I’m excited to share that I’ll be presenting at the DESIGN SUITE Maker Conference this fall, happening September 9–11, 2025. This is something I’ve been wanting to do and I am so excited just to be a part of it.
From the moment I signed up, my brain exploded with ideas. That’s kind of my thing—I’m always brimming with possibilities. But the downside is… I really struggle to choose. When I have too many options, it’s like my brain short-circuits. I need clear yeses and nos. Otherwise, I get overwhelmed and stuck. Eventually, I landed on a theme that feels totally “me”: Halloween. Since the event is in early September, it’s basically the kickoff to spooky season. And I love Halloween—especially the animatronic stuff, creepy lighting, and little interactive surprises. You should see my Halloween Garage I have been doing for the last 20 years.
I got super inspired by another crafter who makes moving, light-up cards using tiny motors and LEDs. That instantly clicked. I thought, “That’s it! That’s what I want to do.” My idea? A haunted house with a ghost that moves across the window using a small motor. It sounded fun, playful, and right in my creative wheelhouse. So I dove into research—haunted house aesthetics, eerie architecture, creepy vs. just old—and I’ve been filling up Pinterest boards and sketching different versions for months. I want to understand what actually makes a haunted house feel haunted.
But here’s the honest part: I’ve been spinning my wheels. I know what I want to make. I’ve visualized it. I’ve collected all the references. But I have had the hardest time making myself stop and just build it. And I think it’s because I’m putting so much pressure on myself for it to be perfect. If this were a casual side project, I’d probably have finished it already. But knowing it’s for a conference—something public, something that matters—makes it harder to begin. It’s so strange how the pressure we put on ourselves can make even the simplest things feel impossible. I’m capable, I’m prepared, and I’m excited… but the perfectionism is getting in my way. That said—I’m still going for it. Even if the start is messy or slow, it’s still a start. And sometimes, just showing up and being real about the process is part of the work too. I know that to reach a goal, you just have to set it and make steps toward it and you will get there. It's just a matter of when. Stay tuned. There’s a haunted house in the making… even if it’s taking the long, winding path to get there. I can't wait to share it with you.