Greetings, it's March!

Winter has finally spit me out

Hi Subscribers!

I am realizing I haven’t written an update since November… when I was trying to sell you stuff during the holidays. Please forgive me for the lack of dispatches. To be fair, I started two drafts for this inaugural 2024 post… once in early January when I was buggin’ with New Years resolutions (+ happily fresh from visiting my deployed boyfriend in Europe) and another time last week when I was coming up for air from a pretty tough couple of months. I wrote out the latter draft, and it was pretty much me listing every sad thing that’s happened in my little world recently. Ah!

I decided to take a third route and simply let y’all know that it’s been a season of deep loss, heartache, and those close to me just going through it. It’s been a true winter. I bet some of you can relate!

In my book club, we end the time with this question: “What’s saving you right now?”. The answer can be super shallow or super deep. It can be a beauty product you love, or a podcast that’s helping you out, or a literal angel interceding for your safety. So in the midst of a cloudy early March, here’s what’s saving me right now:

• This GIANT vase I bought at Goodwill today.

• Class Pass- I’m on a free trial of the workout class app and it’s been so nice to try new things amongst strangers. Un-athletic, self-conscious, middle school Allison would be in awe of my adult bravery!

• Lord of the Rings- Reading the series for the first time has been a rewarding project since September. I just started the third book, where things are so dark and hopeless, and it’s been a comfort to know the Light is coming soon

• Seeing Downtown Savannah through fresh eyes- my friend (and paid subscriber!) Caroline is in town this week and I got to give her a walking tour of downtown on Sunday. It was a gloomy day but her fresh reaction to the beauty, Spanish moss, and architecture was so refreshing. Savannah really is the best, and she stays classy during seasonal depression season.

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Here’s what’s going on!

I’m Popping up at STUMP!

This Thursday I’ll be at STUMP Savannah doing some live painting and selling prints from 3-6pm. I’ll have some new prints for sale- come say hi!

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Come paint with me at STUMP!

I’ll be back at STUMP at the end of the month for a cute lil workshop. We’ll paint some canvas totes and people get to go home with a small plant! If you’re in Savannah, this could be the perfect way to welcome spring :)

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New Canvas Works

I had the chance to steal away to Texas for a couple of weeks in late February. Activities included walking to the local YMCA, doing Whole30, and painting these canvas cuties in my parent’s driveway. It was a gift to do the same exact thing every day. Routine is so good for me.

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Sarah’s Invites

This April my youngest sister is getting married! Here’s the art I made for her wedding invitation suite. I used gouache last year to paint Margaret’s invites, so it was fun to do something different for Sarah and use watercolor to paint scenes from the venue, Commodore Perry Estate.

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Puzzles

Here’s a friendly reminder that I have puzzles available at JIGGY! These puzzles make perfect Easter treats, Mother’s Day gifts, or birthday gifts. I also added the artwork from Margaret’s wedding!

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Faire

If you own a retail space or know someone that does, I sell wholesale prints on Faire. I’d love to work with ya to fill your shop with my prints :) To be transparent, I’ve only gotten two orders from random gas stations in West Texas.

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Paid Subscribers

Even though we’re in March, it’s not too late to upgrade to being a Paid Subscriber on Substack. Paid Subscribers get a calendar every year, as well as a welcome tote. These items are usually seen by your peers, and they’ll think you’re so cool… subscribing to creative literature. I have a couple of calendars left for whoever wants to hop on the 2024 train! Pictured above is raw evidence of Subscriber excitement, captured by Paid Subscriber Betsy from Mississippi.

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We’ll conclude our catch-up with this photo from early February of me with some Capybaras at a public park in Brazil. Earlier that morning I found out some sad news about an old friend, and these giant critters really brought me so much joy at day’s end. Next time you have a sad day, I hope a metaphorical Capybara crosses your path and gives you a hopeful dose of wonder.

I might be moving slow, but there are certainly some exciting things ahead in my creative corner. Stay tuned, friends. Thank you for sticking around!

Thankful, traveled, and tired in 2024,

Allison