We're in two new stores, and I want to tell you about journals for folks with feels

December arrived like an exhale. After months of building and creating, I find myself reflecting on what we've accomplished and what it means to pause with purpose.

Here's what's inside:

  • Art In Progress: New retail partnerships that align with our values, plus a major book milestone
  • Creative Perspectives: Lindsay White, a queer musician and grief journal creator who turns pain into powerful art
  • Swilshot of the Month: Finding beauty in the pause, one raindrop at a time

Art In Progress

This month, Swil Arts has formed two beautiful new retail partnerships that feel completely aligned with who we are.

First, we've partnered with Comman Goods, an extension of Apostrophe Home with locations in East Village, Carlsbad, and soon Encinitas. Comman Goods sources unique, one-of-a-kind items from around the world and celebrates what makes each piece individual and beautiful.

As a veteran and LGBTQ-owned business, they embrace differences rather than seeing flaws. Our products are now available in their East Village and Carlsbad stores, and I couldn't be prouder to be part of their curated collection of San Diego-based creators. Explore more on their website or Instagram.

Second, we've joined forces with Bivouac Adventure Lodge in North Park. Their General Store is a peaceful, yurt-inspired sanctuary where adventure meets everyday life. It's a dog and family-friendly space that celebrates community connection through their cafe, grand cider bar, and thoughtfully curated gifts.

You can find Swil Arts products there alongside trendy outdoor gear and local art. Visit their website or follow them on Instagram.

These partnerships represent alignment with businesses that share our values of authenticity, creativity, and community.

We also celebrated a milestone at the beginning of December. After many months of intentional focus, we pre-launched the first version of our upcoming Coloring Nostalgia: San Diego Edition book. Stay tuned for more details in the New Year, but for now, here are a few sneak peeks.

Creative Perspectives

I met Lindsay White through the San Diego Artist Incubator program, and within minutes I felt a deep sense of kinship. We're both queer kids who lost our moms. We both know the weight of navigating grief while trying to create something meaningful.

Lindsay is a musician, songwriter, and event curator who uses music and writing to help people with big feelings find their voice. Her latest single, "Fortunate Fucker," carries raw honesty and depth that makes you stop and really listen. She describes her audience as “queer kidults, grief-stricken sad sacks, anxious oddballs, and anyone else with an open mind and caring heart”.

After her mother Jacqulyn died of brain cancer in 2017, Lindsay created Qulyn Journals, a line of journals for folks with feels, named after her mom. Each journal offers prompts to process emotions around topics society doesn't always make room for: grief, death, breakups, births, and more.

I picked up the grief journal titled "Someone I love died, and it stinks," and I've been working through it slowly. The prompts are honest, gentle, and permission-giving. They don't ask you to be okay. They ask you to be real.

Lindsay's work reminds me that creativity isn't just about making beautiful things. It's about making space for people to articulate what they're feeling, even when it's messy.

You can listen to her music on Bandcamp, explore her journals at Qulyn.com, and follow her on Instagram.

Swilshot of the Month

One morning after the rain stopped, I stepped onto our balcony and noticed perfect droplets of water gathered on the leaves of an aloe plant, each one catching the light like a tiny prism.

I stood there for a moment, just looking. These droplets would evaporate soon, but for now, they were here, holding space, reflecting the world around them.

Sometimes beauty shows up in the pauses. In the aftermath of the storm. In the stillness before the next thing begins.

All members of our Swil Arts studio team (Sara, Valentina, and Lizzy) will be taking time off towards the end of the year to spend time with loved ones, to commemorate, and to recharge after an intense year. For me it’s especially meaningful because December 26 marks the first anniversary of my mom’s passing. It’s a tender time, and I want to step into it with care, presence, and grace.

We wish all the members of our community everything they need this upcoming holiday season: joy, care, rest, resources, and equanimity.

Thank you for being here and supporting this work. If you'd like to explore more, visit swilarts.com or say hello on Instagram.

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