Small magic, big magic: finding some magic everyday!
A creative experiment for more joy by Marie Jelenka Kirchner
Everyday magic - it sounds unattainably large (is magic even real?), yet so mundane, because we all go about our everyday any day, no matter what. The question I asked myself at the beginning of this year was how I can bring the random, and often stressful, everyday together with my desire for just that little sparkly touch of magic. Let me take you on this exploration with me!
It’s easy to feel magical out in nature, but this is not my everyday view… Features: Fable Dress
But before we dive in, here’s an important disclaimer: You can only create your own magic, I learnt this much in my young life. Someone else’s trick might be a great inspiration for you, but it might also be your personal poisonous potion. Because let’s face it: Everyday magic really comes down to a good level of satisfaction with my every (most of them) day(s), seasoned with a kind and appreciative approach to myself, my challenges and my surroundings, and sprinkled with a dose of random “wow”.
That said, the path to magical fulfilment as discovered by me might not be the right one - or simply most feasible - for you and that’s okay. Comparison is the thief of joy and it won’t bring us satisfaction, especially not when we’re talking about craft and creativity. I hope that this little article can inspire you to reflect and to explore your own path, and to find your own magic.
How it started...
2024 was not my year. With overburdening work, family tragedies en masse and accumulating mental stress, I was more in survival mode than anything else. Sewing had become one of many chores rather than a leisurely craft - better done than doing.
For 2025, I wanted for things to run differently and I set out to explore why I started all these creative side quests (I am a political scientist by profession) in the first place. My creative theme for 2025 was set: Back to my (creative) roots!
I quickly realized how important aesthetics are in my creative journey: the main reason for me to craft is to create more beauty - in the widest sense. That means to create beautiful (inside out!) pretty garments, yes of course. But it also means to create beautiful and mindful moments while doing the crafts. To use my creativity to improve the aesthetics of the spaces I move in. To see my creativity as a way to connect to people and to my environment and to find beauty and empowerment in creative community.
The first important learning: enjoy the doing, more than the being done! Features a T+T doll in progress
Being part of the Twig and Tale Storyteller team was the perfect opportunity to explore my creative theme, my place in community and my quest for beauty - simply the magic of my craftiness.
The experiment
The overarching question to my weeks-long experiment was and is: How can I make my everyday a little bit more magical, more enjoyable, more memorable?
The German poet Herman Hesse wrote in his widely known and appreciated poem “Steps” a beautiful line:
“For each beginning bears a special magic
that nurtures living and bestows protection."
I love how he acknowledges not only that beginnings are magical - we’ve all been there in the fabric store, about to get a new project planned out - but that it is that magic that nurtures us. It’s those beginnings that allow us to grow, yet we should acknowledge their inherent magic within the flow of things.
And just like that, step one of my self-experiment was decided:
What do I need to have the best possible start to my day?
Morning rituals are all the rage, and for good reason, but it can also be stressful to wake up to a never-ending to-do list of self-care activities. With a set morning routine rather adding to my stress level than easing it, I learnt to cut things down: be more realistic to feel the magic. Feels contradictory? It works for me.
I now have a list of things that I enjoy for a good start into the day:
A good cup of (green) tea - A quick refreshing session of yoga - A home-made smoothie - Time to sit and write - Knitting time (while planning my day) - Creative planning in my diary - Tending to the balcony - No phone (!)
Morning Routine; features the Sewing is Magic embroidery on a T+T drawstring bag
Is it realistic to do all these things every morning and have a well-rested day? Not for me. But a good tea and media-free waking up are a good start to a day at more ease. Everything else is a bonus - and it’s good to have that list hanging around, because my morning brain is … leaky.
As the day proceeds, adult life brings a lot of magic-killing chores with it. Which brings me to step 2 of my experiment.
How can I make an everyday chore more pleasant?
There is this little park on my way to the supermarket - a perfect little spot for a short break and a deep breath in the sun.
As the lilac blooms, I found it nice to stop on my way to a doctor’s appointment to take a refreshing sniff.
The wild meadow full of marguerites on my way to the gym invited me to take one flower home on a rainy day - instant mood boost!
I tried to get into a mindset to stop and enjoy when I see a pretty thing, if only for a minute. I found that those appreciative mini breaks go a long way towards my general happiness.
And maybe, sometimes, we are lucky enough to fully transform a chore into a pleasant ritual altogether. I’ve started to schedule regular coffee dates - sometimes it’s just me and my tea, sometimes a friend joins in - on Fridays, farmers’ market day. I found those solo dates especially perfect for some portable DIYs, too. And before I know it, an ordinary Friday and otherwise stressful hunt for veggies becomes an almost magical event to look forward to every week.
