I distinctly remember the day I discovered the house that would come to be called the Girls House.

I called my good friend and realtor Ashley Jacobs about the house as I followed Eva in an ambulance to the ER. At the time (Spring 2020), Eva was making frequent trips to the ER for diminished respiratory status, and so it felt oddly normal to be making this kind of call at that kind of moment.

I had seen the little 100 year-old craftsman style house as a coming-soon listing, and knew in my heart it was the place for LL. I cannot believe God's timing and provision in this! I had built a business where traveling for shoots was part of the gig. Laura and I had done it for about a decade. Most shoots were at her home, or an AirBnb, or in borrowed friends' homes. I'd also done most of my work at coffee shops and cafes. But as Covid was hitting the country, that possibly narrowed quicker than anyone expected, and we needed to pivot.

We got the house.

And then kind of all at once, but also slowly over time, my team and I made it beautifully ours. It became a co-working space and our primary photoshoot location, but for me it was also a beautiful respite in the middle of deep personal despair. 

And we worked her HARD. How many shoots did we pack into that little house? Tons! We created a prop room, a white box studio, bedroom scenes, a painting studio, storage...

We had sales, had deep and good and hard conversations and tears, we had LOTS of dip, and we took thousands of photos. It was a haven for me, and served LL and the team incredibly well. I have a deep gratitude for this space. It feels like how you feel about a friend, and not a piece of property. 

But as with many things in life, it's time to move on to the next chapter. As Eva's days change from long hospital stays to time mostly at home but with lots of incidentals (therapies! appointments! school!) mixed with Phoenix's little blossoming life and Dugan's commitments and ministry at church, I'm feeling really called to work from home again. It's something I've never ever been good at. But we built our new home with this in mind, and I'm excited to press in to this season. The Girls House has never been accessible, which becomes more of an issue the more I'd like the freedom to have her with me while I work. And as the country opens up, and as we simplify at LL a bit, it feels totally right that it's time for the Girls House to have a new chapter, too. 

Does it feel too soon to sell the girls house? No. Essentially, I'm just trying to do the best I can, and say yes to how I feel God leading me, and I know this is it. And that feels really, really freeing and settling. Creating spaces as part of my art and business will always be something I love doing, so I'm trusting God has more in store for me there. I only feel gratitude for the time I had with this space, for the levity and beauty it provided, and for being able to find those things now in my own home. My cup runneth over. 

I'll tell you, even before Ashley facilitated the sale of the Girls House to me, I knew it would someday be hers. She's an incredible business woman, and had awesome ideas for all the additional potential for the Girls House from day one. I could never execute making that adorable house a place for us to work in and also for other people to get to come in and experience, but Ashley can and she will! And this feels like what the house is craving and deserving of! She's ready for people (not just my team and friends) to be able to come in and enjoy her! 

We've had an annual Girls House sale the last couple years, and we're doing that again this year, but it will also be like a moving out sale. There's like, a LOT of good stuff, and if you love Lindsay Letters art and vintage shopping it will feel like the estate sale of your dreams. It's on Friday, May 26, and you can read all the details here. Ashley's team will be there as well, selling decor and furniture. It's going to be a party, really!

And if you think you may like to stay at the Girls House (soon to be called The Gathering Place), follow @ashleyjacobsred and watch the journey unfold as it becomes an AirBnb and event rental!

Thanks from the bottom of my heart for being the best, most supportive, wonderful people on the internet. For cheering me and my people on at every turn. So excited about this new chapter and all that's in store!

xo, lindsay 

Whenever we release a collection of art (which is about four times a year, with mini drops in between), there are two comments we often see from people who love the new art but are probably not going to select anything for themselves.

One is: "I need more walls!"

We love this comment.

We want you to enjoy your LL art for years or even a lifetime, and however (in)frequently you want to change your walls for a fresh view is a personal preference. So if you are not in the market for art because your walls are filled with pieces that delight you, please: experience a new collection like a stroll through a cool art gallery where you have a complimentary membership. (Maybe grab a cute shirt or yummy candle from the gift shop.)

The other comment along these lines sounds similar but says something totally different. 

"There are too many beautiful options. I can never decide!"

This is a very kind compliment, and we take it as one. But the idea of not choosing art because you're overwhelmed with beautiful options honestly hurts our hearts a little. Lindsay loves adding new art to the shop and offering lots of customizations so that you can find something that feels really personal to you and your home... not to create option paralysis!

An empty feature wall only says "I've got all of my options open" for so long before it starts saying other things.

Things like...

"I'm a missed opportunity for beauty in your life."

Or, "You've waited so long... why even bother?"

Or even, "Art isn't for you. It's for some future version of you that's more put together."

(You might try walking around your home and asking what each of your walls are currently communicating, and what you would like them to communicate in that particular room.)

