The Journal

Stories worth sharing. People worth knowing.

Behind every small business is a person with a story, a dream, and years of hard work. The Journal is where we celebrate those stories—sharing conversations with founders, discovering remarkable businesses, highlighting trusted professionals, and exploring the people and places that inspire us. We hope every story helps you discover someone new and reminds you why supporting small businesses matters.

People We Admire

___LZSettings_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-ApjciPTmYLwEJpnOaIiDIyWQhgYy67+AKknTuCqc-kSCoWqDGDSUCUNqMlogQnfwSgxhMHJQhoHjEBJA6WQ1lQBRQRJUAgRkEB-wSEljBcAgQPnPQAFJVgIYYkJQwCMHQ4DQNw1Y1moMAFHnQjQGItCMLLCjmTw6jalqcF4wQv8AJJcjsOZKggTWBjkIEoDMLYkBRKoghBmKXhv0QxipIwVwhLAjiCP41DMC0mThJADjoI4e1VP0kjtL0CD8JACSmOk1iTPsqC1hRF01C7MBCUIz0k3AVQi35aRAohecGFfLQIA3DklR3bytTFBIkmkMwktdLUAHFNmaDAzHJGAkGYBoGFSxI0CyAgSrKtQ8vgLYsnJdlA33ZRMzTDoEy9LEkEDbr8SJEllRADkHyoLQmlfVIMh7CA+16oLUEGS9EjVCJpui0s9S5VbyAFGc8XSMA2AAIU2FBdqQE6zoNFkrrQLReX3YpD35PQYz5bYWCe1AXpQK89FQW9lEuZh-sBiBUsGPRXVovs-qa67obxeAIkXZlUAAR0Ie6uQBchDkuQNRQQMJ2lIZR03BG6IAepRVHURks3IcHmQAKyQQhyGdcGd3nLGQGHWYACkeb50FzyiBgADkwGReH2SKQn00tLkqgkS5CHBOXRxEWL4qXLK1EvLVEALaRpQhOryrxC3eCKa3mwINhQXO9krR0ZWkCtLkIgtAB9Lwg+MbIg7MMOw+yRxXEMDxslcYwvGTsPXC8fRViAA

Tara Shanahan

Read more →

Sparrow For Everyone

Read more →

Basker

… When Jessica announced the launch of her newest venture, BASKER, and shared that she had become certified in Horticultural Therapy, it immediately felt like a natural and meaningful evolution of her path. I was genuinely excited for her—and certain this was something special. BASKER brings together so many of the things she does best: care, education, creativity, and connection to the natural world.

Read more →

Cities In Dust

Chicago’s Cities In Dust Jewelry creates playful, nostalgic pieces with a modern twist. Led by designer Meghan, this female-run studio hand-fabricates every design with a deep love for storytelling—blending the past and present into accessories made for every body and every style.

