Why I Made Peace Culture Studio:
If the last three years abroad in a war-torn country taught me anything, it’s that if you’re waiting to feel calm before you start living slower, you’re going to be waiting a long time. I used to think peace was something you arrived at—once the house was clean, once I felt settled, once I wasn’t so tired, or maybe even once a war ended. But that’s not how life works (at least not mine).
Peace Culture started as an apparel business based in Ukraine as a way to bridge the gap between American consumers and women looking for flexible work amidst single-parenting and war. I created designs and my partner, Ira, brought them to life with her printing and Etsy skills. We worked in our own studio, hired our friends to help, and watched as so many of you supported us along the way. It was exhilarating work that had just taken off. It was exciting and just starting to thrive, especially after we hosted a thrift pop-up to support a local single mother and her family in need.
And then my family unexpectedly moved back to Texas only half a year ago. We got on a plane and, through a corrupt paperwork mess that slowly revealed itself over time, realized we would not be able to go back (at least to live there, or at least for now). After months of processing this grief and feeling like an utter disappointment to so many people, I didn’t think Peace Culture had a future. Everything came to a screeching halt, many sad phone calls were had, and a few months later Ira was forced to pack up our studio in Ukraine.
I sat in my in-laws’ house, barely one year postpartum, wondering what our family’s next move was and what to do with myself and the time. To my surprise, our family was ok. We had, through our experiences in Ukraine, learned how to process grief well. We had family close by. We had a dryer, familiar foods, and we learned to live off of these simple, missed pleasures while also deeply missing the country we made our home, which was starting to feel further and further away. I started thinking about peace differently—not as a curated life, perfect consistency, or everything finally working out from a stubbornly “positive mindset” or my own determination.I started to, maybe for the first time in a long time, let go, and I found something simpler, more honest, but also profoundly better. For me, peace has been found in a person I come back to, moment by moment, even when grief and questions are still here—the person of Jesus. Not everyone will understand the journey our family has been on; the deep joys, the exhausting difficulties, and gut-wrenching sacrifices made in the last four years, but Jesus does.
I deeply feel in my spirit that He’s calling me to continue creating, building, and growing something. I think the way in which I do this will be very different from before. You see, I’ve been a part of and have helped “found” many things in the past. While I was sent off to Ukraine to support one mission, the president of our sending organization recognized that I was more of a “starter”, a “pioneer” of sorts. If you’ve followed my artistic journey at all, you know that custom tattoos, logos, and even book illustrations have been a part of my past. I love hearing other people’s ideas, encouraging them, and finding any opportunity to help bring them to life. I truly love this work and always count it a high honor. At the same time, in a way, I think I justified my creativity through others. I had permission, validation, and sought-after skills that would propel others’ ideas forward. I have kept myself busy with this work while also quietly ignoring my own. This didn’t happen intentionally. It has felt first nature to ignore my creative desires until (very) recent years. But I think the series of events my heart has gone through has done something to wake them up, and God is saying, “See, even if I take everything away, you are safe. You are still my daughter, and you are still called to create.”
And I believe those words are for you, too.
Maybe you haven’t moved across the world and back (twice, actually), or maybe you have. But what I do know is that the world is loud on purpose, and we all feel it. Faster shipping, faster content, faster opinions, faster everything. We are all fighting creative battles that keep us stagnant, isolated, and discontent. I want to do something about that!
Peace Culture Provisions is my small, tangible way of practicing slow living and reaching people with something real. My goal is to bring out the creator in you. To help you reach out to those in your life in an impactful, intentional way. It took me way too long to actually start enjoying things. I thought everything was overrated. Boy, was I wrong. Everything simple and pure is so underrated! I want to bring attention to the little things that make life beautiful. I want to see them, capture them, paint them, write about them, and share them with you.
That’s why I’m continuing Peace Culture and why it exists. Hand-painted greeting cards for the people you love, miss, can’t quite talk to anymore (because you’re in the thick of motherhood or states away), or don’t know how to show up right now. I am still learning how to show up for me, my community, and listen to the loving words of my maker, but I hope that you’ll join me on this journey, because it’s one that is oh so much better when we’re on it together.
With love, Leah