Indecision is usually fueled by perfectionism, FOMO, or a lack of trust in ourselves or a process. A way around those mental hurdles when selecting art is to see our homes as an evolving story, not a destination. You'll never regret any iteration of your walls if you're treating them as what they are: opportunities for beauty, joy, inspiration, and self-expression... in exactly this season.

Art makes a difference. A bigger one than you realize until you make a choice, hang it on your wall, see how it changes the whole vibe of your space, and listen to it speak beauty and truth to you every day.

You are worthy of meaningful art. This very version of you, in this very version of your home.

Here to help every step of the way,

Joy & The LL Team

P.S. No but really, how can we help? Email us at hello@lindsayletters.co, or sign up to get texts from us and then text us back. We love looking at photos of your space and offering our suggestions!

P.P.S. Ready to fill that blank space, baby? Check out Lindsay's new collection of timeless pieces that incorporate beautifully into any space!

We are so excited to introduce Brown Sugar Sage & Biscotti in the Lindsay Letters shop! Lindsay created this gorgeous abstract duo with time around the table in mind. The colors are warm and delicious... brown sugar, cream, baked goods, herbs, spices. If you took all the sounds and scents that greet you when you show up for a special meal at a loved one's home (or one you prepare yourself), these paintings are meant to evoke those senses, by way of art! You can't enjoy a special meal every day, but you can always enjoy Brown Sugar Sage & Biscotti on your walls! You can find them in our Duos & Trios Collection, and in The Hygge Collection.

Brown Sugar Sage | 24x30 Canvas, Shaker Walnut Frame

Biscotti | 24x30 Canvas, Shaker Walnut Frame

Our friend Kendra at @homepsuncottage saw these early and immediately ordered them for her cottage-inspired home. The colors in this duo will work with so many different palettes, but don't they look absolutely scrumptious against her cream walls? Hers are 24x30 Gallery Wrapped (unframed), and she styled them with a vintage wooden decorative piece on top — what a cool find!

You can find & customize Brown Sugar Sage & Biscotti (one, the other, or both!) in The Duos & Trios Collection, or The Hygge Collection.

Hi! It's birthday week at the Sherbondy house (that's right — both kids, the week before Thanksgiving (🥳🎉), and every around this time I love to do a little something in the LL shop in their honor. This year feels a little extra special, and it's with a very full and tender heart that I introduce you to Eva's Manifesto and the Bravery Manifesto.

First, the Bravery Manifesto. I wrote this piece in honor of my son Phoenix Brave, whose birthday is this very day! He’s such an amazing dude, and he has been through so much these last few years. (As with all kids through this pandemic.) I wrote these words after tucking him in one night while Eva was in the hospital, and I had this thought like: Phoenix would never call himself brave. I don’t think he realizes he is brave. But he’s making it through. And shining. And that is bravery. Moving forward, and making it through.

“Bravery isn’t a feeling, it’s a decision. It’s knowing what scares you, what the risks are, what’s at stake, what’s going to be difficult, and going anyway. Doing it anyway. Deciding anyway. Bravery is fear and worry deferred..." Read the rest, here →

I picture this piece on your kids' walls, as words to live by as they grow up. But I also created this piece with some super brave adults in mind! I hope that you can use this art as an inspiring gift to loved ones who might be walking through a challenging season. (Or even as a reminder to yourself!)

And now, Eva’s Manifesto!

So many of you have so graciously followed along with our family over these last few years. The prayers, the good vibes, the thoughtful comments, the cards, the drawings, the gifts, the stories from your kids – all of those have been lifelines for us. I thought and prayed about what she might say to all of you, if she could, and what came out was this:

“You are an amazing, wonderful, perfectly-made, beautiful, strong, heart and soul of a human. You probably do not even understand how incredible you are. But trust me! You are!” Read the rest →

(You can also read the blog post I wrote on Eva's birthday two days ago, about how I get to see her express and communicate love to others even now that she's non-verbal.)

And finally, birthday candles! We collaborated with Craft + Foster to add a Brave Candle (for Phoenix) to our popular Worthy of Love Candle (Eva’s candle). They each come with a mini-print, and they're available individually or as a gift set.

Lighting candles is my favorite act of self care, for me and for my family. It makes every day feel special! They each chose their signature candle scent – Phoenix chose Light Lemon Sugar (Brave Candle)… I think it smells like his favorite pound cake. It’s a very subtle, yummy scent. Eva chose Apricot Rose (Worthy of Love), and it makes her room smell like heaven. Both candles would make incredible gifts, alone or together!

Thank you for being part of my kids' lives over the years, through your support of my family and small business. Know that I am so incredibly honored to be part of your life and home, through my art. And know that you are braver than you feel, and more than enough. Just as you are. 💞