Read more →

Businesses Worth Knowing

___LZSettings_N4IghgdglgtmAuUD2EDOIBcBtAugGnAFd4kBhAJyQAdN5zCBTAgI3IbAGsqkoJ4B5AG4Ny5KABMG6DMAC+BAMZIANsoYLEKAJLjMIAGwBOAIxgATA30AGQ7eYAWABxWrAVntWwAZgULjIRRU1DWQIABUATyoGTGNA5UIYCAB1CXgAC0wzAHYrAklUKABzCD0wYiQisV0CADMoZXgRTFB4MCLMCEJVRQQGIqRyCL0AIUJCiClUKQACZMGMmYBpCCQAd14O+RAi4ibyTGsCdPZJcjCGAA94PQCQWHaGAEFUaI0AJQRkPWMAOlc7spiul4MwkJdMLUwMppgQgah4Fo4EVnkCSjAGHw9Gpajc4VAEUjHgBlKAALxiGC8eRAGLa4gQYAACkhCppShgQMwGMp1gBaJR8TF42lQS4McSkFBNLEYOiMAhUEnkyn2RViOBDACyDHpjL0q0mdyolHEhA0AEVCFAFBwAGpQBhrACiEDAzDUugwUJhTBA00FDO1urADLaBpQMQIqHS62dlwUIioN290Nh-tjayZYAR-HIAFUqEoYJtncI+NIQIQi0gSxAOtHM0yxInaPQ-TH1u9TlrBgwADK8DiQtMdzNhdKJZhuhpthUZ9ZhKDwNRzjtAgpMkTvdaYLwEJrXJ5oiAY2UgHEiw-wUkUvSoOCqO50SCoWqDGDSUCUNrslogMl-0EaFGEwGlCGgFMQEkLZtlQBRoUpUAIRkEBgISSljBcAgIOXPQAFIQG2YZUPQ0CMCw8DIIIojtmoMAFGXEjQDIzDsKrajOUIujalqaYU2QoCQMpKi8M5KgIWIoSMLAnDOJACTaIIQZil4f8UJY4TMFcUSoO4ghmLQrSMB0uSxJAbi4I4J11Ok8jdL0GCiIMuyRLMqCnNkLyCExd01H7MAyRIn102hZQy2FaQQr9ZcGE-LQIB3NZMDVEA2g9XUpQSJJpDMA8-N1ABxPZmgwMwaRgJBmAaBgssSNAsgISrqrUYr4H2LIaV5UNj2UPNsw6VNfThJBQwGhhb1VAg1nIMAqC0JpP1SDJBwgYchvTVAFmJRJNQiBa4srVY+S28gRU7NZiXSMA2DGdqUCOpArpuqMuT2B6tEFY9ilPYU9ETIUDhYd60E+lBJvvR9lDuZgQdQMGICywY9A9Bjh2B+7QcFYl4AiVdOVQABHQgXr5MFyDOO5Q0lBAwnaUhlBzaZHqNeJgnZfNyGhzkACskEIcg3Whg9l3xkAJwYGYACl+cF6FnyiBgADkwAxFHeSKMmcxtPkqgkO5xmVqcRASpK13yjKb11RB62keU-WamriWtzY7fbAg2GhEZeVtHR1aQW0+QlBgGCsMxHCMcRskcQxxH0fQGEMMwAVkIA

Tara Shanahan

Read more →

Goldust Studio

Read more →

Toulouse, France: A Few Businesses Worth Crossing an Ocean For

Read more →

Sparrow For Everyone

Read more →

Places We Love

___LZSettings_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-AFSTp3BVOfyJBULVBjBpKBKG1GS0QITv4JQYwmDkoQ0DxiAkgdLIqyoAooIkqAQIyCA-4JCSxguAQIHznoACkKwEMMSEoYBGDocBoG4SsqzUBM86EaAxFoRhZYUcyeHUbUtTgvGCF-gBJLkdhzJUECqz0ch-FAZhrEgCJVEEIMxS8N+iEMZJGCuIJYHsQRfGoZgmnSUJIDsdBHD2ipekkVpegQfhIDiYxUkscZdlQasKIumo8xgIShGekm4CqEW-LSAFELzgwr5aBAG4ckqO5eVqYoJEk0hmIlrpagA4hszQYGY5IwEgzANAwKWJGgWQEMVpVqLl8CbFk5LsoG+7KJmaYdAmXpYkggZdfiRIksqIAcg+VBaE0r6pBkPYQH2PWBaggyXokaoRFNUWlnqXIreQAozni6RgGwABCGwoDtSDHadBospdaBaLy+7FIe-J6JMfJbCwj2oM9KBXnoqC3soFzMH9AMQClgx6K6Ex9r9jVXVDeLwBEi7MqgACOhB3VyALkAcFyBqKCBhO0pDjKg4LXRA91KKo6iMlm5Bg8yABWSCEOQzpgzu86YyAw5zAAUtzvOgueUQMAAcmAyJw+yRQE+mlpclUEgXIQ4Ky6OIgxXFS6ZWol5aog1bSNKEK1WVeLmwWVstgQbCgmd7JWjoStIFaBOsswtTiFYDDZCY9jMBYhhmPYZhmCsQA

Goldust Studio

Read more →

Toulouse, France: A Few Businesses Worth Crossing an Ocean For

Read more →

Featured

Goldust Studio

Learn more

Things We’re Learning

Coming Soon!

Summary Block

This block has no content yet. Items you add to the page connected to this block will display here.

