Happy St. Patrick’s Day Everyone!
This morning while I was walking Maggie around the RV park an oder man came up to me and offered me an Irish greeting and gave me a strand of shamrock beads to wear. It was darling. I love surprise moments with people. I will now make it a point to offer a stranger a little surprise moment today to brighten their day.
I hope the surprises and offerings in this email brighten your day a little! I know we could all use a little (or a shit ton) more of that in our lives.
I’ve got stuff to tell you! Here’s the rundown:
Free Pattern
Fundraising Update for Community Projects
Exciting Upcoming Events
A Dope Craftivism Project
#YearOfStitch Update
Travel + Personal Updates (and when we can hang out next)
Free Pattern
FREE PATTERN
It is Women’s History Month. What is the fastest way to make history? Together.
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING THANKS + ASK
THANK YOU -
In January, I asked if folks would support a community initiative in Houston. A non-profit that needed eight sewing machines to run sober stitching events for their community. In 22 hours, we had raised the $800 and were done. The group bought the sewing machines and will be launching their program this spring! You did that! Thank you. I’ll send pics and info once it’s up and running.
The Houston chapter of The Phoenix is leading it. You can learn more about them here.
AN ASK -
I am working with a public school in Chicago on an event that is part of an exciting curriculum that two of their teachers have developed. This 12-week program centers design as a mechanism for social and environment change. How dope is this?! They bring in leaders and experts to teach students about design thinking and social and environmental justice and students develop and pitch their ideas. There’s a giant party for community, legislators, and youth to come together and discuss their ideas. It’s pretty freaking amazing and honestly, these teachers are going above and beyond.
Can you pitch in a few dollars for the supplies for these students? I expect $150 will cover the costs for them. Not much money for a huge impact on future craftivists!
You can Venmo me and I will send the school all of it so they can go shopping.
(here’s a pic of the last time I got to hang out in a public school in Chicago…the before times)
UPCOMING EVENTS
This Saturday - INTRO TO EMBROIDERY (Zoom)
I’ve got a few spots left for this Saturday. I’m likely taking April off from the digital workshops because I’ll be filled up with IRL workshops. This is your chance to learn to embroider before it’s officially spring and you want to be outside flexing your new stitching skills.
BYSTANDER INTERVENTION TRAINING
March 29
I am SO excited to be able to bring back the Bystander Intervention Training that we offered last year as part of the How To Be A Good Human skill share project. It had such a huge impact on everyone who attended. If you have ever wondered what you would or could do if you witnessed violence or harassment in a public setting - YOU NEED TO BE AT THIS TRAINING. It will teach a myriad of different ways to intervene and take action while protecting yourself - so many tools for so many different situations and comfort zones.
With the still increasing rise of anti-Asian and xenophobic violence taking place, this workshop has never been more important.
This training is presented by Asian Americas Advancing Justice | Chicago just for us. The training is pay-what-you-can with 100% of the money going directly to Advancing Justice and their valuable work.
I really hope to see you there!!!
ACTIVISM 101 FOR INTROVERTS AND HIGHLY SENSITIVE PEOPLE
May 7
Every time we offer this workshop it hits capacity. We are giving you another chance to get in on this. This workshop is presented by the brilliant Omkari Williams.
If you identify as an introvert who wants to make a difference without burning out this workshop is definitely for you. If you identify as someone who wants to make activism a bigger part of your life, whether you’re an introvert or not, this workshop will guide you to a path of doing activism your way that is sustainable and satisfying.
Discover your activist archetype, find out what kinds of actions are in your natural wheelhouse, create a structure that will help you stay in action, and so much more. This 2.5 hour workshop includes breakout sessions, journaling prompts to help guide you along your path, a workbook, and more.
This training is pay-what-you-can with 100% of the money going directly to expert facilitator, Omkari.
As always, anyone in my Patreon community is invited to two stitch-ups a month via Zoom. A digital community gathering to meet and make with artists from around the world.
There is a first of it’s kind conference coming to Chicago this July. A three-day convening of talks, activities, and workshops focused on the intersections of quilting, "healing" and abolition. It is led by some of my favorite people so I can say with confidence it’s going to be outstanding and truly valuable.
MORE
I am currently finalizing plans for two new How To Be A Good Human skill share trainings for this summer.
Emergency Preparedness Training
Appreciation not Appropriation in our Making Practices
More on those in the coming months!
DOPE CRAFTIVISM
I am a big fan of organizations and movements partnering with artists to bring visual life to their work. Artist Rachel Wallis served as the first Artist-In-Residence for Project NIA this past year and the journey was amazing to watch. An outcome is this breathtaking quilt. To learn about the process, the story, and the history of the Anguilla Massacre in which a group of prison laborers were killed by their captors in Georgia in the 1940s visit Rachel’s site here.
