been to see these patterns come to life in a way that’s uniquely mine. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the things that intimidate us the most are the very things we need to try. Not just for the outcome, but for the experience itself. 

So, what about you? Is there something you’ve been putting off because it feels too daunting? Maybe it’s a sewing project you’ve always wanted to try, a new business offering you’ve been dreaming of, or a design combination that could become your signature style. 

Whatever it is, I encourage you to give yourself the grace and space to try it. Even if it doesn’t turn out exactly as you planned, you’ll have explored new territory, learned along the way, and that’s something to be proud of. 

Sometimes, the journey is the reward, and who knows? You might just surprise yourself with what you’re capable of creating. 

Tell me, what obstacle would you love to push past?