A Soft Launch Back

A re-entry post

If you know me, you’d know that my little world since 2024 has been nothing short of emotionally insane. Since the ring of the new year, I’ve experienced a long-distance journey with a deployed boyfriend, the death of two dear friends, loved ones continuing their cancer battle, maid of honor-ing in my sister’s wedding, friends dealing with heartbreaking life changes, a summer post-deployment vortex of love, three international trips, and to tie it in a bow- I got engaged in July!

You can’t make this stuff up. Life is life-ing and there are deeply painful and deeply wonderful things happening all at the same time. I certainly know you are also a human in this broken, beautiful world and you can also relate. Not to add that running a small business during inflation is honestly wearing me out. Bills are flying in and out faster than a pup with the zoomies at 10:30pm. ****Side note so y’all don’t worry about me: Whenever I’m worried about my little art business “making ends meet”, it always works out. Usually I get this absolute fire under my booty to creatively make money come out of nowhere, but overall it really is the grace of God. But still…. please support my small business!

So, with all that said, Substacking has been on the back burner. I write to process my life, and I’ve been afraid of starting a new dispatch and just absolutely blasting the floodgates that hold back the tsunami of ups and downs of the past 9 months. And I don’t even really use this platform to process and focus on personal life- we are strictly business, people! Okay, we’re silly and have fun too. But I have no intention of being a lifestyle blogger or making you my emotional bucket (that’s what the real journal is for).

But I’ve been working hard in the throws of a wild year, avoiding the workday time to sit back and reflect on anything, and I’m overwhelmed with how much we need to catch up on in the art side of things. So I’ve decided to grace myself with a “Soft Launch”, where I chaotically explain my absence (what you just read) and then provide a nice list of future issues in this newsletter (cute photos included).

---

Upcoming Newsletter Treats

Scroll down for a simple list of what’s to come- I promise I’m done with all my personal self-explanation

A Reflection on Church Patronage

I had the honor of being an artist-in-residence at my church, Christ Church Anglican, in Savannah. This residency included a huge mural project funded by a generous church donor. I’ll be sharing the rich symbolism of the mural and my experience as a patron church artist!

My Baby Milestone Card Bender

In attempts to outwit inflation (and save money on baby shower gifts- y’all keep having babies!!), I created a series of Baby Milestone Cards that have absolutely exploded my Etsy shop. I’ll let you in on how the mommies and Etsy gods are in my favor these days.

Italy!!!!!!!!!!!

I went to Italy with 16 friends in August and I learned how to actually travel with a sketchbook. Consider me inspired and obsessed with TOMATOES. Stay tuned for a new painting series!

Bride Artist?

Don’t let the question mark fool you… I’m definitely marrying Hank in March. This heading is a question because I might share a little about some painted details I’m creating for my upcoming wedding. We’ll see!

---

Thanks for your grace and subscriptions! Every time someone has subscribed since March, I’ve been so humbled that you people are still tuned in the midst of my six months of Substack Silence. After this comeback post, I feel so much better about launching back in. The term “Soft Launch” is so weird but eh, it helps the cause.

Chat soon!

Allison “I already feel better after writing, I should’ve done this months ago” Hall