July is on it’s way out, and it has felt as wild, and carefree, and beautiful as I imagined. For me, this summer has been full of being. No big push or rushing toward what’s next. Only showing up, breathing in, and letting the season do what it does best.

I’ve been thinking a lot about presence, and how each point in the year invites something different.

Winter is introspective. All about looking inward and getting sentimental.

Spring is for planting. For taking time to sow seeds that you’ll tend to later.

Autumn, for harvesting. For getting your hands in the dirt, gathering the good fruit.

But summer? Summer is for being in it.

For letting the good work you’ve done carry you. For eating the popsicle outside, walking barefoot in the grass, and sitting around with the people you love most. All year, we’ve been reveling in our plans and making room for these moments, and I’m determined to not miss a single second of it.

And inside the studio, that same shift is happening. I’m wrapping up my very last custom client project (a full-circle moment if there ever was one) and stepping fully into a new season of Studio Gail. One filled with creative freedom, fresh ideas, and a shop that’s beginning to feel like its own little world.

In the Studio

This month marks the official close of my custom client season. One last launch, one last handoff, and so much gratitude for every project that brought me here. It’s been years of thoughtful, emotional, heart-filled collaborations, and I’m so proud of everything Studio Gail has helped bring into the world.

Now, I’m pouring all of that heart into the template shop. Dreaming and building and letting the vision unfold.

✨ Two new HoneyBook collections just launched — one for doulas, and one for coaches. Both soft, intuitive, and created for service providers who want their backend to feel just as good as their brand. And even though these were designed a little outside of the wedding space (which still holds my heart), they’re easily adaptable for photographers/videographers, planners, and creatives of all kinds.

More is on the way, of course! The shop is beginning to feel like a living library of tools to support not just your brand, but the way you want to move through your work. With beauty, with ease, and a little more intention.

Design Inspiration

I’ve been in a full Parent Trap summer mood lately – designing in my head inspired by the fiery twins, Annie and Hallie. Both two different vibes, that would make beautiful websites or templates (hint, hint).

Annie’s vibe: timeless, polished, just-off-the-plane-from-London energy
Hallie’s vibe: laid-back, sun-warmed, granola chic with horse girl richness

If you’re as obsessed as I am, here’s a cute little moodboard I’ve been building to dive a little deeper into the dreaming.

Fonts & Colors

Surprisingly (or maybe not?), this month’s color palette and font inspiration is leaning warmer than my usual cool-girl blue — which I still love forever, don’t worry. But lately I’ve been drawn to those rich, nostalgic hues: deep cherry reds, creamy envelope whites, and that dusty peachy blush that feels like it belongs on a linen sundress.

And fonts? She’s having a cursive moment. Give me all the swoopy, romantic scripts that feel like they were pulled from a vintage love letter. A little dramatic, a little playful — and totally stealing the show.

More of this energy, please.

On My Bookshelf

• Deep in my Agatha Christie era (six books in, still going strong)
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore — a five star summer camp mystery ( and Goodreads Choice Awards Best Mystery & Thriller 2024)
• Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune — the sequel to one of my favorite cozy fantasies and, so far, so cute
• Up next: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (required reading for all creative girls) and my annual re-reading of I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (a forever fave and peak summer period-drama energy)

On Replay

• The Parent Trap — a classic comfort movie I never go too long without rewatching
• Spiral Deeper by Gaby Azorsky — both mentor and friend of mine, I am always looking forward to Gaby’s weekly episodes
• Practical Magic Summer playlist — a summer playlist for my fall-loving girlies (even though Practical Magic is a year-round film in my house)

Journal Prompt of the Month

Saw a TikTok that stopped me in my scroll — and honestly, I haven’t stopped thinking about it:

What if growth isn’t about becoming better… but becoming more of yourself?
If that were true, how would your goals shift?
What would you release?
What would you welcome in?

It’s a question I’m carrying with me through this season. Maybe you are too.

Either way, here’s to being in it and enjoying the last few moments of summer.

Until next month,
Abbey