Enjoying some embroidery at the farmers market; features Sewing is Magic embroidery in progress
And then, finally, having reached a level of more consciousness, more everyday ease and being more in the moment (after a few weeks), I asked myself:
How can I use my craft to make my everyday (even) more magical?
Yay, you made it through the (more or less) philosophical part of the article - time to chat about some projects! All of them, in different ways, add that magical touch to my crafting and help me reconnect to my creative roots.
1. Manifesting optimism: a visual (embroidered) reminder of life’s magic
Poem embroidery: "Nicht müde werden" by Hilde Domin
My first Twig and Tale project of the year was meant to get me into the mood of this experiment. Sometimes, when we’ve spiralled deep enough into a stressed mindset a visual reminder of whatever it is that we wish to manifest can be a real game changer! A poem by German poet Hilde Domin about remaining open and welcoming about miracles was perfectly accompanied by a floral embroidery to add to the wall decor in my creative space.
A little peek into my creative corner and works in process; Features Mānuka embroidery and doll clothes in various stages
2. Adding a touch of whimsical beauty: a nature-inspired table centre piece
My latest addition to a growing collection of leaf blankets; features Oak Leaf size M from the Euro Mini Leaf Collection
I believe that you should surround yourself with as many things as possible that make you smile - at least internally - any time you look at it. Life is so serious, so we need to actively nurture safe and pretty spaces at home or within our communities. I don’t say that owning one (or multiple) leaf-shaped tablecloths or placemats will solve all of your issues, but for me it certainly improves my days (I have a full collection in various sizes at this point and my head is spinning with more ideas!).
Leaf Blankets also make a great working base
3. Getting inspired by what’s around me (or in my stash): patchwork for that sustainable magic
Fabric Scraps; features Sewing is Magic Embroidery
The more stress I feel, the more drawn I feel towards impulse shopping. Suddenly, the desire to shop (for, let’s say, new fabric) seems like a need, not a want. Such is the power of capitalism. But for me, one of my intrinsic interests in me-made anything lies in a quest for a more sustainable, and more ethical, approach to consumption. I have been sewing for a couple of years and besides the garment quantities of fabric that have piled up, my leftovers are pouring out of their designated boxes and shelves. When I am hyper-focused on getting things done, that is, have gotten into the chores-mood of sewing, I tend to forget just how gratifying it is to be inspired by, and work with, what I already have at home. I realized many patchwork projects ago that patchworked garments are not my vibe, but I love to dig into those scraps for accessories, doll clothes or (see above!) leaf blankets! I think there is something truly magical in making-do with what we already have.
If you carry your WIPs everywhere like I do, you’ll love the Making eBook from Twig and Tale! Features Drawstring Bag with Magic Spool Embroidery, Needle Book
5. Embracing dreams - for the inner child or just for fun
Little Waldorf-style dolls like T+T Pebble Pocket Dolls are fun to make and versatile to use
There is small magic - most of how I pursue everyday magic comes down to that - and then there’s big magic. A lot of that is out of the ordinary for me, an escape from the everyday like going to a truly beautiful place with an enchanted feel to it (just look at the Austrian Traunsee which you can see in my Fable Dress images!) or fulfilling a long-held dream. The question is: how can I manage to incorporate enough of that extraordinary magic into my everyday and tint the (potential) dullness of my daily routine with some sparkle?
I am lucky, because while the Traunsee might not be my everyday chill-out spot, there is lots of beautiful nature around me regardless. And even luckier, I possess a massive load of creative skills to make a lot of dreams come true!
One of my longest held creative dreams has been the making of a doll. When I was a child, I even dreamt of becoming a dollmaker by profession, but I took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in political consultancy which is quite the magic-killer. Making a doll was one of my declared goals of 2025 and another great incentive to join the Twig + Tale Storyteller team.
Hand-stitching everything together got to be my favourite part of doll making! Features the making of a TT doll, Fable Dress
Making my dream doll took a while - sourcing the material, cutting the fiddly bits, sewing, embroidering, getting the hair right. I would almost say that this doll (her name is Jette) has been my most invested make ever, emotional investment included. Was it worth the effort? Hell yeah. Nothing quite as magical as making yourself your dream companion and fulfilling a (childhood) dream. Added benefit is a new mannequin for my unquenched desire to make doll clothes (did I mention the magic of working with those treasured scraps from your fabric stash?).
Of course, the list goes on - I am not at the end of my own experiment and I am excited to see (let’s connect online!) where you find magic - big or small - in your everyday and in your craft.
Leaving it to one last thought, I certainly found that, for magic to happen, it is crucial to be kind with oneself. Sometimes it’s just exactly that which is the hardest thing to learn. It’s worth it though, because the effect will be most magical.
Fable at the Lake; features Fable Dress
Find more of Marie's work on Instagram and on YouTube
