Caytlyn writes for her weekly newsletter, Taking Notes, part journal, part behind the scenes of her creative work.
Intro Note: Welcome to Freshman Year of Taking Notes
Class is in session, syllabus below:This is Taking Notes, a weekly dispatch for anyone who enjoys peeking behind the scenes of a creative with a restless mind. If you love a list, a moodboard, a bit of inspiration, creative process insights, or just the occasional half-finished thought; you’ve found your homeroom. And btw I’m a student, not the teacher.I’ve found that life hands out more questions than answers and all too often a test that I definitely forgot to study for. This is where I come to process, collect, and take notes on the school of life: part creative, some curiosity, and a lot of lessons I’m still learning. Grab your coffee, class is about to start and I’ve saved you a seat.What to expect:
Every week a newsletter delivered directly to your desk. Each post will kick off with a note to self, a reflection, quote, lesson learned, etc. These newsletters will focus around a variety of topics under these rotating columns:
Show & Tell
A moodboard to set the tone for the month and get inspired for the weeks ahead. This will always be posted the first week of each month.
Social Studies
A casual research paper on a trend or a creative deep dive into someone or something cool; an artist, idea, or cultural moment worth studying.
Field Trip
Sometimes we need to get out and explore. These posts will feature places I’m dreaming about visiting; creative detours, real-world inspiration, and visual documentation from outside the usual desk space. Permission slip granted.
Color Study
A visual exploration of one color at a time. These posts dive into the feelings, meanings, and moods tied to a single hue, with curated palettes, design inspiration, seasonal connections, and a little color theory thrown in.
Lost & Found
Something from the archive; reflecting back on a project, a photo, or an old journal entry from my past self.
Life Lessons
A personal reflection column for all the things you can’t learn in school.
These are real-life takeaways from mistakes, growth moments, patterns, or just quiet realizations. Less preachy, more "here’s what happened and what it taught me."
The Uniform
Style through a seasonal or creative lens. I’ve really been wanting to style outfits with what I have in my closet, here and on YouTube to be honest, so I thought this could be a fun place to start exploring that idea. I am terrible at putting outfits together so this is more for me to get out of my comfort zone.
Lunch Money
Conversations about money that feel a little more casual. This series covers finances, budgeting, side income, and how creative people make it work. Honest and sometimes even fun.
Art Class
Sharing my own creative explorations, photography, design, paintings, and more. Anything I’m working on creatively will be shared here. From concept to mood boards to final output, this is where I’ll post those projects.
R.E.P.O.R.T. Card
A reflection on what I’m reading, eating, playing, obsessing over, recommending, trying out. This will always be shared the last week of each month.
Extra Credit: the occasional bonus note, think behind-the-scenes moments and a look into my creative and sometimes chaotic process.
Every Monday, paid subscribers will get one newsletter per week and access to study group (aka chat) and free subscribers will get one newsletter per month.
Some posts I’ll be assigning Homework, don’t worry it’s not that serious; something to consider or try.
Class is officially in session, don’t forget to enroll!