Take a deep breath because you're going under, and there's no way to know when you'll come up again. Hi, friend, You know, even in the worst of my illness, I find it amazing how seen and at peace the right lyric or image can make me feel. I have a friend who doesn't listen to music, and I ask her endless questions about this. From a very young age, music gave a soundtrack to my feelings and experiences and just helped me connect better to what was around me. The idea of not having that feels...
5 months ago • 5 min read
Good morning Reader! It's 9AM on a Sunday as I write this and I've been up for * checks watch * three and a half hours. Sleep has always tormented me since becoming a mother. My oldest didn't sleep for more than 45 minutes to two hours for... years. And then somehow the second showed up (yes, I do know how). He slept better, but it's been some kind of sleep disturbance every few hours for years until lately. Always someone in the middle of the bed, asking for water or kicking his foot up and...
6 months ago • 9 min read
Happy August, just barely under the wire, Reader! TODAY finds me relaxing with a pumpkin spice latte at a trampoline park. I hope you can see how incongruous that experience is... but it's actually a sign the day is going well. It's 9AM and I've had so much life already. My husband was out late playing a show with his band, which means I'm on morning duty. He also just started a new job, which means I'm on morning and afternoon and night duty most days... it's been a blur of weeks. almond...
8 months ago • 4 min read
Salutations to you Reader, The emoji I chose is not about how sexy July is. It's about how freaking hot it is outside in Virginia, and the freak thunderstorms we've had every few days the past week. I hope July is treating you better than me. There's a lot of stressful things continuing to take place. Though I guess life has been a whirl for several years now: 2012 laid off whirl + self-employment 2017 first child whirl 2018 second child whirl 2020 covid whirl + husband broken leg whirl 2024...
10 months ago • 3 min read
Heya Reader! I'll just write (From Sarah) in the title this last time so you remember who this is. 😂 You might have signed up after following me on LinkedIn, or after attending the DC International Fountain Pen Show. This is my art letter. Anyways. Earlier this month I sent the last Stamp Fans note and then shut it down. It is so freaking meaningful to me that it will be missed — Thank you Kim, truly! (A magnificent experiment from this year) There's something really bittersweet about the...
over 1 year ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader! I'm running behind just like you (unless you're better than me, and you DON'T feel surprise that there's only like five weeks left in the year...) Anyway, let's pretend it's October, and here's the October/November Stamp Fans. Click here to download the Stamp Fans letter Also, I finally got my Sketch Book tour posted. So here it is in all its glory! Click here to check out the YouTube video I have been keeping up with my daily journaling (Hobonitchi Cousin) and a wide variety of...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader! I'm not sure where you live, but I live in Virginia, and Fall is my absolute favorite season here for several reasons: 1 - The end of walking outside and being doused in my own sweat because it's so hot. 2 - Back-to-School is a cosmic invitation to treat myself to some stationery. 💅 3 - The trees just seem to breathe their last, best breath and everything is green and lush with just a tinge of yellow. I sent you a note about a month ago with a little update. I thought I'd do the...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hiya Reader! My name is Sarah, and this is a free email list of art and journal explorations. You might have just signed up because you attended the DC Pen Show and we met... if so, HI! 👋 You also might be subscribed from 2022 when I shared a list of fun journal prompts. Hi to you, too :). It was a long time ago, though, so no worries if this isn't interesting anymore. It's a one-click unsubscribe below. ↓ I wanted to send a quick update today to say hi, share a few pictures from my travels...
over 1 year ago • 3 min read