___LZSettings_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-kSCoWqDGDSUCUNpslogUm-wRIUYTBqUIaAUxASQNk2VAFEhClQDBGQQEAhIKWMFwCDAxc9AAUhATZhmQ1DgIwDDQPAvCCM2agwAURciNAEj0MwqtKI5fCaNqWpoRTRCAKAikKJwjkqDBQiBLQkCsPYkAxOoghBmKXhfyQpjBMwVxhIgziCEYlCNIwLSZJEkBOJgjgXVUyTSO0vQoIIvSbKEkyIIc2QPIIDFPTURYwFJIi-XTcBVDLEVpCCmFFwYd8tAgLdeXVPcfP1aUEiSaQzGSr19QAcR2ZoMDMakYCQZgGgYNLEjQLICFK8q1Hy+BdiyakeTDQ9lDzbMOlTf08SQMMeuJMkKQ1EBeSfKgtCad9UgyfsIEHPrgtQQZr0SbUIhmmLK2Nfk1vIUU5yJdIwDYAAhHYUD2pBTvO01OWutAtCFQ9imPEU9ETYU9hYZ7UFelAbz0VB72UG5mABoGIDSwY9C9OjB3+5qbphol4AiZcOVQABHQgHv5EFyBOG4wylBAwnaUhlBzaFbogR6lFUdQ2XzcgIY5AArJBCFWSFL0XbGQFGBhJgAKV5-mIb3KIGAAOTAdEEZ5IoiZzO1+SqCQbkIaF5fHEQ4oSldsrUa99UQdZpAVGF6oqolLfGG32wINhIQunl7R0FWkHtflan0RwzEMBxagUfR9DAT1XHEHIFC8AigA

Community

Coming soon!

Summary Block

This block has no content yet. Items you add to the page connected to this block will display here.

___LZSettings_N4IghgdglgtmAuUD2EDOIBcBtAugGnAFd4kBhAJyQAdN5zCBTAgI3IbAGsqkoJ4B5AG4Ny5KABMG6DMAC+BAMZIANsoYLEKAJLjMIAGwBOAIxgATA30AGQ7eYAWABxWrAVntWwAZgULjIRRU1DWQIABUATyoGTGNA5UIYCAB1CXgAC0wzAHYrAklUKABzCD0wYiQisV0CADMoZXgRTFB4MCLMCEJVRQQGIqRyCL1SJBgYQmh4YfkQIuIm8kxrAnT2SXIwhgAPeD0AkFh2hgBBVGiNACUEZD1jADpXA+Vi9PhmJG3MWrBlVCYQC9UPAtHAiqcXiUYAw+Ho1LU9gQgSCwQwAMpQABeMQwXjyIGhbXECDAAAUkIVNKUMCBmAxlEgAO4AWiUfBhiIJUG2DHEo3ZsIwdEYBCoxwx2Mw9lFYjgQwAsgwiSS9BAUDEZUhxIQNABFQhQBQcABqUAYjIAohAwMw1LoMD8-gD-mziQqlWBiW1VeqDqh0kyLdsFCIqHsHb9-gR-UzSWBgfxyABVKhKGC8IoW4R8aQgQipsYZv0BxmksQh2j0Z0ly7reWDBgAGV4HG+kerTLC6USzGtDUrIpAMcZYSg8DUA+dLwKpJElyZmC8BCauxOkIg0MFgIYCIOK-gEpxQ7gqj35EgqFqgxg0lAlDaVJaIExT8Ev0YmHxkzHekkHVksyoAovw4qAXwyCAb4JDixguAQ37hiAACkICzMMEFQR+GCwV+Ux6ChAEENQYAKGO6GgJhMFwXmeE0gRRG1LU-zhmBr7vjiuE-jSVBfGhbHQZ+8G0SAPGobMgzFLwT7gRR7GYK4nGIfRIDkZBckYApQlcchYnRhw5rSfxWGKb+-SoQQqmUYJNHaX+YmzDCNpqI2YCYuhjpRuAqhZhy0geQCY4MDeWgQPOjJSsuTlKqMCRJNIZiRbaSoAOILM0GBmPiMBIMwDQMDFiRoFkBDZblaipfAizWQynprsoiZxh0EZOkiSCeo16JYji0ogIy55UFoTQ3qkGTNhArbNZ5qCDAeiRyhEg1BbmarMtN5CcsOaLpGAbAAEILCgy1IFtO0arSB1oFobJrsUG4cnoIbsksLAXagV0oIeeioCeygHMwr3vRAMWDHotoka2L2VYdgNotME40qgACOhCncyHzkBsByenyCBhO0pDKPG-xHRAZ1KKo6hUkm5C-TSABWSCEOQ1q-cuY7wyAXYMAABAAUozzO-HuUQMAAcmA0KgwyRRo-GhrMlUEgHIQ-yiz2IghWFk6JWoB5KogEBFNIwoAqVeVovrGbG1WBBsL8u0MkaOhS0gRrMu4CiMfodJ4mAVj6Pojj6GAhhWI4qFAA

