A Little Warmth For Your Creative and Vivacious SPARK!
Julie here. Hello from my home to yours, where someone is VERY comfortable:
I hope you’re also getting to snuggle up with your special someones. These days, we all need a little extra soul-warmth.
In that spirit, I’ve rounded up some resources that are giving me that little extra something - sparks of creativity and affirmations of resiliency - to keep me going with a smile. I hope they bring the same to you!
Spark-Giving
Christine Haynes Lottie Pattern
Christine Haynes is hosting an extensive sewalong of their gorgeous Lottie pattern, including helpful tips for sizing, fabric choices, and construction. Check it out here!
Seamwork Bo Pattern - great for beginners!
Seamwork created their own Slack channel where sewists from all over can come together online - no subscription required! They’re also hosting regular virtual sewing parties that are SO much fun. Find out more here!
Unsourced image courtesy of Medium
Ever wanted to expand your crafting to include yarn and that sweet clicking of needles? Portland-local yarn shop Ritual Dyes is offering free knitting instruction on their Instagram (@ritualdyes) today and tomorrow (Friday). They also have lovely beginning knitting kits in their e-shop.
Tackling a garment beyond your comfort level? Closet Case Patterns has sewalongs for most of their patterns, and they just put up a craftalong for the kiddos in your life with too many pipe cleaners.
Calling all quilters and quilters-to-be! The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts is taking block submissions from ANYWHERE for a Quarantine Quilt to be displayed in the museum!
Life-Giving
Have you ever listened to or read OnBeing? Now would be an excellent time to start. I’ve been a longtime fan of OnBeing blog contributer Courtney Martin’s newsletters, and her most recent offering is for all the caretakers of little ones right now.
A shot from Megan Nielsen’s community shoot.
We love Megan Nielsen’s patterns, and it’s such a treat to see them on display in a celebration of community in their gorgeous photo shoot.
Image courtesy of Seattle’s Child.
Personally? I’m making a lot of improvised music with my partner these days, including interpretive dance, of course. You don’t have to think highly of your musical or movement talents to play! I call for a family (or solo!) instrument karaoke to Sister Nancy - grab whatever instruments you have (pots and pans included!) and jam to your heart(s)’ content.
Dancing/crafting/snuggling with you in spirit,
Julie