the end of loudoun street

Well, it’s happened.

The realities of responsible adulthood have stepped in and decided things with / without the consent of my irrational optimism.

Largest and most significant – giving up my studio.

( next week. )

I’ve had it for exactly a year, and its purpose has changed a lot since we began. My darling friend Carrie and I originally opened it together as a shared workspace for our businesses and client meetings, (you can see our in-progress here, and the finished post here!) and it was the proudest and happiest venture I could imagine. I loved getting to plan and decorate our little work-home together; collecting furniture from local antique stores and winning all sorts of frequent buyer club awards at the paint store.

Then sad things happened, and Carrie and her husband moved to California for his work. They are loved by so many here and the Wedgewood quite misses its Collective.

In the spring I had a happy girl named Beth start working for me, and then over summer I moved in with my two brothers. It’s a pretty homeplace where there’s always an xbox controller in the kitchen and a soccer ball in the bathroom and I love what close friends we are. Last month I started noticing we have a bright office-sized room that’s going to waste, which brings me to now.

Knowing that Old Town Leesburg is too difficult a drive for most of my DC/MD clients, plus the fact that I’ve already booked all my weddings for next year, (and not to mention office rent hurts after a while) it just makes sense to move my office back to my home. I’m refusing to consider this a failure, more a smart decision for the next step of my life and work.

Even though I know all the reasons why, it’s of course difficult to leave. I’ve loved getting to walk around these creaky wood floors and see people enjoy the hard work put into making it beautiful.

It was a place of my own made possible by people in love believing in something I did.

I guess that’s changing, but not really. A Collective is more than a building, and accomplishments don’t need an address.

Huge thanks to everyone who helped and visited and loved it as much as I have…now you can just stop by my house instead!

(thanks Beth!)

Beth is just the greatest. And then I splatter painted new note cards today, which always makes me happy. I’m reallyreallyreally loving this set!


Anyways, so that’s a little update on my life. It’s been the busiest year of travels and changes and I’m so excited for a few slower months to catch up and catch my breath. Some other (happier!) changes are coming soon and I can’t wait to show you all. xo!

  1. I’m sorry you have to close your beautiful shop. Beautiful Pictures!

  2. sarah says:

    proud of you for the grown up you are, love… hard as it may be. such sweet, good things coming!!

  3. Anna says:

    It is NOT a failure 🙂 I think it was wonderful that you had your studio. This is an opportunity for bigger and BETTER things :)Best of luck my dear!

  4. michele says:

    Sometimes the hardest decisions are the smartest ones 🙂
    Blessings to you in your new journey!

  5. Taylor Hiers says:

    I am sad! But at the same time very excited for what’s to come next. Love you dearly my saucy friend 🙂

  6. Laurajane says:

    sad day. i loved getting to see your studio. it really was lovely. even with boys living in your house i’m sure it’s just as lovely as your studio because you are lovely. and splatter painting note cards, that’s just awesome. i love that idea so much.

  7. Carrie says:

    How I so wish that I could be there with you and keep the studio with you!!! I so dearly loved that place and all that it meant and it was so sad for me to leave it. Man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps. So here are to the new adventures of our little collective that is still very much alive! The best is yet to come!

  8. Anna says:

    Oh, Bekah J! Sad you are closing down your studio but sure whatever GOD has for you next is even better! Love you “Journey Mom!”

  9. kellyhicks says:

    Love what you said about refusing to see this as failure but rather a smart move for you and your business – lots of times we are scared to make a decision when it means closing a door but just remember this will open new ones! 🙂

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