Well here we are...

Make Don't Break - Dec 31

Well, this is freaking exciting, isn’t it? There are over 3,300 of us getting ready to invest in some serious self-love as we commit to spending time every day this month MAKING.

I have seen y’all preparing unfinished projects, setting up supply tables to ensure you have access to whatever strikes your fancy, and I’ve seen folks gearing up for a month-long project. I love it all! You know why? Because there are NO RULES here.

This is whatever you want it to be – and maybe that changes 15,000 times over the month. Let it be!

Here’s what you can expect this month…

• Each morning I will send you an email. In it, I will introduce you to a new brilliant human, brag on them, and then let them take over and provide you with a prompt for inspiration and reflection.

• Every Monday, I will host an open Zoom (at different times to accommodate for time zones and my international friends). You can pop in and share, ask questions, process, meet new people, whatevs. It’s just an added layer of support and inspiration.

  Jan 4 – 12pm CT

  Jan 11 – 5pm CT

  Jan 18 – 1pm CT

  Jan 25 – 6pm CT

  Feb 1st – 6pm CT

• I will email out the Zoom login info the day before each event

Here’s what I expect this month…

• You, not stressing. You, having fun and making in any medium and any way you feel inspired to. You, sharing what you want to share and doing what you want to do.

• If you fall off or miss a day, you do like Taylor says and shake it off and pick it back up.

That’s it.

Developing a making practice should be joyful and exciting and that is the spirit I’m taking into 2021 and I invite you to join me in that! Yes, everything is terrible but maybe not EVERYTHING. ;)

Now, if you want to use some of your month learning or being in community, I have a few Zoom workshops this month. They are super fun and pay what you can.

Also, I host a weekly stitch-up. We meet every Sunday via Zoom and it is a social gathering of amazing artists and makers from around the world. We share what we are working on and get to know one another and it’s AWESOME (remind me to tell you about our holiday party sometime). You can register for any Sunday you like on my website. January is sold out but I just posted February’s events so it might offer a nice transition from #MakeDontBreak

Workshops, Events, and Stitch-Ups can be found here: https://www.badasscrossstitch.com/calendarofevents

Perhaps you want to channel your making into a project, but you just aren’t sure what that might be…allow me to suggest that you look into Badass Herstory. Perhaps you want to try your hand at some street art?! I mean is there anything more fun than some subversive feminist wheatpasting? I think not.

These are all just ideas and starting points. You do you.

And because I am full of surprises, I am giving you a bonus early prompt!

That’s right, your making can start right now!

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Today’s Inspiration:

I am deeply invested in setting intentions and understanding WHY I do things. The sooner I can articulate my “why” the clearer I am in my vision and the easier it is to plan my action items. Identifying my why provides a level of motivation that I simply can’t get anywhere else.

Identifying your why can happen in moments: WHY am I eating this ice cream at 2am?

Or it can be a little bigger: WHY do I exist? What is it that I am meant to bring to this world?

And everything in between: Why am I feeling ambivalent about doing this work?

Why might I join this Board? Why might I say yes to this? Why am I taking this class? Why am I in this relationship?

So, let’s identify WHY you are embarking on this exciting journey.

What is your #MakeDontBreak why?

OMG YOU ARE DOING THIS!!!!! I’m so proud of you!!!!

Resources:

If you want to do some light reading about the impact of making on one’s mental health here are two articles for you:

https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/stories/can-craft-help-solve-mental-health-crisis

https://www.cnn.com/2014/03/25/health/brain-crafting-benefits/index.html

Maybe you don’t know me yet and you are feeling some sort of way about some of the cursing I do? Unlikely, but maybe. Well Mona Eltahawy brilliantly articulates many of the reasons I find great value in a well-placed curse word. It’s a fun and important read because…fuck patriarchy.

Here we are. This is the last day of 2020. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and as you exhale say “fuuuuuucccckkkkk thisssss yearrrrr” and let it all go.

I love you. I am proud of you. Let’s MAKE 2021 less shitty.

In closing, wear a mask and stay home tonight.

Fondly,

Shannon