Unplugged and Unmonetized- Why I Craft Like It’s 1999

by Claire Brady, EdD

By day, I consult with higher ed leaders on AI integration, digital strategy, and how to humanize our technology. But by night (and on weekends), I find myself elbow-deep in glitter, glue guns, and paint-by-number kits—crafting Halloween displays, holiday wreaths, and, yes, even painting life-sized nutcrackers for months on end.

At first, I thought these hobbies were just a much-needed counterbalance to my tech-centered work. But now I see them for what they really are: not just a reprieve from the algorithms and strategy decks—but a reclaiming of joy, creativity, and that deeply Gen X desire to go BIG when we love something.

Like so many of us, I’ve discovered that what starts as “just one paint-by-number to unwind” can quickly become an expensive hobby, a dozen projects in progress, and a low-key Michaels loyalty program. It’s not an Etsy side hustle (I’ve resisted that particular temptation, for now). It’s a full-body, heart-forward hobby that fills a completely different part of me—and reminds me I don’t need to optimize everything.

That said, I won’t lie: I do love a well-organized supply bin. My hobby brain, like my consultant brain, thrives on systems, iteration, and a little bit of flair. But unlike my work, there are no KPIs for the way I add twinkle lights to a porch skeleton. No ROI for how much joy a perfectly spaced set of pom-poms can bring.

In a world—and a profession—that is constantly evolving, scaling, and pivoting, it feels radical to spend time on something just because. Not to sell. Not to share. Not to prove. Just because it feels good. Just because it’s mine.

And maybe, that’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned from both AI and arts and crafts: creativity isn’t either/or. It doesn’t have to be digital or analog. Strategic or spontaneous. Monetized or meaningless.

Sometimes, building a life means letting the tech and the tinsel live side by side. And sometimes, the most advanced thing we can do is allow ourselves to make something beautiful—with no prompt, no algorithm, and no pressure.

So if you need me this weekend, I’ll be painting by number while bingeing Traitors. And loving every second of it.

Here are some of my recent hobby projects: