Website Relaunch and a Thunderstorm of Challenges

⚡ When the Lights Go Out: Storms, Creativity, and a New Chapter Online

On paper, it was just a quick summer storm. Twenty minutes of wind, rain, and thunder. But by the time the clouds cleared, nearly 180,000 people were left without power—us included. For over 24 hours, our studio sat in the dark, running on sheer willpower, backup candles, and the occasional flicker of mobile data.

When you run a small art collective like ours, you get used to working through unpredictable conditions. But there’s something humbling about watching your entire neighborhood go still. No hum of machines. No glowing screens. Just heat, silence, and a reminder that we’re still at the mercy of the elements—no matter how much we try to plan.

And yet… somehow, the work continued.

I found myself huddled with my phone, squinting at code and product pages, editing the new website in chunks between charging breaks and spotty signal. Was it ideal? Not even close. But I’ve never been one to wait for the “perfect moment” to keep building. And honestly, this storm felt symbolic: a short burst of chaos followed by clarity and renewal.

This is of course all happening in tandem with taking care of the animals. Keeping the dogs from over heating, the birds cool as well, and using one hand to aerate the water for the fish tanks. Of course the other hand was furiously working on anything and everything I could get done via mobile for our website while everything was happening. 

Because tonight—after 26 hours in the dark—the lights finally came back on. And with them, I’m proud to say that our new website will be live at midnight.

This relaunch isn’t just a facelift. It’s the next chapter for Art Collective International. We’ve improved how you navigate through our studio collections—Storm Garden Studio, Tidy Tea Witch, Chris Foster Design, and Lee Hansheng Studios —and added fresh product drops, updated artwork, and countdowns for upcoming releases. It's cleaner, more intuitive, and finally reflects who we are becoming as artists and as a collective.

So thank you. For your patience, your support, and your belief in the magic we’re building—through storms, setbacks, and all. We’re still here, still creating, and more fired up than ever. Go explore the new site, drop a comment, and let us know what you think.
There's even more to come! 

Let the art (and power) flow with your soul. 💡🎨
~Hansheng