Yesterday was a hard day. Nothing this administration is doing is a surprise. They gave us their playbook. They are delivering. That said, going after the Department of Education hit me hard. Per usual, the most vulnerable among us will be harmed. Then I had to head to my intergenerational embroidery program and teach some amazing young people. All I could think about was how we are failing them. We are failing our youth.
I’m grateful for all of the legal teams suing the administration left and right to protect us. I am terrified for when the administration just starts ignoring the legal system altogether.
I then spent most of my therapy session talking about how challenging it is to be a community builder and keeper. We are so conditioned to live and work as individuals and compete with everyone for everything. It feels like most people realize that without community we will not survive this regime. Yet, being in community…real community…is foreign and challenging. I worry that most folks are not going to be willing to put in the intense investment required to work in collaboration with strangers – particularly strangers they may not like.
I think that should be the focus of everyone who is feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. Let’s all ask ourselves some questions:
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What does community look/feel like to us?
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How do we show up in new spaces? Are we curious about others? Are we showing up with intentionality? What are we going to contribute to the space? Are we willing to be vulnerable? Are we willing to share even though it can be scary?
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How much are we willing to commit to growing our community for the long term?
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What do we expect of our communities?
We truly need to shift from ‘I’ to “We” thinking. It isn’t easy. It is required. I talk a lot about how to do this in my book. Just sayin’.
So that was my hard day. I was sad and depleted, and strangers were rude to me. I did my best to show up for the things I had to show up for and be present and kind. I took one of my students advice and screamed into a pillow and cried when I got home. She is wise beyond her years.
This morning, I walked to the gym, threw around heavy things, walked home, and spent a half hour finding all of the examples I could of folks fighting back. Between the Tesla protests and vandalism, the Vermonters who shut down Vances ski vacation, the town halls where residents are going hard at their elected officials, the economic boycotts, BostonTok, and on and on, I was reminded just how many of us there are and how much resistance is happening across this country. Today I feel better. I feel capable of showing up.
I’m here to remind you that bad days will happen. It’s ok to have a bad day…many bad days even. This *gestures broadly is bad. It makes sense. It’s equally as important to remember what helps you feel powerful, and prioritize those things. Channel the sad into rage and the rage into action.
I believe in us.
ACTION
As you know, this years craftivism grant recipient is the Lambda Archives of San Diego. They are doing incredible work on the tiniest of budgets to ensure that queer history is not erased! They are a small team doing herculean tasks and they are already feeling the loss of funding due to the administration and the organizations mission.
Can you offer them some support? You can donate here: https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjI4NDcz
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 16th // The Joyful Menace Society Book Club Discussion – We Do This ‘Til We Free Us (Zoom) // 2-3:30pm CT // Join Here.
March 16th // The Wild Night Storytelling Chicago – I’m taking the stage // 6:30pm CT // Info Here.
March 22nd // Intro to Embroidery (Zoom) // 1-2:30pm CT // Register Here.
March 23rd // Joyful Menace Society Crafternoon (Zoom) // 2-4pm CT // Join Here.
March 31st // Teach-In Salt Lake City, Utah // I will be leading a teach-in on the history of queer craftivism and resistance. There will be a book signing after the keynote.
April 6th // Chicago Crafternoon // Meetinghouse Tavern in Andersonville // 2-4pm // Register Here.
April 12th // Intro to Embroidery (Zoom) // 1-2:30pm CT // Register Here
April 15th // The Joyful Menace Society Book Club Discussion – The Autobiography of Mother Jones (Zoom) // 6-7:30pm CT // Join Here.
April 26th // Book Talk and Workshop // 21C Hotel Chicago // 2-4pm CT // Register Here.
April 27th // Joyful Menace Society Crafternoon (Zoom) // 2-4pm CT // Join Here.
GIFTS FOR YOU
PLAYLIST
My love language and a tool I use to nourish my relationships used to be mix tapes, then it was mix CDS, then mix flash drives full of MP3s, and now it’s playlists. Oh technology.
I made you a playlist because I love, value, and appreciate you. I made it on Spotify even thought I hate Spotify because it seems to be the most accessible platform in a situation like this.
It’s called Fuck You Make Me and it is 9 hours of my favorite resistance songs. It starts out slow and lovely, ramps up with some beats, and wraps up with the real ragers. I end it with my favorite song. Unsurprisingly, some of these songs aren’t safe for most workplaces or if you have kiddos in the car. Just warning you.
I present, Fuck You Make Me…
PATTERNS
I’ve also been on a bit of a pattern making bender. I’ve got several new free patterns on my website for you.
In our book discussion of On Tyranny, we talked at length about not obeying in advance. It was brought up that Fuck You Make Me (the kids are all saying it 😉 should be our tagline. Could not agree more!
I made two patterns. The first is real obvious. I worked it in a 7-inch hoop using 3 strands to satin stitch and 2 strands to outline. The second pattern is the same message but in morse code for those who need to be a bit more subtle. I worked that in a 7-inch hoop using 6 strands for the french knots and 6 for the straight stitches.
Next up is the Medusa piece I made awhile ago but have just gotten around to drawing the pattern.
Lastly, I made a whole new series for the cutest art show I’ve ever had. There is a tiny free art gallery in my neighborhood and it is a joyful interruption for everyone who passes by. I have a new exhibit on display. It’s at 1619 W Summerdale Ave in Chicago for those who are near and want to swing by.
The collection is called “Surviving” and I used my vintage color books from the 40’s and 50’s and modernized them.
I hosted a tiny art opening with a few friends. We drank tiny glasses of wine. It lasted 15 minutes. Then we all went to my house for soup. I am on an endless quest to ensure that I am finding joy every single day. This was peak enjoyment and it cost nothing.
The first piece I made for this collection is available as a free pattern.
The entire collection of 9 patterns is available to purchase for $ 10. BUY HERE
THE JOYFUL MENACE SOCIETY
My patreon is home to the Joyful Menace Society. We have a book club focused on activism. We gather together on Zoom once a month to craft and connect. I send out some musings with loads of resources every Monday. We have workshops and trainings. I interview experts and share those interviews with the society. And that’s just some of what happens in this community. You should hear about the things that society members are doing! It’s impressive.
You can join at any level and get access to everything.
This month I’ll be interviewing Christian Picciolini. Christian is an award-winning television producer, a public speaker, author, antiracism advocate, and a former extremist. Christian chronicles his involvement in and exit from the early American white-supremacist skinhead movement in his memoir, WHITE AMERICAN YOUTH.
RESOURCES
Read
Everyday actions you can take to keep the world kind, just, and joyful amidst the rise in hate and bigotry. – You should AT LEAST be doing #39
They are the Minority – I found this reassuring
The “3.5% rule” – How a small minority can change the world. – THIS.
Attend
Lisa Woolfork will be giving a talk on Black Women Stitch Liberation on March 24th. This talk explores how Black women use sewing as a means of liberation, self-determination, and creative expression.
You can attend in person if you are in the Boston area or via Zoom.
Watch
How to Start a Movement – My favorite TED talk. It’s under 3 minutes.
Thank you for reading my friends. I’m off to plant some vegetable seeds!
Hugs,
Shannon
