Hiya!
A couple of months ago, I mentioned in the newsletter that I'd be moving my personal updates to a blog post, and here's the very first one. :)
Every year, I'm somehow shocked and simultaneously not surprised that the first half of the year has passed in the blink of an eye. I'm not going to pretend that 2026 has been easy, and if you've been around here for a bit or follow me on Instagram, you know that the first quarter of 2026 was a real doozy for those of us navigating small-business life in the Twin Cities. While a lot of my friends and neighbors continue to struggle, things have turned a bit of a corner for me.
Mentally, I think I might be better than ever... which in this economy is actually surprising.
I think the biggest thing helping me right now is that I finally have my mental health and my physical health under control. Navigating finding the right combination of meds has been a challenge over the past year, but we've found something that is working for now, and I'm going to ride this wave as long as possible. I am now fully ten toes down, team Lexapro. I'm so grateful for everyone in my life who encouraged me to give mental health meds a try. I am also very grateful that I have a wonderful team of doctors managing all of this behind the scenes, so I don't have to navigate it alone.
Art-a-Whirl was an absolute dream and exactly what we needed.
This year was the first year I had two spots for my biggest art show of the year. Don't get me wrong, there were several times when I wanted to throw in the towel, and I had decided that I was fully insane for attempting to do double what I'd done in the past. But I fucking did it. I had a shit ton of help. I have an AMAZING community of people behind me that want me to succeed as much as I do, and it feels so good after a lifetime of doing everything myself. There were a few things I wanted to finish for Art-A-Whirl, but it didn't work out. So keep an eye out for some pretty cool stuff coming to the site in the next couple of months.
I'm finally feeling creative again.
I have a serious backlog of author collections and new scent families I've been wanting to bring to the shop, and I'm finally feeling ready to tackle that work again. I am so excited to bring some of my absolute favorite characters to life in the next couple of months. I hope you are ready because I'm putting my heart and soul into these, and they're going to be absolute bangers!
Getting rid of the old to make room for some new.
Prepping for two booths at Art-a-Whirl helped me realize that I struggle to keep up because I really am doing too much. Between the sheer volume of products I offer and sourcing the supplies, it's becoming increasingly difficult to keep up, so you're going to notice some things leaving the shop. The first thing going away is my tins. The manufacturer changed the material, and I'm unhappy with the quality. That said, I did find some smaller jars that will fit a similar price point and offer something I think we'll all love. I also want to create space to try new things and offer more of what truly brings me joy. I mean, what's the point of being your own boss if you're not creating things that you're passionate about?
I'll be out and about at various markets and pop-ups in the Twin Cities this June. If you're local, I hope to see you at least once. If you're far away, let's connect on instagram.
Until next month, take care of yourself and your neighbors.
-xo Lindy