Creativity, wellbeing, and community: Let's be intentional in 2026
Checking in: How is your New Year going so far?
Last week, we had a chat about investing in ourselves and being really present in our world this year.
As I ponder this and put things into practice, a word that keeps popping up for me everywhere I go (and I mean everywhere!) is "stewardship" ~ which, the more I think about it, has many iterations.
It might mean being a good caretaker of the physical things you're blessed with (like your home or all that's in it), or valuing your time to care for yourself and cultivate your precious relationships.
It's being intentional with your resources, as well as establishing healthy habits for your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
This past Saturday, I greeted several curious creatives to the Atelier in the back of the shop for "Chalk Paint 101" and was honored that they invested their time to learn with us.
A huge part of Chalk Paint is the impact of its core values, ideas that founder and inventor Annie Sloan is herself intentional about.
We had the joy of hosting Annie in our shop and home last year, and we had many real conversations about these authentic values while she was here.
What are some of these values, you ask? Without further ado, here are the three that we are passionate about this year:
Creativity
Annie’s mission in life is to empower us to tap into our creative potential, encouraging a sense of accomplishment and personal fulfillment.
Chalk Paint promotes mindfulness by offering a therapeutic outlet for creativity and self-expression, which brings me to the next one...
Wellbeing
Painting (and upcycling, which itself is good stewardship of resources!) has power as a meditative practice.
This mindful painting process not only provides a means of relaxation but also fosters a sense of accomplishment, contributing to overall well-being.
Through the process of painting, individuals can unravel the stress and anxiety that may be plaguing their minds, allowing them to focus on the present moment and the act of creation.
Community
Something extraordinary happens when people gather in our Atelier to paint and create together. Old friends learn new things about each other, and strangers become friends.
As Annie says, it's so much more than paint. Because of the nature of being REAL and doing things together ~ and the conversations that occur because of that ~ community builds naturally.
Another place that community can grow is online, whether it's on social media or even through podcasts.
Annie Sloan's podcast is "The Colourist", which she cohosts with brand ambassador (and our friend) Tristan Merriam.
In the latest episode, Annie and Tristan talk about these three values for 2026 and (in true Annie Sloan style!) have even assigned a color to each one:
Tyrian Plum = Creativity
Napoleonic Blue = Wellbeing
Primer Red = Community
We'll be playing with these colors this year as we ourselves focus on creativity, wellbeing, and community.
These colors are a tiny bit out of my comfort zone, which is more pastel, so I am curious to see how we can incorporate them into our shop's aesthetic. Can't wait to show you and hear what you think!
And please, join us for upcoming events and workshops, which are listed below. Reply to this email if you have any questions ~ or even requests for what you'd like to see happen in our studio (which we have dubbe "the Atelier")… or even in the shop!
I simply can't wait to see you!
xo,
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