The Power of the Creative Sidequest

I get bored of big projects. I tend to get surges of new ideas and a sudden, urgent need to learn something new.

I used to resist that urge, but it never worked for me. More often than not, I would just drop the big project entirely and feel like a failure. Eventually, I decided to try something new: I embraced the sidequest.

While designing the first MABEL collection, I hit a wall. I felt drained. During that slump, an idea started to crystallize—something I had admired for a long time but never actually tried. The thought wouldn’t leave my mind, so I decided to just go with it.

My sidequest: A Sashiko pencil case.

The beauty of this project was in the exploration. I had never tried this embroidery style before. Because it’s completely manual—no machines, no screens—it became something I could do during "down times." It’s a craft I can work on while my daughter plays; she gets my presence, and I get a moment of zen.

Unlike the "driving" energy of a big launch, this excitement felt soft and rebuilding. There was no sense of hurry.

I needed this. Something beautiful came out of it, and more importantly, it gave me the mental rest I needed to keep going. I don’t feel like I wasted time; I feel refueled.

The Science of Why We "Stray"

It turns out, there is a reason my brain demanded this detour. In psychology, the Zeigarnik Effect suggests that our minds keep track of unfinished, complex tasks (like a pattern launch) in a way that creates a constant "background hum" of mental noise.

By switching to something manual, like hand-sewing old jeans with Sashiko thread, I was engaging my Default Mode Network. While my hands were busy with repetitive, rhythmic motions, my brain was actually:

• Reducing Cortisol: Lowering the stress of the "big launch" energy.
• Finding the "Dopamine of the New": Using a small, successful finish to provide the reward chemicals needed to push through the final stages of a large project.
• Incubating Ideas: Providing the quiet space for my subconscious to solve problems regarding the MABEL instructions while I wasn't looking at them.

Upcycling as a Mental Reset
There’s something poetic about using old, discarded jeans for this. Just as the denim was given a new life, this sidequest gave a new life to my creative energy. It wasn’t a distraction; it was a restoration.

So, if you find yourself suddenly needing to learn a new craft or start a "small" project when you're supposed to be finishing a big one—don't fight it. It might just be your brain's way of making sure you have enough fuel to cross the finish line.

The Sashiko Pouch is now live in the shop—a one-of-a-kind piece born from a moment of much-needed "sidequest" zen.