Confessions of a Sun-Allergic Stitcher: How the Sun Betrayed Me (And the Shadows Took Me In)

Confessions of a Sun-Allergic Stitcher: How the Sun Betrayed Me (And the Shadows Took Me In)

Let me paint you a picture of my past. Back when I was in my late teens—essentially a young adult—I worked as a pool monitor. To put it simply: the sun was my jam, and the heat was my absolute best friend. In fact, I loved the heat so much that I was told, more than once, that if I ever end up in hell, I’m just going to ask them to turn the thermostat up.

I was out in it all the time, absorbing all that golden energy, and I enjoyed every single minute of it. As I got older, that love affair with the heat didn't fade. If I got a little toasty or ended up with a sunburn, it didn't matter—it was gone the next day. Living the Florida life meant that whether I was lounging by a pool or standing next to the ocean, those rays brought me pure joy and happiness. I truly loved it.

And then... the betrayal happened.

In a plot twist I did not see coming, my body decided to stage a full-blown rebellion against the giant, fiery star in the sky. After a lifetime of loving the light, I officially developed an allergy to the sun.

Now, some people might hear that and just blow it off. They think it just means getting a little sensitive or slightly pink. But since it is a very real condition, let's give it its due. It starts with your skin itching and burning, exactly like you are being repeatedly stung by fire ants. Then, your skin starts turning visibly red and swelling—swelling enough that you can plainly see it happening right in front of you. That is the moment when you really start getting worried.

And that, my dear friend, is what it means to be allergic to the sun.

At first, I felt like a misunderstood Victorian heroine forced to retreat indoors for my own safety. But as I pulled the shades down in the fifth-wheel and cranked the A/C to survive the Florida heat, I realized something completely unexpected: being forced into the shadows was exactly what my art needed.

Embracing the Medically-Mandated Vampire Aesthetic

When you trade the glaring sun for the cool, dim light of a shaded studio, everything shifts. Suddenly, there’s no terrible glare on my computer screen while I’m digitizing. The colors of my thread look richer. The deep charcoals, the velvet textures, and the metallic silver threads just hit differently when they aren't competing with the blinding midday sun.

Without even trying to, I realized that my retreat from the sun perfectly matched the soul of WhichCraft? Studio. It turns out, embracing my inner "creature of the night" isn’t just a stylistic choice anymore—it’s a medical necessity. And honestly? I am absolutely loving it.

From Solar to Lunar Creativity

This shift into the shadows has completely changed what I’m drawn to creating. Since the sun and I are officially on a break, I’ve been heavily inspired by everything that thrives in the dark.

Over in the shop this week, you’ll see a lot of this nocturnal energy coming to life. We are leaning hard into lunar magic, nocturnal botanicals, and designs that look absolutely stunning stitched onto black and moody fabrics. (Because if I have to hide from the sun, I’m going to make sure my accessories look incredible in the moonlight).

So, if you need me, I’ll be in my A/C-blasting, violet-lit cave of creativity, stitching up some magic in the shade.

Come see what we've been working on in the dark: [Insert Link to Shop/New Arrivals]