Week Eight/Month Two: Go F**ck Yourself

Earlier this month, I attended a webinar hosted by the National Liberty Museum featuring Shannon Downey, the person behind the exhibit I was part of last year. She was asked about the definition of craftivist, and it was an interesting conversation because there isn't really a single definition, but everyone seems to "know" what it means or has their own definition. I've never really thought of myself as a craftivist or an activist artist. Most of my work doesn't come from a place of political protest or activism; it's not my main intention when I create. The Screams and my original mosaic piece last year might be the exceptions if we look at the last year and a half of my work. 

However, I'm influenced by politics and social justice and what's going on in the world, so occasionally my work may go in that direction. This week was definitely one of those weeks. If anyone thought 2022 was going to be some sort of return to "normal," well, you're wrong and possibly delusional. Or maybe super optimistic, but not particularly realistic. I've felt a little all over the place this week and my stitch journal entries are definitely reflective of this feeling.

February 20 - feather stitch

February 21 - back stitch, French knots

February 22 - it was a gray day, so a block of back stitches felt right.

February 23 - added colonial and French knots to the feather stitch.

February 24 - added yellow French knots and satin stitch flowers.

February 25 - Inspired by the Ukrainian border guards who told a Russian warship to go fuck itself. Heroes. Apparently, they weren't killed, but captured so there may be hope that these soldiers are still alive.

February 26 - Sunflower - the national flower of Ukraine. A woman confronted a Russian solider and kept giving him sunflower seeds. She told him, "Put these sunflowers seeds in your pocket so that something beautiful will grow when your corpse is laying in our field." 

February 27 - whipped back stitch. Not my neatest work, but I wanted to do something in the colors of the trans flag this week too. Greg Abbot can go fuck himself. 

February 28 - chain stitch. I listen to Fleetwood Mac's Rumors  (the entire album except "Don't Stop" - I hate that song) at least once a week. I was listening to it earlier today and made some chain stitches in its honor.

If you're trying to figure out what you can do other than doomscroll, I don't know that I'm going to be that much of a help, but I'll try my best. I donated to the UN Refugee Agency and Equality Texas over the weekend, so that's an option. If your Senator or Congressperson is actively supporting Russia or are against supporting the LGBTQ+ community, I would strongly suggest you get yourself to the polls in the next election and elect someone who actually cares about people and democracy and equality. You should also get in touch with them and tell how much they suck. Feel free to be more eloquent than me if you'd like. 

January and February 2022

Out of the hoop - yes, this is way too much fabric. Probably. Maybe. Probably. I'll think about trimming the fabric in April. Four months will be more reflective of the true size of this piece. Probably. Maybe. Probably. 

This is a 14 inch hoop (I think) - trying to decide if I want to expand the stitching surface in a smaller increment.

Or a larger increment (I think this is a 24 inch hoop).