Notes From My Inner Child
How penpal letters, crayons, and old movies are bringing me back to myself
Hello everyone!
Things have been in full swing this spring. Sunny days have been plentiful, and with that, it feels like London is waking up and becoming oh so busy. There have been events and pop-ups all over greater London, and it’s been keeping me busy in the best way.
In my downtime, I’ve been trying to reconnect with my inner child. It feels like a hot topic these days, but I truly think the childlike wonder we had as kids was so special—and I want to find my way back to that.
I spent a day last weekend sorting through all the tickets and memorabilia I’ve collected from my last few trips and dove into some junk journaling. I love the idea of hanging onto everything and then having a book that helps me quickly revisit the most important parts of each trip. Definitely something that young Bailey would appreciate—and honestly, it felt so grounding to sit with all those memories and turn them into something tactile and personal.
Lately, I’ve also been keeping an eye out for things that spark that same childlike wonder—and I’ve come across a few that really hit the mark. Starting with this collection of hotel pad sketches by Michael McGregor called Room Service. I collected a few of my favorites in the post below and also recently bought the coffee table book! If you’re interested, here’s the link.
Something about this work feels so simple but also explosive. And the use of color is magnificent—like the sketches I used to make as a kid in my notebook during class. It inspired me to pick up some crayons (also on the lookout for some good colored pencils) and start using them in my own work. I started out decorating penpal letters because that felt like a fun, low-stakes way to begin. And honestly, having a penpal is already such a sweet way to reconnect with your inner child.
Another example of this childlike wonder I’ve been fascinated with lately: fashion brand sketches that showcase new products in a really simple, sketchbook-like style. The Stella McCartney piece is particularly beautiful, and I love that all the elements are illustrated on top—although I think a version of this with mixed media could be really fun to play around with. It’s amazing when a sketch alone can help your brain piece together what the final product looks like, without even seeing it. It creates more intrigue in my opinion, and gives a little behind-the-scenes moment.
Back in January, I was staying at my mom’s house before our move to London, and we cleaned out the attic. While going through all my childhood memories, I found a children’s book that I had written and illustrated myself using colored pencils. It was a school project, and I still remember the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment when I finished it. I honestly get that same feeling every time I complete a project today—and it reminded me how lucky I am to have a job where I get to do what I love every single day.
It also made me really wish I had photos of that book with me so I could share them with you… but next time I’m home, I’ll make sure to grab some!
If you’re a designer (or any kind of creative) going through burnout or just a tough spot, I highly encourage you to take some time to reflect on why you decided to be a creative in the first place. What kinds of projects did you work on as a kid? Did you have a teacher who encouraged your artistic side? Did your parents keep you stocked with craft supplies? Who was your biggest supporter?
And if reflecting doesn’t do the trick... think back to the shows and movies that inspired you. For me, it’s Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, starring Lindsay Lohan.
Not only was it completely relatable (I mean, who hasn’t had a crush on a musician that felt so intense it seemed like you knew them better than anyone else?), but the wardrobe, the way Lola decorated her bedroom, the school play set design, the music choices—and my personal favorite—the pop-up book mixed media scenes throughout the film… all of it just elevated the story 100000%.
In case you are in need of a boost, here’s one of my fav clips from the movie.
I rewatched it recently and instantly felt transported back to my younger self—completely in awe of what was happening on screen (even if it’s a little cheesy at times). The same thing happens when I watch Lizzie McGuire. So good.
I hope this leaves you feeling inspired to show your inner child some love this week.
Until next time,
Bailey
Just realized I used to write down stories when I was eight and I can’t wait to flight back home to found them in my mother’s ceiling
Love it