Do you ever wish you could say what you mean, not in a crazy Jerry Springer-way, but in an honest, thoughtful way, with a touch of good humor? It can be challenging. I know I can have the best of intentions, but still humbly and awkwardly stumble through a difficult conversation, or, just not say anything at all so I don’t offend the person, and I’m not talking acquaintances, but people I know and love.

Enter the awesome world of Emily McDowell Studio.

Emily McDowell’s witty, candid and authentic approach to humanizing the uncomfortable and messy parts of life is refreshingly funny and so needed in todays ‘my thoughts and prayers are with you’ blah, blah, blah, disconnected world. There are a slew of fun items in the line, ranging from greeting cards, mugs, tote bags, pins and more, each with inspirational messages in fun, pop colors and quirky design styles. I love how her overall signature theme is about connectivity, seeing and recognizing our own embarrassing moments and imperfect selves and having the ability to laugh at and with each other through these awkward shared experiences. No perfection here folks. What a relief!

Emily also launched a new line of Empathy Cards, which are brilliant in there honesty and heartfelt messages when you really are at a loss for words. The line is personal. She was diagnosed with cancer at 24. Now, being cancer-free, she wanted to create a cliche’-free card line that represented what she wished she had received, “The most difficult part of my illness wasn’t losing my hair, or being erroneously called “sir” by Starbucks baristas, or sickness from chemo. It was the loneliness and isolation I felt when many of my close friends and family members disappeared because they didn’t know what to say, or said the absolute wrong thing without realizing it.” Here are a few cards from the collection:

And a few other standouts from Emily McDowell Studio:

In St. Louis, Emily McDowell Studio items can be found locally at ArtMart, Phoenix Rising, Lusso and The Novel Neighbor.

P.S. Her Dance Neurosis Resume is so funny and so relatable! Why do we do this to ourselves?

All images above by Emily McDowell Studio.