|
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Letter from Kim → On being multipassionate, holding space for all the pieces of who we are, and giving ourselves permission to contain multitudes
- Mapphouse Consulting → Finding my rhythm with new clients, content creation, and a masterclass on what's actually broken in online education.
- Design Studio → Wrapping up a Shopify build and opening books for Q2 website and promotional work
- Fine Art → Holding space for what was and what will be again—plus an invitation to walk down memory lane
- Letter from Jolene → Desert adventures, professional rock collecting, and the most important work of a 22-month-old explorer
- Field Notes → What I'm reading, cooking, and finding inspiration in this month
|
|
|
Hey Reader!
I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to hold space for all the different parts of who we are.
For a long time, I've tried to organize myself into neat categories: the educator, the artist, the business owner, the mother. As if I could separate these pieces of myself and present them independently, cleanly packaged for whoever was watching.
But that's not how any of us actually live, is it?
The truth is, I'm a multipassionate human being. Some days I'm deep in the developing online education programs. Other days I'm problem-solving a website build for a local business. And someday, hopefully sooner than later, I'll be creating art again. These aren't separate identities. They're all me, all the time, just expressed in different ways depending on what the season (or hour) calls for.
So I'm making a shift with Mapphouse Press. This newsletter is becoming what it probably always should have been, a monthly letter that holds space for all of it. The consulting work that is in its foundational stages. The design projects that give back to our community. The creative practice that feeds my soul. The very real experience of raising a tiny human while building a business.
You might find that you're only interested in one piece of what I share here. That's completely okay. In fact, it's expected. If the consulting side resonates with you, there will be ways to go deeper into that world specifically. If you're here for the behind-the-scenes of my life, this monthly touchpoint might be exactly what you need.
|
|
What I'm learning, and maybe you're learning this too, is that giving ourselves permission to be multifaceted isn't indulgent. It's honest. You might be a therapist who also loves to garden. A lawyer who paints on the weekends. A wellness practitioner raising kids while building a practice.
We contain multitudes. And that's not something to apologize for or organize away.
So as we move into this season, I'm curious: What are the different elements of who you are? Where do you find yourself spending your time and energy? And more importantly, are you giving yourself permission to honor all of it?
This is what Mapphouse Press will be from now on. A monthly check-in. A snapshot of where I am across all the domains of my life. An invitation into my world, however much or little you want to engage with it.
Cheers,
Kim
|
|
|
|
The Design Studio is where I support local (and beyond) businesses with Squarespace, Shopify and Kajabi sites, plus promotional materials that actually reflect their business goals.
I just wrapped up a custom Shopify build for a local high-end guns and archery shop and I'm currently booking website design and promotional work for Q2. This is my way of giving back to this community and being able geek out the tech side of things I weirdly enjoy:).
→ Book a project for Q2
|
|
|
This is where many of you first found me...through ceramics, through making things with my hands, through the quiet focus of creative work.
While this part of my practice is on pause as I navigate toddlerhood and business-building, it's not gone. Just waiting. I have ideas spinning, projects forming in the background. When the time comes - and it will - you'll hear about it here first.
For now, if you need a reminder of what was (and what will be again):
→ Take a walk down memory lane on Instagram
|
|
|
Jolene is 22 months old. These letters are written in her voice, my attempt to see the world through her eyes and capture what matters most to her right now. |
|
|
Hi everyone! Jolene here, professional rock collector and desert explorer.
I went on a BIG adventure over Christmas to a place called Tucson with Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle and Aunt and Cousins and yeah my parents too. There were these tall green things everywhere that Mom kept saying words about, but honestly, I was focused on more important work.
ROCKS.
So many rocks! Different rocks! New rocks! Every few steps, I'd find another perfect one. Some were smooth. Some were rough. Some were just the right size to hand to people. I'd pick one up, look at it very carefully (this is serious business), and then decide who needed it most. Grandpa got a lot of rocks. Mom tried to keep walking, but I had to explain, again, that we can't just WALK PAST rocks like that.
Everyone kept trying to show me the tall green pokey things and talk about "beautiful views" and "mountains," but they were missing the whole point. The best stuff was right there on the ground! Why would I look up when there are rocks to inspect?
We went SO SLOW on our walk. Which was exactly the right speed, in my opinion. You can't rush rock collection. This is detailed work.
|
|
I got to be outside with everyone I love, and I got to show them all my very important rocks, and I said "rock" about a million times so they would understand. Some of them tried to give the rocks back to the ground, but I explained... patiently...that these were THEIR rocks now. You're welcome.
I think they finally understood by the end.
Anyway, I'm getting pretty good at this exploring thing. As long as there are rocks involved.
—Jolene
P.S. I also said "cactus" once but mostly stuck with "rock" because that's the word that really matters.
|
|
|
|
What I'm Reading
Currently reading Wreck by Katherine Newman, from the bestselling author of Sandwich. Newman has this gift for capturing the messy, complicated reality of relationships, the way we hurt each other, repair, and somehow keep going. Her characters feel startlingly real, like people you know (or maybe are).
What I'm Cooking
Winter comfort food season is here, which means I'm leaning into recipes that feed a crowd (or just the Thompson household as it turns out). Currently obsessed with Half Baked Harvest's pull-apart cheeseburger sliders, exactly the kind of cozy, indulgent meal that makes February feel a little more manageable.
What's Inspiring Me
I recently listened to Jay Shetty on The Mel Robbins Podcast (Episode 282: Path to Purpose). His insights on finding meaning in the everyday, on presence and intentionality, hit me right when I needed them. Sometimes we need voices like his to help us slow down and remember what actually matters in the rush of building, creating, and raising tiny humans.
|
|
|
Hey, thanks for reading Mapphouse Press, truly.
If something here sparked an idea, I’d love to hear from you or for you to share it with a friend who’s also building a business with heart.
Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase — at no extra cost to you.
→ Disclaimer, you are on this list from my art business (kt mountain studio) feel free to Unsubscribe if you ever need to.
Kim Thompson is the founder of Mapphouse, based in the mountains of Idaho. A lifelong educator and learner, she helps entrepreneurs bring their knowledge online with clarity, purpose, and heart.
|
|
|
600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246 |
|
|
|
