february colourful updates!

the month of glitter hearts greets you from the halthegal studio!

tiny greetings of story love, chocolate in every pocket... what's not to love about february? :)

first: two new faerie tale feet pieces!

hagrid & heidi are ready for collecting!

i just got back from mount dora's art festival (florida was rainy & cold, if you were wondering; no need to be jealous this round): where my brand new heidi painting "mountain child" found her new home! but you can still collect signed, limited edition matted prints from my etsy site!

i also completed a very 3-D, very furry piece "mummy of dragons," and you can collect that half-giant piece as well! (& contact me if you're interested in the original. it's rather awesome.) ;)

collect the heidi reproduction

collect hagrid

second: happy one year anniversary to my halthegal patreons!

we needed a more exciting name than “halthegal patreons,” so i hosted an instagram naming contest! i ended up choosing a name i came up with myself, but i appreciate the effort… ;D

so i hope you’ll join me over in the crayon box!

every month, i create extra art and new stories for mymerry li'l band of supporters who pledge $3, $5, $10, or $20 a month to support me, my artwork, and my author journey.

learn more & support me on patreon with a small monthly pledge!

third: a really artsy road trip!!

the city that never sleeps. (but i shall.)
last month i traveled to scad's museum of art to see the christian siriano fashion exhibit. last week i traveled to mount dora to share my faerie tale feet paintings with collectors. and next month, for two whole weeks, my husband and i shall be in NYC for his solo gallery show!

you can follow nathan's instagram for details as they're released, and of course follow me on instagram for big city adventures in march. (spoiler alert: it'll mostly be museums, indie bookshops, bakeries, and working on my novel in the hotel!) ;D

the halthegal etsy shoppe is currently in vacation mode, but i’ll let you know on instagram when it’s back on for shopping and art collecting! :D

and as always: here’s to the books!

^ recent favorite reads.


together we burn, by isabel ibañez: ya fantasy with dancing, dragons, family secrets, culture, yummy food, and just the right amount of kissing. i got to read an early copy, but you can pre*order it now and enjoy it when it releases may 31!

daughter of the moon goddess, by sue lynn tan: it's adult fantasy only because the characters are immortal (and not teenagers), but definitely for fans of ya or mythology or folklore and faerie tales! (also, just look at that gorgeous cover! who doesn't want that on their shelves?!)

^ reading next.

the belles, by dhonielle clayton: currently reading this one! it's caraval x district one with some dangerous, magical new orleans flair. the author keeps surprising me with what might really be going on!

full flight, by ashley schumacher: you know how obsessed i was with ashley's amelia unabridged last year. this is her latest ya contemporary and it releases at the end of this month! eep & huzzah!

i must betray you, by ruta sepetys: i don't read a lot of historical fiction, but this one has gotten some amazing reviews and the plot sounds relevant and intense and i couldn't resist it at the bookstore!

harry potter book one, designed by minalima: this edition is full of fold-out paper details and twirling elements and is just a magical paper craft piece of art. i'm in the middle of this one, and it feels like reading this book for the first time again.


you can shop my favorite books by genre all on my bookshop.org page and support independent bookstores across the country while you're at it. and of course tune in to my weekly reading book reviews for more recommendations and story feelings!

all that to say:  sending you story love and big teddy bear hugs this month!

there's even more news and (BIG) travel coming soon, so i appreciate you! i'm busy revising my middle grade novels, shipping your etsy orders, creating new art & stories for my patreons, and working on some freelance illustrationprojects, too. sure glad you're here.

with peace, love, and many colourful reads to you,
*hallie :)

hallie bertling