Happy 2023 Friends!
My fingers are crossed for us this year. ; )
I’ve got lots of exciting things to share with you today including: The Craftivism Grant Winner(s), The Year Of Stitch, Workshops, Abortion Access Craftivism Fundraiser, Two Big Personal Announcements, and A Free Pattern for you!
It’s a whole vibe so let’s just dive right in.
CRAFTIVISM GRANT WINNER(S)
The 2023 Craftivism Grant Winner receives $1000 in seed funding, 20 hours of my time as an advisor, and one-hour session with Activism Coach Omkari Williams.
This year there were 23 applicants and it was a tough tough decision. The winner I selected is a crew of badass librarians from the Des Plaines Public Library in Illinois. They are planning a year-long craftivism event series which will support the entire community in developing acts of creative resistance. They offered up a ton of engaging and fun ideas and I am excited to work with them.
That said, there was another application that spoke to my soul. A non-binary 6th grade student from Alaska who wants to design and produce LGBTQ+ centered stickers and then sell them to fundraise for the queer community in Alaska. I know, right?! I will be working with them to develop a plan and then I’m hoping when the time comes you all might help us fundraise to fund the cost of producing the stickers. I’m hoping I can also sell them on my website with 100% of the funds going back to the organization they choose. I’ll keep you posted.
Thank you to everyone who applied.
#YearOfStitch
Throughout 2022 in my Patreon community, I taught over 900 people 53 new embroidery stitches! It was momentous. Additionally, every 6 weeks I released a new sampler so that folks could practices their stitches on a completed design.
We had so much fun, we are going to keep the party going through 2023! We will revisit stitches, learn new stitches and techniques, and rock out new samplers.
Plus, to keep things interesting, I am inviting in a brilliant artist each quarter to teach us all new mediums. February will feature Mindy Tsonas Choi. She will teach us all about Zine Making. These workshops will be available live on Zoom and they will also be recorded and available in the Patreon for everyone who can’t make it to the live taping.
If you want to sample what it’s like you can download the first sampler and first week tutorial here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/2023-sampler-1-1-76686163
And because I never want money to be a barrier (but I still have to pay my bills because…capitalism) my patreon is pay-what-you-can. Every level gets access to all of the digital content for as long as you are a member. There is a $1/month level. And if you pay for a year in advance you save 5%.
New Year New Hobby!
Want to learn how to embroider? Interested in the #YearOfStitch but you have never stitched before? Want to stab shit until you feel better? I GOT YOU!
I’m offering three Intro to Embroidery workshop on Zoom this month. Plus I have some upcoming in-person workshops in Massachusetts if you are around the area.
Intro to Embroidery - Zoom
*all Zoom workshops are pay-what-you-can
In-Person Workshops
I never have more fun than when I’m teaching these workshops. I would love to share that joy with you!
Abortion Access Front Craftivism Fundraiser
We are three months into our year-long fundraiser to support Abortion Access Front.
Each month a new artist is rewarding donors of $10+ with a fiber art pattern. January features the world’s coolest fanny pack sewing pattern created just for this by artist and friend Rachel Wallis.
You can donate and receive your fancy-ass pattern here: https://aafront.salsalabs.org/craftivism
While your are at it, make me one!! LOL.
Some Personal Updates For Ya
Yay Update:
I am very excited to tell you that I will be a Teaching Artist at the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston from January - May. I will be leading a weekly arts program for middle school students and I could not be more delighted. I will absolutely be sharing the rad things we are going to create so stay tuned!
Also, if you are around Boston, I will be leading drop-in art making in the exhibits all day on May 27th. I would LOVE TO SEE YOU. Plus you aren’t going to want to miss the exhibit because it features the work of SIMONE LEIGH!!! I’m absolutely giddy for the opportunity to make with community surrounded by her incredible work.
Yay Update:
I have decided it is time to move back to Chicago. I’ll be returning in August and I cannot wait to get back to my community.
Boo Update:
I was targeted by a white nationalist group and they hijacked my twitter account. I have not had control over it since December 10th. I’ve been using twitter as a valuable tool since 2009. I had two-factor authentification enabled - which should tell you something about twitter’s current security. Anyway, despite my best efforts to regain control, twitter suspended the account and told me they cannot confirm it was ever my account and they deleted it. I have rage.
I miss twitter but I don’t feel safe there anymore. I’ve set up an account on Mastodon. If you are there, I am here: @BadassCrossStitch@mastadon.online . Of course, I am still on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok (I’ll be doing some new things with TikTok this year) and Facebook
That about covers it for now. Love you all.
Shannon