I didn’t write a book to tick something off a list. I wrote it because the idea wouldn’t leave me alone. Somewhere between blog post #143 and another evening of Pinterest-induced eye-rolling, I realised there were things I wanted to say that didn’t quite fit in a caption.
Writing Tote Bags & Tenacity wasn’t on the to-do list. But, like most of what’s happened since I started Watership Down Crafts, it turned out to be a strangely useful detour.
What writing a book really taught me
Putting the book together made me pause and take a proper look at what I’d actually learned. Not just the practical stuff (like how not to name a blog URL), but the deeper bits—the kind you usually only realise in hindsight:
- That progress often feels like you’re getting nowhere, until you look back.
- That confidence isn’t something you need to start—it’s something you build by doing the hard things anyway.
- That showing up still matters, even when it feels like no one’s listening and you’re just talking to yourself.
I thought the hard part would be writing the book. It wasn’t. The hard part was carrying on when I wasn’t sure it mattered. And let’s be honest—that’s the hard part of running any handmade business.
But once you start stitching things together, you see how far you’ve come. You spot patterns in the chaos. You stop worrying so much about what everyone else is doing and focus on what’s actually working for you.
Writing this reminded me that every part of the journey counts—even the wonky, frustrating, late-night-bit-of-chocolate ones. Especially those. That’s where the real learning hides.
For anyone building something from scratch
If you’ve ever felt too late, too tired, or too unsure to keep going, this book’s for you. And if you’re just here for the dry humour and sewing meltdowns—don’t worry, there’s plenty of that too.
Buy Tote Bags & Tenacity now on Amazon
