The Ostrich Phase and WildKind
Have you ever found yourself in the Ostrich phase? Head in the sand, pretending all the things you’re supposed to be doing don’t exist. (Yes, I know ostriches don’t actually bury their heads in the sand. But let’s just roll with the metaphor.) Or maybe they just aren’t as urgent as reorganising the cupboard - which, funnily enough, sparked an idea for the next collection. A perfect distraction, but also a little homage to the lessons I’ve been learning about mindset, showing up for yourself, and stepping into the work that really matters.
That’s where I was last week. My mind was trying to protect me. Protect me from failure, from putting myself out there and being vulnerable. The voices saying “You’re not ready,” “You’re not enough” got loud, and I buried my head in the sand. I was scared, scared to fail, scared to be seen, scared that putting myself out there with WildKind might reveal that I’m not perfect, that I’m just human. I’m sure you’ve felt it too - that moment before you do something big and scary, when being vulnerable feels like it could break you.
“The voices saying ‘You’re not ready,’ ‘You’re not enough’ got loud, and I buried my head in the sand.”
The WildKind collection is something so dear to my heart. It’s my debut into the surface pattern design world. Gone is the people pleaser. Gone is the perfectionist. Gone is the girl trying to fit into a box that was never made for her. WildKind is stepping out of the city, leaving behind the hustle and the “shoulds,” and letting every part of myself roam free. It’s about letting go of other people’s expectations and embracing who I really am.
“Gone is the people pleaser. Gone is the perfectionist. Gone is the girl trying to fit into a box that was never made for her.”
The Ostrich phase also reminded me how powerful mindset really is. All the hard work I’ve done over the last six months, every late night, every experiment, every step toward finding my voice in surface pattern design, can vanish in the blink of an eye if you start listening to those voices in your head. And while it was tough, this phase also sparked something exciting: an idea for the next collection, something that builds on WildKind but explores new territory.
I had planned to release these patterns last week, but the Ostrich phase got the better of me - and I only have one ready today. Even so, I couldn’t wait any longer to share it, because the meaning behind WildKind is just too important to keep hidden. Even though I was scared to share, even though my mind kept trying to keep me small, I had to put myself out there. I had to be vulnerable, because that’s the only way WildKind could truly exist in the world.
The pattern I’m releasing today is called Wild Bloom, and it really embodies the spirit of WildKind - messy, vibrant, unapologetic, and alive. It has a fresh, lively energy that feels soft and inviting, just the way I imagined WildKind coming to life.
Now, I feel ready for the Becoming phase. This phase is what WildKind is all about - becoming the me I was always meant to be. It’s stepping fully into who I am, embracing the messy, imperfect, powerful self that I tried to hide. It’s about growth, courage, and leaning into the parts of myself I once feared showing.
“Now, I feel ready for the Becoming phase - stepping fully into who I was always meant to be”
But here’s the thing - WildKind isn’t just for me. It’s for everyone. It’s about stepping out, standing at the edge of the city, and realizing that you don’t have to blend in to belong. It’s about creating a community where everyone’s weird, wonderful selves are celebrated. It’s about walking into the wild together, seeing people thrive, dance, celebrate, and just be… because being yourself is the most radical, freeing thing you can do.
The Ostrich phase reminded me that vulnerability is not weakness. It’s where the real growth happens, where we dig ourselves out of our holes because pretending to be someone we’re not is just too painful. WildKind is about stopping the search for confirmation that you don’t belong and instead looking for the signs that you do, exactly as you are. Celebrating our differences, loving each other for them, and realizing that each unique experience, each perspective, is a chance to grow.
WildKind is for all walks of life. It’s for anyone ready to step into the wild and realise their full potential, to walk their path with cheerleaders showing them love, helping propel them forward, and turning that wilderness into home.
WildKind patterns are created to celebrate uniqueness and authenticity, and they work beautifully on products. I love seeing brands use patterns in ways that reflect their own story and personality (if you’re curious about how it could work for your products, I’m always happy to chat ideas, you can contact me here).
So here it is, WildKind, and Wild Bloom, Raw, messy, unapologetic, and real. Even if it’s just one pattern today, I’m beyond excited to share it. Let’s step into the Becoming phase - together.