· By Phoebe Carpenter Eells
A note about hope
October 2, 2026
Autumn Energy
There's a comfort to the rains coming in and the seasons changing to fall. Especially when you're a Pacific Northwesterner; there's a familiarity to the rain that, like it or not, is part of our fabric. September was a delightful blur of getting back into routines, working on projects, and closing out the outdoor Valley Made Market season.
Custom work has been keeping me busy. We are in the last few moments of the ordering for MVEA's new design, and FAE is fundraising with custom merch printed by elSage. Are you interested in getting custom gear for your group? Check out the custom side of our business. Click here to see more.
As the news cycle stays heavy and unbelievable I remain rooted in the hope that we can do better. With every tough-to-process story and unbelievable example of the failure of government, we have the opportunity to learn and understand more as a society. Many points are being made for us right before our eyes. It's up to us to take the lesson and demand change. From women's rights to corruption in government, the importance of voting, and our societal relationship with AI, this era will significantly shape culture for the foreseeable future.
I'm not sure what the answer is but I do know that the same building blocks for hope apply: take action where you can, how you can, when you are able to. This may be as simple as helping someone you know get registered to vote or joining a committee in your community. It might be talking to your kids about consent and being willing to always do the right thing. I also know that burnout is real, especially when the world feels too heavy to bear. Caring for yourself: protecting your peace, taking time to rest, and finding joy are all valid parts of keeping hope and being human.
Real world experiences have been helping my nervous system lately. Working in the shop and chatting with so many of you as you come through, making art by hand (I'm still on my handmade business card kick), events like Valley Made, and committee work for the Mount Vernon School District have been highlights lately.
Let's connect IRL this weekend! We have a fresh affordable art collection going up this week in time for the Downtown Mount Vernon October Art Walk on Saturday. That alongside the candle making pop up will be a whole vibe. We hope to see you downtown! Check out the full line up of what's happening this month.
xo,
Phoebe
Click here to see our New Arrivals sections! We have some delightful, funny, cool, and fresh items that just landed.