From Mom Brain to Maker Brain: Creating Space for Art in the Margins of Your Day
How to Reclaim Your Creativity in the Cracks of Motherhood
(Even If You Only Have 20 Minutes and a Toddler on Your Hip)
Let’s be honest: the idea of making time for creativity when you’re raising tiny humans can feel… laughable.
Between nap schedules, snack requests, potty training setbacks, and emotional meltdowns (sometimes ours), it’s easy to believe there’s just no room left for art. That it’s selfish. Or that we’re “not creative anymore.”
But what if you didn’t need hours?
What if you could reclaim small creative moments—and let them slowly, lovingly reconnect you with yourself?
This post is your gentle reminder: you are not broken. You’re balancing more than most. And yes—it’s still possible to show up creatively in the cracks of your day.
Let’s walk through exactly how.
You’re Not Broken—You’re Just in Mom Mode
Scattered doesn’t mean you’ve lost your spark.
Brain fog is real—and totally normal.
Before motherhood, I could remember entire to-do lists in my head. Now? I write reminders to remind me I have reminders. The mental load is real. Switching gears from “make lunch” to “make art” is hard—and not because you’re lazy. It’s because you’re holding so much.
Interruptions happen. Grace is everything.
I remember one day I was actually in flow. Nap time magic. I was working on a floral sketch I was proud of—until I heard crying. My toddler had an accident mid-nap. Suddenly, I was cleaning sheets and calming tears. The moment was gone.
But you know what? I still celebrate that sketch. Because I showed up. And showing up—even for 10 minutes—counts.
Grace, Not Guilt
“Creativity done in slower paces is still creativity. They won’t be this little forever, and you won’t always be this needed. Be proud of what does get done.”
Build a 20-Minute Sketch Ritual That Fits Your Life
Show up, not perfectly—just presently.
Set a weekly rhythm.
You don’t need a strict schedule. You need a loose rhythm.
Here’s mine:
Monday: Moodboard or visual inspo
Tuesday: Sketch simple motifs
Wednesday: Color block
Thursday: Procreate play
Friday: Review + upload if it’s ready
Even if I only do one step, I’m moving forward.
Prep your space for quick wins.
My iPad lives on my nightstand, charged and ready. I keep a folder of shapes I love drawing and a running list of ideas so I’m never stuck staring at a blank screen. No setup. No pressure. Just tap and go.
Tiny Wins Are the Secret to Creative Confidence
You’re still creative—even in chaos.
“Done” is better than perfect.
One of my favorite pieces is a wobbly dragon I drew late one night. It’s not refined. But it has energy. It has soul. And I wouldn’t change a thing.
Redefine progress.
Sometimes my win is sketching.
Sometimes it’s just opening Procreate and making one mark.
Sometimes it’s watching a 3-minute tutorial on pattern tiling.
All of it is forward motion.
Gentle Mantra
“Every step brings me closer to myself.”
Say it with me. Write it on your mirror. Whisper it when you want to quit.
You Deserve a Creative Space That Fits Your Life
If you’ve been feeling too overwhelmed to create—this is your sign.
You don’t need a whole day. You don’t need perfect conditions.
You need a soft place to begin.
✨ And I made that for you.
Ready to Create Your First Seamless Pattern?
Join my Free Seamless Pattern Course
Even if you’ve never drawn a repeat before.
Even if your toddler only naps for 27 minutes.
Even if you’re scared it won’t be “good enough.”
Inside, you’ll get:
🧩 A step-by-step walkthrough to create your first seamless repeat
🎨 A done-for-you design brief + color palette
⏱️ Bite-sized lessons you can pause and resume at your pace
🖼️ Your first canvas—because that first tiny step? It’s everything.
The first win? Just opening the canvas. And that’s more than enough.
👉 Join the Free Course Now – Let’s sketch your way back to yourself.
💖 Final Words:
You are not too late.
You are not too tired.
You are still creative.
And that creativity—tiny as it may feel—is ready to rise with you.
You’ve got this, one sketch at a time.