Anguilla Quilt 2021
Rachel Wallis in collaboration with Mariame Kaba
#YEAROFSTITCH UPDATES
We are 11 stitches and 2 samplers into the #YearOfStitch and there are over 850 people absolutely killing it!!!!!
The next sampler and next 6 stitches will start on the 26th. If are interested in joining the adventure to learn one new embroidery stitch each week this year, now is the moment to jump in!
All patreon levels get access to everything. You can work at your own pace and you will have access to all of the video tutorials. Use the patterns or do what you like. No rules, just tools.
Here’s a sneak peek at the next sampler and upcoming stitches:
TRAVEL + LIFE UPDATES
When last we spoke, I was in San Antonio, Texas. Would you believe that when I left San Antonio I actually went back to Austin? I did! I felt like I needed to go back and see if I could find some healing after last year’s near death storm experience. This time I only stayed for a few days. I went back to the same campground and reconnected with the lovely folks at Pecan Grove. I saw friends. I got a haircut from my favorite Chicago stylists turned Austin stylist. I had a beautiful few days and felt a lot better.
I then headed west as fast as I could because…wait for it…another ice storm was about to hit Texas. Are you fucking kidding me? While racing west, I stayed at what can only be described as murder central…
I made it all the way to Fort Stockton, Texas but could not outrun the storm. I did, however, learn the lesson of last year and I got a hotel room. It’s my first hotel room since I hit the road. Maggie and I were warm and safe.
The rig did experience some damage from the storm (mostly plumbing related) but I was able to make all of the fixes myself. Boom.
We passed through New Mexico and spent a month is Arizona. I used nearly that entire month to make a ton of progress on my book. Did I tell you I’ve been writing a book on Craft and Activism? I have! I am SO EXCITED about it. I think it’s going to offer up a lot of new ideas and a ton of tools to support folks in their journey as activists. I have never worked so hard on something in all my life.
Due to the cost of gas, I had to make some decisions. Ultimately, I had to cut California out of this round of travel. It was just totally outside of the budget with gas in the west at $6-7 / gallon. It hurt my soul to do it but we do what needs to be done at a time like this.
I chose, instead, to drive to Las Vegas and spend March finishing the first draft of my book and continuing my online workshops and events. I have dear friends here so it’s been nothing short of magical to have people I love in proximity. The other day was the first day that I went to a restaurant since March 2020. While we were out antique shopping, we stopped in a casino to use the bathroom. I couldn’t miss the chance to spin a slot. I mean…it’s Vegas. I took one spin and then I left. $85 dollars richer!!!
From here, I will travel up to Salt Lake City and continue my plans as scheduled. Tons of events are being planned with different colleges, museums, community spaces, fiber stores, etc. I’ll be sending out those details shortly.
Here’s the travel schedule in the meantime:
April - Salt Lake City
May - Boulder and Denver, Kansas City, St Louis
June - Louisville, Columbus (OH), Pittsburg, Buffalo
July/August - Toronto, Montreal, Somewhere in Vermont, Portland/Biddeford, ME
August - Boston
That’s as far as I’ve gotten - which feels like enough for now. If you are in any of these spots and want to plan something with me (or let me park in your driveway) then hit me up.
Lastly, my best friend turned 17 this month! (She still refuses to help with the driving despite being old enough for a license). She’s a little sick with something right now and we spent yesterday at the doggy hospital. Still trying to figure it out so send her good thoughts ok? Thank you.
Did I bake a delicious cake IN MY INSTANTPOT?! Yes I did!!! I felt very fancy. Don’t worry, Maggie didn’t have any but she did get like a pound of chicken.
I hope to stitch with some of you soon as I pass through your town!
FREE PATTERN (and some thoughts)
In Florida, there is a new bit of legislation making its way to Gov DeSantis. The bill, known by those against it, as the Don’t Say Gay Bill, has already passed the Florida Senate and limits what classrooms can teach about sexual orientation and gender identity. It also allows parents to sue teachers and schools who violate this through education.
Of course, the language is vague and will be used to erase, terrorize, and manipulate.
I used to be a public school teacher in Florida. I would DEFINITELY have been sued. Also, I know I saved lives by being an out and present teacher for my students.
This bill will only succeed in harming children. But that’s the point. The point is the trauma. The point is to repress and oppress.
Additionally, and I have been banging this drum forever - being queer is not about sex. It is an identity. It is who I am. Who we are. It’s about love and spirit. Homophobes have always dominated with this sex-centric messaging. It’s easy to terrify most adults with sex. Religion has ruined sex and sex positivity for so many people. So if you make our existence about who we have sex with - you can make us dangerous and perverts.
This bill will kill children. Children who KNOW who they are.
Say something. Do something. Force these conversations in your circles.
They are coming for your babies in the place where they should be safe. Where they should be EDUCATED. It won’t stop with Critical Race Theory. It won’t stop with this bill. Who is next?
xo
Shannon