Making Room for Magic

Lessons from Ice Dyeing and Creative Flow

Anyone else out there a recovering perfectionist? 

When I was sixteen, I was awarded a scholarship to attend a summer program at California College of the Arts for drawing and printmaking. This experience was a turning point in my creative journey, marking the first time I was encouraged to stop trying so hard. It wasn’t that the work required no effort—it demanded intense focus and presence of mind—but it was more about getting into that elusive “flow” state and embracing the unexpected. It’s the classic “90% preparation, 10% magic” equation. 

No matter how meticulously you prepare for printmaking, the press always adds its own element of surprise. I love that! However, as I transitioned from fine arts to design, I lost sight of this invaluable lesson.

Recently, in an effort to make more room for magic in my life, I tried ice dyeing for the first time—and I was instantly captivated. Ice dyeing isn’t necessarily difficult, which allowed me to approach it with a more open, experimental mindset. The process is driven by patience (waiting a full 24 hours for the results was challenging!), but the outcome is pure magic. I used recycled linen and natural, plant-based dyes for these pieces.

It’s the classic “90% preparation, 10% magic” equation. 

These creations are featured in some very special, in-person-only offerings at Hudson Valley Farm & Flea, and I couldn’t be more inspired. In fact, this process has opened the floodgates for something new… stay tuned!

This experiment reminds me of a lesson from over half my life ago: perfection can be so dull.

Let’s embrace a bit more magic in our lives!