Punching In is a bimonthly series about the people who make Houston work, highlighting interesting jobs, industries, and careers across the city.
Peachie Morris, better known as “Peachie the Stress Free Unicorn” around Houston, gave up a career in graphic design to build real life fairy houses and paper swords. The Houston millennial hosts multiple weekly craft meet-ups at libraries and popular bars around the city, where she provides art materials to attendees, usually free of charge.
When Morris ran her own graphic design business, she started to wake up in the morning and dread the day ahead. Bombarded with things to do and projects to complete, Morris’ creativity took a backseat to the hustle of running a company. Last year, she decided to make a big change.
Morris put her crafty hobbies at the forefront of her life and what followed was a transformation from stress-filled days to what Morris describes as “waking up, having joy, and loving being alive.”
Morris felt like she lost herself to the all-encompassing drive toward success that inflicts so many Americans. Navigating the grind culture of a fast-paced city like Houston can be overwhelming, where business startups and entrepreneurs dominate the city’s economic growth.
“I’m not really big on how society is run,” Morris said. “With the whole ‘you have to be productive every minute. If you’re resting too much, then you’re wasting time,’ or ‘Oh, you finished that? Okay, work on the next thing.’ It’s too much.”
Morris says she was overwhelmed doing everything, even things that brought her joy.
“My brain was like, ‘Well, I’m having too much fun. I can’t be doing this for too long. I need to go and handle this, handle that,’ she said. “That’s not how I want to live.”
Community over cost
After saying goodbye to her business, Morris started something new, hosting themed craft nights across the Houston area. Some are focused on ‘junk journaling’, or scrapbooking, while in others, she teaches the public how to crochet, knit, and sew. Morris even hosts fairy picnics and craft meet-ups, where Houstonians come in their most whimsical outfits to make art together.
Morris is a part of the 16% of Houston’s millennials who live with their parents. That help has been a big factor in her stress reduction—the only cost she has to worry about in her day-to-day life is transportation.
“I have the opportunity to be able to build something without having to worry about the bigger bills,” Morris said. “I don’t make money doing this. It’s really just because I love it.”
Tearing down the cost barrier to creative expression is at the forefront of Morris’ work, and is the main reason she offers so many free activities for Houstonians.
Morris says that people across Houston are seeking out spaces where they can spend time with others without breaking the bank, and she hopes to one day open a brick-and-mortar space to accommodate that.
The craft sessions usually boast anywhere from 8 to 25 people, and have taken place at bars, like Axelrad and Blue Lagoon Club or libraries in Pearland or Alief.
One attendee drove all the way from Spring Branch to Midtown through rush hour traffic just to make a junk journaling event. Kelly Langridge sat with strangers to craft that evening and left with a new group of friends.
“ Nobody’s looking down their nose at anybody else,” Langridge said. “Nobody’s being cliquish and standoffish and better than anybody else. Everybody’s on equal footing and they’re just nice humans. I’ve found some friends tonight. That’s kind of a new thing for me but it’s all very fun.”
Langridge says she can see the appeal of these craft sessions for young professionals looking for a reprieve.
“ They do so much other stuff, and they’re so nose to the grindstone,” Langridge said. “They’re so goal-oriented, and so driven to do everything. They’ve got to stop sometime.”
Morris says her events help attendees practice being present.
“People’s worries get pushed away and I don’t see phones out while people are creating,” Morris said. “The pressure of society goes away.”
Some Houston residents are even opting for these craft sessions over formal art classes at local studios—which can cost anywhere from $50 to $400.
Experienced scrapbooker L’Oreal joined Peachie’s most recent junk journaling meet-up while looking for a budget-friendly way to work on her art and meet new people.
“When I come to these events, I have the best time,” L’Oreal said. “I think it’s one of the best things that I’ve done recently, because it’s always a different crowd every time I come. I meet new people. I do a different activity. No two days are ever the same.”
Stepping away from the daily grind and hosting community spaces has taught Morris that the world is a gentler place than she once believed.
“I’ve learned that there’s more kindness than I thought,” Morris said. Before, I was in a world where kindness wasn’t actually around me. But now I’m learning that kindness is everywhere in Houston, if you get yourself in those spaces.”
