2022: consider everything an experiment
musings on the past 365 days
Yuletide greetings from the land of holiday ambiguity where I definitely need to go for a walk and take a shower and get dressed…
I read some Hallmarky thing about Advent being a time of peace and reflection or something so serene.
Instead, the holidays December feels like a time we set aside to excitedly over-indulge in all the too-muchness and pressure to make some kind of magic and then we overdo it! And then there’s a few more days of break to wallow in the disregulation and the burnout and the kids are sooooo whiney and cranky and loud why cant they just go play with all the awesome toys they just got and do you know how much labor went into producing the past few weeks?
Ultimately, I think we decide that our regular life is pretty ok and I am real excited to return to regular boring life in January.
Meanwhile, I do think a new calendar year is a clean, fresh start to finally feel like you have a grip on reality.
I tend to be a person so focused on the next thing or so overwhelmed by the current moment that I forget to go back and appreciate all that I have done or accomplished or even simply survived.
So in the spirit of the season, I’ve been challenging my self to reflect on all that I have done in 2022.
After 2 long pandemic years with really little kids, 2022 was a year to put myself out there! I am so grateful for all of the opportunities and collaborations that came my way this year. I said yes! to many things. I showed my work. I taught MY OWN classes! I made way too much inventory to sell at markets. Was it perfect? Absolutely not, but I have a lot of momentum to launch me into the new year and that is really exciting.
One of my favorite artists to teach is Sister Corita Kent and her famous “rules” - particularly Rule 4: Consider Everything An Experiment. This past year, I have decided to do exactly that, and it has been so freeing. It has released me (in theory) from the binary of failure and success and instead I am just collecting data to analyze and create changes as necessary.
2022 art highlights
1 solo show at Northwest Nazarene University and trip to Nampa, Idaho
2 Mending Lab classes
3 sections of drawing taught at Anoka Ramsey Community College
4 weeks of Drawtoberfest drawing class at Sisyphus Brewing
6 quilts finished
7 art markets and holiday sales (woof)
9 boxes of inherited textiles from grandmas!
2023 classes:
class: DRINKS + DRAWING at Sisyphus Brewing
Jess Kiel-Wornson and I are teaching another round of drawing classes at Sisyphus Brewing in Minneapolis starting January 10. Sign up here!
class: Sustainable Sewing at Textile Center
Wednesday, January 11, 6 – 9 pm
Are you looking to reduce waste in your everyday life? Sustainable Sewing is for you! Learn to make and sew fabric replacements for everyday paper products including towels, napkins, and cosmetic rounds. Learn the basic techniques to create your own zero-waste re-useable swaps and be inspired for ways you can shrink your carbon footprint, while using up fabric that is already in your stash! Beginners are welcome! Register here!
class: Upcycled T-Shirts at Textile Center
Saturday, February 11, 10 am – 1 pm
Are you looking for ways to make your wardrobe more environmentally sustainable? Learn techniques to revamp your old, ill-fitting, or stained t-shirts using color-blocking and appliqué techniques. Discuss environmental impacts of fast fashion, and explore strategies for upcycling clothing to help create a more sustainable future. Basic sewing experience encouraged. Beginners are welcome! Register here!
I recommend:
Usually this is the part where I tell you about books. This is a ploy to make myself appear like an intellectual. I’m here to admit that after a series of lame novels I’ve been just binging romance novels that are too embarrassing to tell you about, but I do recommend them for their escapist allure.
I can’t shut up about my neighborhood Buy Nothing Group
Thrifting at the Goodwill bins.
Ruby’s Pantry is our monthly “food adventure” ritual
loop earplugs for parenting
Raising Monarch butterflies with your kids
This extremely boring, very large, but functional calendar
This very beautiful calendar by Laura Brown
Clotheshorse Podcast
This holiday season I am forever thankful for all of you and your support. Whether it is reading these newsletters, buying art, sharing art, appreciating what I do, it’s way more fun to do it together.
I love to hear from folks, so hit the reply and tell me what you’ve been up to!
