Handmade by Ms. Popcorn

Pure magic really happens when we put aside our perfectionism, as artists. 🌻 Replacing overthinking with a "just do it" attitude can be exactly what is needed to create and complete that project 🫶🏾

This can be challenging as we are our biggest critiques, but listening instead of projecting can get you there.

What put me out of the misery of "creative block" with the customisation of this cap was listening and replaying the clients last words of the brief; "Do your thing, just don't spend too much of your time on it" 😀🤭 first time ever hearing a client say those words to me.

There I was, ready to do the most, but the client indirectly told me that less is more 🧢 as a maximalist, I needed to hear that. But that sounded like a restriction, until I sat with it , trying to decode that into practicality, what does this means in stitches 😂?

When it came, it hit me while in bed and I jumped out immediately reaching for the project, once I started I didn't stop until it was completed.

And the clients feedback? "You just get it" 🔥🔥💥🔥😭🤩 and they wore it the same time when collecting it 🥰🤗🤲🏾

I Love it and I am grateful to them for challenging me to create such, thank you so much to you too for being part of our story and reading 🫶🏾

One thing about handmade is that it cannot be rushed 🌀💖 it takes it's time to take shape. And estimating its processing time from a commercial perspective can be detrimental to the quality of the finished "product" (referred to as "the art" from here on), the crafter (artist) and the satisfaction of the one it is being created for.

When the timeline is restricted, the art feels taken for granted, it feels like it's not given enough space to breathe. It wants to be incubated in the artists mind and hands. To be nurtured into existence 🌱

We, however live in an era of hyper commercialization and consumerism. How fast can you make it? How much is it going to cost me? How can I maximize profits?

Sustainability asks ; How does it make me feel? Who made it? And how was it made?

It is also concerned about how long it is going to last and if its life is circular 💜

Sustainability values transparency within relationships in the value chain. It protects the value of the art and the interest of the one it is intended for 🌸

Here, we live on the slow side of life, we pay utmost attention to detail ✨ We value community, and craftsmanship 🌙...

Are we being delulu? Can these two worlds coexist or are they polar opposites?

Honestly, I love the idea of being "booked and busy" only because it provides a platform for my ideas and creations to come out to the people who never knew they existed. I love it when people are in awe of what I have created. It makes my heart smile to be a source of inspiration.

When people see me in public spaces, they express, in their unique ways, the admiration they have for audacity ✨ they say the most wonderful things about the handmade clothing and accessories.

Comments that always get to my heart are related to how represented they feel when they see the work, for some reason, they feel seen.

But at times, such as now, I don't feel like being "booked and busy" is aligned with my creative calling.

Jumping from one order to the next, one event to the next and always having people to meet and places to go to, it's been like that for years now, and slowing down kind of feels like giving up, but my spirit is yearning for more.

More than just transactions and labour intensive work, more than just around the clock walking around the block approaching potential customers.

I don't know how to put this exactly without sounding like I'm complaining. Don't get me wrong, I meet amazing people along the way and create memorable experiences.

I would love to call in more clarity it terms of my vision here. I'm calling in all the love, support and divine guidance from the Most High kunye neengelosi zokukhanya.

Ngikuzithoba, I'm grateful for all the opportunities of growth that have come forth in different spaces and times.

I know call upon ease and softness within the way I run my business and conduct myself.

I'm ready to slow down, stop chasing and start creating from a place of safety and not of survival.

I am Creative, and I am innovative. I am more than just a survivor, I am abundantly blessed.

Thank you for listening with an open heart ✨🌱🌧️

I am grateful for the divine gitfs 🙏🏾

Grand Rising baNtu abahle abathanda izinto ezintle 💫 sisekhona. Sivukile 🙏🏾 Thank you once again for being a part of our journey. On the past 2 weeks we have participated in the Literary Festival, featured on 2 news paper articles both printed and online (Go! & Express as well as the Daily Dispatch, had a Radio interview with Ms Love on Khululeka FM, and in the past Saturday, which feels like it was yesterday) we showcased at the TCMM MET GALA 2026 alongside 11 other amazing fashion designers with phenomenal models. As Handmade by Ms Popcorn, we got our TV Debut, with part of our collection being shown on Mpuma Kapa TV's the Hangout this past Wednesday.

