The Heirloom Edit №9
What I’m Building This Spring
So, a funny thing happens when you slow down a little bit. It turns out, creativity finds a chance to creep back in. And maybe I shouldn’t even say creep back in—creativity has a chance to rage back in, like a river that’s broken its levees.
That’s where I am right now. I finished my third draft, and now I’m not supposed to be touching the manuscript. The second I took that rest, it was like I opened myself to ideas again—like cracking a window after a long winter. I’m trying to channel this overflow of creativity into productive directions so that it doesn’t just spill out uselessly everywhere. I am brimming with ideas, artistic drive, and inspiration. In some ways, I’m so grateful—I truly thought my creativity might be “broken” at various points over the last few years. In other ways, it’s a little overwhelming, if I’m being completely honest.
While I’m riding this wave, I wanted to share some of the exciting things I’ve been working on here on Substack:
Writing Club
I created a space for patrons to join the Writing Club here. It will be a weekly endeavor at 7 a.m. ET—very laid back and relaxed, with no need to share your work—simply an hour to write with a friendly group (or maybe just me; I’m not sure how many others are early bird writers like I am!). I haven’t thought of a clever name for it yet—apparently even this creative overflow has its limits. Maybe we can find one together.
Book Club
Similarly, I created a new page for the Book Club and added it here. A few of you reached out and were confused by the app I had it on, and didn’t necessarily want to add yet another app. That’s completely fair, so I integrated it here! Our first book is A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan. We’re reading it through the end of March—a nice long stretch if you’re still hoping to jump in—though I already added a prompt to the chat if you’re ready to begin talking about it, too.
Mallard Lodge
I shared the story of our current project, Mallard Lodge, earlier this week. The painters were able to start a little earlier than planned, so I ran up to gather footage and photos for a full before tour, which I’m planning to share March 4. There’s something about catching a project right at the beginning—before the transformation—that feels especially meaningful. I’m truly so excited to see what the paint does!
Summer Serial Novella
Last spring, I wrote a short story while I was finishing up my degree at UNH. I shared it here and received such warm and amazing feedback, which was incredibly encouraging—that was the first piece of fiction I ever put out into the world. It felt vulnerable and brave all at once. Since you seemed to enjoy it so much, and I’m still so far away from traditional publication on my first book, I wanted to find a way to share my fiction writing with you in the meantime.
This summer, I’m excited to share that I will be expanding Salt & Flowers. A new chapter will release each week beginning Memorial Day and will last through Labor Day. You’ll be able to follow Samantha through her summer spent on the New Hampshire Seacoast weekly, as your own summer unfolds. I’m incredibly excited, and I have some ideas to make the experience even more immersive than just a simple chapter release. Stay tuned for more!
And if you’re here as a free subscriber, please know this space will never become something you’re completely standing outside of. I’m building new rooms, yes—but I’m not locking every door.
The Heirloom Edit will still arrive in your inbox weekly, and there will always be pieces shared simply for the joy of sharing them. Not everything will live behind a paywall. This is about expanding what we’re building here, not narrowing it!
The Curio
As always, these are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no additional cost to you. I only share what I genuinely love and would bring into my own home!
Here’s a few recent purchases that felt genuinely worthwhile — pieces I’ll wear, use, reread, and rearrange for years to come. A dress that was a splurge but earns its place in quality alone. A silk ranunculus bloom for my ongoing experiment in permanent floral arrangements (which has quickly become one of my favorite creative outlets). A deceptively pretty edition of Wuthering Heights that looks softer than the story inside — but fits my shelves perfectly. A tiny green teacup that was very much a Target impulse, yet somehow exactly right. An unscented candle for quiet evenings (especially for those sensitive to fragrance). And finally, the woven urn I’ve admired for years — one I can’t wait to fill with hydrangeas this summer.
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