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- Written by Mandy Krickhahn, Collective Founder & CEO // January 2026 Anniversaries have a funny way of sneaking up on you. Your days are filled with building, learning, surviving, dreaming, and trying to just figure it all out. You don’t always stop to realize what you’ve created, you keep moving forward, making the next decision, and showing up day in and day out. It isn’t until you slow down that you start to see the full picture. Seven years of The Collective, two year

I’m excited to share the launch of my newly redesigned website for Cat MacDonald Photography. I’m a wedding and family photographer serving couples and families throughout Northwest Indiana, Southwest Michigan, and beyond. I’ve been photographing people for over 15 years, and my work has always been rooted in storytelling, connection, and documenting moments as they naturally unfold. The new website feels like a true reflection of my work and the experience I want my clients

Join us Wednesday February 18th at 6pm for our second in-house beer dinner! Featuring a whole pig from @HoweFarms in Crown Point, chicken and produce from @KajersGreens in North Judson and more from our local partners. Our chefs will assemble six delectable courses paired with six of our finest (and new) craft beers! Attendees will have the taproom all to themselves as we lay out the best beer dining experience in the Midwest! Stay tuned for more menu details… 21+ Only $125 P

My new website is more than a place to view art—it’s a space for connection. It allows new collectors to step into my process, understand the stories and materials behind each piece, and feel the intention woven into the work. This next chapter opens the door for deeper relationships, shared growth, and art finding its way to the people it’s meant for. Special thanks for Avenue Bee Studio for helping me with this launch. Visit the website here !

January always feels loud. New goals, new plans, new promises. Everywhere you look, someone is doing more, scaling faster, launching bigger. And if I’m being honest, for a long time I felt like I was supposed to already have it all figured out by now.

The Design Lab is a new way to work with Indigo Ink Interiors, perfect for clients who love good design but don’t need full-service management ✨ Whether you’re planning a renovation, choosing finishes, or second-guessing your furniture layout, The Design Lab delivers expert guidance to help you move forward with confidence. You stay in control. We provide the vision, insight, and guardrails 🎯 Less overwhelm. Better decisions. Beautiful results. Get in touch with us here !

Buy any gift card of $50 or more and get 20% off that gift card. No limit! In-house only.

Maria will be offering new ways to connect through a paid membership option called “The Creative Circle”.

Lauren Najar's podcast had fellow Collective member, Melissa Griffin of Indigo Ink Interiors on her podcast which aired the week of 11/17/25! You can listen to the full episode and interview with Melissa and then Melissa has a short episode that aired on 11/20/25.

As we wrap up 2025, I keep coming back to one word: grateful. Grateful for this community, for the collaborations, and for the way people continue to show up. Even when things are hard and it would be easier not to, I’m grateful for the ones who do it anyway. This year stretched us, taught us, and reminded us why this work matters. And we did it together.