I mentioned that an invitation to Friends of the Studio would be coming soon. Well, here it is.

A quick note for those farther afield: this will be the only Friends of the Studio email sent to my full list. From here, dates and updates will only go to those who opt in.

Why show up?

Because it can be surprisingly hard to make time for the things we love. A million other things grab our attention, and the sketchbook stays closed, the mending sits in its basket, the journal goes untouched.

I’ve noticed it’s much easier in company.

And sometimes we just need somewhere to go where nothing is expected of us.

That’s what I hope Friends of the Studio can become—a non-performative space to decompress, make something if you feel like it, and enjoy the company of other people doing the same.

Come with your sketchbook, mending, journal, song lyrics, something half-finished—or nothing at all. Pull up a chair, have a cup of tea and settle in. I’ll be working on my own things alongside you.

Over time, perhaps a little community grows around the table. Maybe we discover we all want to read the same book and a book club forms. Someone brings something that sparks an idea. We grow organically into a place to belong.

September is about gathering a small core group to get us started. From there, we’ll see what grows.

For September and October, Friends of the Studio will be drop in by donation (suggested $10). Donations go right back into the space—stocking the tea bar, putting fuel in the wood stove and perhaps occasionally bringing a fun new tool into the studio.

Bring your own project + consumable materials. The studio has plenty of tools to borrow—easels, lino-cutting tools, paintbrushes, a wood-burning wand, cutting tools, button maker, to name a few.

Open to 16+: Studio located in North Courtenay

If you’d like to be part of it, reply to this email and I’ll add you to the Friends of the Studio list and send along the September dates.

Come make, putter, mend, write—or just hang out.