During all of these appearances and assignments, we were designing and creating your orders, crochet cardigans and tops. By "We" I mean "I" physically, but you know we are never alone we are one with uMdali kunye neengelosi zethu zokukhanya.

Thank you for your patience and support 🙏🏾💫 You are supporting a beautiful dream🌻 May you prosper 🌬️

With Love,
-Ms Popcorn be gqiza lakhe 😄

Being born and growing up in a township in the Eastern Cape, a province that is identified as South Africa's poorest province, I felt the heavy weight of being exposed to poverty, violence and inequality.

I was constantly looking for ways to escape that. I was ambitious and I could imagine a better life for myself and my family 🌱

Watching TV, like most kids who grew up during YoTV era. I wanted to be a TV star 😄 so I low-key am always looking for opportunities to be that.

The dream matures with age, when I got to university, I quickly saw that I needed to generate an income to sustain my living as much as I needed to make a name for myself through education and skills. So I continued with creating, selling and exploring even when I was a full-time student 🌸🌻🧶🧵

Now as a graduate, a qualified fashion designer. I'm proud of where I come from and excited about where I currently am, the possibilities are endless.

Thank you for walking with me on this journey of self discovery ✨🌻 May you be inspired to live your best life doing things that you love.

This was one of the most rewarding experiences zika Ms. Popcorn 🙏🏾🌱 not because of sky-rocketing sales, but because of the true connections forged with abaNtu who truly saw life in the creations. Touching, feeling and gasping in awe ☀️🌸👘

We are yet still finding a way to go through the experience and construct a review/ report on the experience 😄🌈💖🌸🏆🔥

Wearing her own creations was the highlight of the day, as much as the table was laid and the display was set up, the real exhibition was her, like a mobile, breathing and living installation ✨🙏🏾 she brought light into the space.

Relating to humans from different places, that look different of each other, in ethnicity, shape and age. Women and men, girls and boys 🤭✨

This is the reason why it's always a challenge to define our target audience by demographic 🪶 We get love and clients from these different people.

Africa were the perfect hosts, from admin before, during and after the show to the hospitality and sheer humility each and every member of the team we interacted with showed.

The speakers spoke from the heart, sharing insight on developmental opportunities and purely sharing their personal experiences with the arts.

Each and every artist that shared music live on stage brought something to savour on 🎵 we danced, we laughed and we begged for some more 🤭😂 each voice echoed way after they had left the stage.

We are grateful for this experience. Thank you to eachband every person who made it what it was.

Oh and Ms. Popcorn introduced one of visitors to her stall to Crotchet. Teaching them how to slip knot, chain stitch and single crochet 😄 🧶🪡 fun times.

PS : I think this IS the review/report 🤭

The neutral (resting b* face) is before the trip 😂 I was smiling when I actually got the yarn and started working on the hand-knitting project 🤭🧶 broadening the horizon ☀️ and learning a knew skill.

Of course I nailed it on the first attempt 🎨🧶 you should try it too, it's the perfect, beginner friendly craft skills. There are many tutorials on YouTube.

I'll share the one I followed on this comment section below.

Thank you for being here. Stay inspired 🤗💫🪡🧶💐

Ms Popcorn on the set of Old Buck Dry Gin advert, as assistant stylist. 🌱🌻🇿🇦👑 Wearing her Crotchet shrug and earrings.

Work in progress 🌱☀️🌻

Have a beautifully productive week. In a way that is flowing naturally to you 🌀 in alignment with your highest good 🌬️

Stay inspired 🤗