This post was originally published on Substack. My monthly-ish newsletter is a way to mark time, remind myself of what I’ve accomplished, reflect on my creative practice, and update loved ones and students who aren’t on social media. You can read, like, and comment on the original post here. Please consider subscribing to show your support!
Well friends, after a bout of shingles in April–May, I had a couple weeks of respite until things went downhill again. My spouse and I took a trip to California for a family wedding the first week of June (my first time traveling since my POTS diagnosis) and it was a perfect storm of conditions that caused weeks of symptom flare-ups, chronic pain, and fatigue. I’m still learning how to advocate for my needs and ask for accommodations, but it feels especially demoralizing when family members don’t take it seriously or dismiss me for being difficult. (P.S. If you need a good introduction to disability, I recommend this book).
A week after returning home, our first-born kitty Dutch was hospitalized in the ICU for a couple days. We started treating him for bowel disease a few months ago and the medication he was on caused him to develop diabetes. He’ll need twice-daily insulin injections for the rest of his life. The past three weeks have been a blur of tears, sleepless nights, vet visits, and lots of trial and error: learning how to give injections, adding an anti-anxiety medication so Dutch won’t hide under the bed during insulin time, adjusting to meals every 12 hours instead of being able to graze all day, applying a wearable glucose monitor to figure out the correct insulin dose, subjecting Dutch to a cone so he wouldn’t tear off said monitor (it only lasted 5 days), dealing with pharmacies that made us want to tear out our hair, and submitting insurance claims (Lemonade is the absolute best). The best depiction of how we’re doing is this little frog sticker (though in truth we are all well past our limit).
June (and now also July) has been about learning and practicing: 1) how to actually rest and recover during periods of high stress, 2) how to tolerate uncertainty, and 3) how to support others while I am in the midst of a chronic illness crash. My spouse and I have been switching off being the strong, responsible, reassuring, and/or decisive one depending on the hour or day. We’ve been doing our best to savor little moments of joy whenever we can.
The realities of being a disabled artist have been front of mind lately: how do I move forward when creativity is key to my well-being, but I don’t have any energy left to create? This newsletter is a way of practicing gratitude and celebrating the little and small victories I’ve had in spite of everything.
makes
I took another class at Outlet where I learned how to create digital illustrations for risograph printing. I made a three-color print based on the rainbow quilt I was working on at the time (see below). “May you find a home within yourself” is my wish for all queer folks (especially trans, immigrants, and folks of color targeted by the Trump administration): even as we continue to resist intersecting systems of oppression and fight for a more equitable future, I hope that in the meantime we find a sanctuary within our authentic selves, our chosen families, and our communities. If this quote makes you feel fuzzy inside, you can purchase a print on my new online shop.
I finished three quilts: my submission for the annual Rainbow Quilt Show at Powell’s City of Books* (!!) in celebration of Pride Month; a wall hanging for the annual Pride Gallery Show at Radius Art Studios; and a quilt for my cat, Kalli. [* For readers unfamiliar with Portland, Powell’s is the world’s largest independent bookstore: it takes up an entire city block and houses one million books.]
My favorite local yarn shop Ritual Dyes commissioned a shop sample (the Merchant & Mills Honey Dress) to advertise their expanded stock of sewing goods. I don’t wear dresses, so I enjoyed the opportunity to sew a silhouette that I wouldn’t otherwise make. It inspired me to sew a satin Hallon Dress for the family wedding (photos to come).
I also sewed three cute bags: a Yarrow Wristlet, Mia Messenger Bag for my nature tours, and Mini Making Backpack.
classes
I taught a three-session bag lab in May where everyone chose a different Noodlehead bag pattern. My students ranged from a total beginner to one of the instructors at Modern Domestic who first taught me how to sew 💛 It was such a sweet group and everyone made adorable bags and accessories!
I also taught a few private lessons in May: former MD student Julie finished a gorgeous cherry red and rust Slabtown backpack, Geli learned to use a serger to make a crop tee for her 11th birthday, and Jen returned to sewing after years away to sew split-leg aprons for their ceramics classes at Art School PDX.
highlights
- Receiving my first orders from my new online store
- Wrapping up the spring field trip season at Bird Alliance of Oregon and finding my groove leading public tours at the Hoyt Arboretum
- Exploring oak woodlands and meadows with the Oregon Naturalist program
- Dilly-dallying with David by taking walks through the neighborhood and stopping to look at every. single. plant.
- Pizza, wine, and sewing projects at the Modern Domestic employee and instructor social
- Dinner and drinks with Instagram sewing friends who are now IRL sewing friends
- Cozy hangouts with dear friends: Facetime chats, a home-cooked meal, and a movie night (we watched The Mummy for the first time in decades)
- Driving a boat around Bass Lake trying to fling my niece and nephews off a tube
little pleasures
- Our vet awarded Dutchie a certificate of achievement for “being a perfect gentleman.”
- David and I visited the Oregon Zoo and got to see the sweet baby elephant Tula-Tu.
- The long-awaited return of the PBO (peanut butter Oreo) sundae at Cheese & Crack Snack Shop came and went during June. I got it twice; I would have eaten one every day if I could.
- We’ve had so many baby birds (lesser goldfinches, house finches, and a derpy crow) visit our feeders with their parents! It’s been noisy and messy and so precious. A crow also deposited a chicken bone in our bird bath the other day, which was a first—unsure if they were trying to soften it up to crack it open more easily or if it was a gift for us in exchange for peanuts 🤷🏻♀️
looking forward to
- The next Parallel Worlds Bookclub meeting is this Thursday at Alberta Park. We’ll be discussing Someone You Can Build A Nest In, which is one of my favorite reads so far this year.
- I’m taking a class at Franklin FOTO on my birthday to learn how to develop and scan color film! (This is exciting because most community darkrooms only support black and white film developing and printing)
- My 8-year-old kid sister is coming to visit in a couple weeks!!!! I’m brainstorming lots of activities for our week of arts, crafts, and nature exploration together 🤓 If you have any ideas for kid-friendly things to do in Portland, please send them my way!
upcoming events
shows
- My 2024 tatreez-inspired Seeds/Bizr quilt is on view in the Stitched Resistance and Unbound Voices quilt show at the Multnomah County Central Library through July 20.
- My cherish | liberate tatreez-inspired mini quilt will be in the annual Big Pride, Little Art show at Radius Art Studio. The opening reception will be on July 13 from 12:00–17:00 in concert with their Summer Market ☀️
nature tours at hoyt arboretum
- Free public tour of the conifer collection: July 20, August 24, September 21
- Free Trees for All public tour (accessible paved trail): August 3, September 7, October 5
classes
kid & teen sewing (8+ years)
- canvas & felt banner: July 17
- felt sheep: July 24 or August 7
- mini quilted tote: July 31
- needle book: August 14
keep in touch
Thanks very much for reading! If you’d like in-person support and instruction, please sign up for my classes at Modern Domestic or reach out to schedule a private lesson. If you have any questions, feedback, or corrections regarding this post, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
further reading
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