I often think back on my creative journey, thankful for the fellow artists, business advisors, and other wise counselors who have guided me by sharing their work and lives with me. Four Hats Press began in Birmingham, Alabama—my home for nearly ten years and fertile ground for the initial seeds of my little business to be planted, watered, and grown. I went off to the Penland valley to garner inspiration and a few more quills for my quiver.

I returned home and in the years following, gained friends from every creative corner. Photographers, florists, designers, bakers, seamstresses, hand-letterers, and painters. I owe these people so much for what they generously bestowed. They represent different disciplines, various styles — each with their own unique personality. I had friends who shined at dreaming up collaborations, other go-to's for poring over technique, still others to turn to when sifting through the nitty gritty of running a small business. Taxes, licenses, and forms, oh my.

The conversations shared over coffee, during walks, in my studio, and in homes across the city were the treasured threads in my tapestry.

After I was married in 2014, my husband whisked me away to the Emerald Isle for a year. There, I pursued friendship with local artists and talents, finding comfort in a transatlantic version of home among kin.

Now that we've land in Chicagoland, I'm grateful for once again for the promise of finding "my people." The size of this city is daunting, but I know that zeroing in fellow makers will reduce its magnitude. I'm thankful for the resources that exist to connect us, for the spirit of community over competition, for the hope of a new chapter.