From My Notebook

___LZSettings_N4IghgdglgtmAuUD2EDOIBcBtAugGnAFd4kBhAJyQAdN5zCBTAgI3IbAGsqkoJ4B5AG4Ny5KABMG6DMAC+BAMZIANsoYLEKAJLjMIAGwBOAIxgATA30AGQ7eYAWABxWrAVntWwAZgULjIRRU1DWQIABUATyoGTGNA5UIYCAB1CXgAC0wzAHYrAklUKABzCD0wYiQisV0CADMoZXgRTFB4MCLMCEJVRQQGIqRyCL0AMUoYAAIAWQiJgDkkJuYkJA4QeRAi4ibyTGsCdPZJcjCGAA94PQCQWHaGAEFUaI0AJQRkPWMAOldr5WL0vBlmdMLUwMpUEwQP9UPAtHAig9-iUYAw+Ho1LVLgQYXCEQwAMpQABeMQwXjyIFRbXECDAAAUkIVNKUMCBmAxlEgAO4AWiUfDR2KpUDODHEpBQTXRGDojAIVDuRNJmHsCrEcCGUwYNLpeggKBi6qQ4kIGgAioQoAoOAA1KAMbkAUQgYGYal0GDBEKhkIFtK1OrAtLa+sN11Q6R5TrOChEVEuXvBkIIkZ59LAsP45AAqlQlDBeEUncI+NIQIR80hCxAOqmo9z6WI47R6L6Gy8jlNBgwADK8NZJn31nlhdKJZiuhqt+UgNPcsJQeBqGe+-4FekiF48zBeAhNC73ZEQVEy6EMLHXA-wZVkudwVRX8iQVC1QYwaSgShtFktEDEv9BHBRhMEpQhoETEBJA6WQNlQBRwTJUAQRkEAgISMljBcAhwKXPQAFJ1gIYZUPQkCMCwsCIII9YNmoMAFCXEjQDIzDsIrai2UIujalqSFE2QwDgLJKi8LZKgQQ2Zi0OE0CcM4kAJNoghBmKXg-xQljZIwVxRMg7jiKEjDMF0+SxJAbi4I4R0NKM8i9L0aCiJAaTWLkjjzKc2CNjRN01F7MBiRI70U3AVQSyFaQQqhJcGA-LQIG3blVX3PydUlBIkmkMxUvdHUAHFtmaDAzEpGAkGYBoGAyxI0CyAhysqtRCvgHZ3K5YMj2UbMMw6IdQo68ResJEkyTVEBuWfKgtCaD9UgyfsIEHaLU0GG9Ek1CIZri8sDV5VA1ojBsCXSMA2AAIW2FBdqQE6zqNdkrrQLQBSPYoTyFPQ40FXYWCe1AXpQW89FQB9lGuZh-sBiAMsGPR3QYtY-ta67oYJeAIhXNlUAAR0Ie7eWWchjmuYMJQQMJ2lIZRM0hG6IAepRVHUFkc3IcG2QAKyQQhyFdcH9yXLGQDHBgJgAKR5vnwSvKIGDmMBUXhrkikJzNrV5KoJGuQhITmCcRASpLV1ytQbx1RBa2kOUoUaqqCQtotrbbAg2HBc6uRtHRlaQG1eXEWoFDMRxalsQx2FcHJvGyYwzHsdYgA

A Thoughtful Year’s End

As this year comes to a close, I want to pause and acknowledge what made it meaningful: this community. This project may look like a website or a directory, but behind it are real people—reading, sharing, shopping thoughtfully, and supporting small businesses when they can. Hearing that you’ve used this space to find gifts, plan experiences, or discover something new is what keeps this work moving forward for me.

Read more →