Hello 2020, you've been interesting so far.
My December was so packed with social engagements that by the time that December 31st came along, all I wanted to do was be a lump on the couch. 2019 was an extremely full year for me. Due to unexpected circumstances, I took on extra responsibilities at my day job and in my volunteer work, and frankly, it had all caught up with me by December. I thought a lot about writing this newsletter and then put it off because 2020 was supposed to be new and shiny and full of hope....
And then 2020 arrived with the news – so much news. News of Australia's fires and Instagram photos of my friends who live there wearing respirator masks. The US-Iran crisis. Brexit news. The shock of the Flight 752 crash, an event that happened across the world but directly impacted my workplace, who lost someone, and pretty much every Canadian from coast to coast. So many people that I know knew someone who was on the flight.
A few days ago, I double-checked the calendar. Yes, we are only two weeks into the year - how could so much have happened? And then on Wednesday, my typically balmy city had a freak snowstorm. I live in the part of Canada where it rarely snows and the entire city shut down in a way that I've never seen. The government told us to stay indoors and not leave unless it was absolutely necessary. The year of the metal rat had come in with a wallop.
I spent my home-bound day in the slowest way possible: I took stock of the fridge and baked an almond yogurt cake, I read a book, and then I learned about wombat burrows. I had the luxury of really not doing much but watching the snowfall, and it was exactly what I needed. Every one of us deserves to have a time out once in a while. Whether 2020 has started with firecrackers or grief, big goals or more couch days – I hope you remember to find the time that you need to recharge. I have a feeling that we're all going to need it.
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Need some levity? In case you missed it last month, watch this delightful video from Yarnbombing Frankfurt. My favourite new word is "Wollenkratzer"!
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Open calls for submission
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Calling all textile artists!
The Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn, NY seeks eight artists or designers, working within the field of textiles and fiber arts, looking to deepen their artistic practice and work in a communal environment to partake in its Artists In Residence program for the 2020 – 2021 cycle.
If you haven't been to Textile Arts, the space is beautiful, and by all accounts the residency has been life-changing for past recipients.
Apply by March 16, 2020.
Find out more »
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Uppercase Magazine!
I'm a huge fan of Uppercase Magazine, and all that publisher Janine Vangool publishes. From artist monographs to crafty encylopedias, her work continues to charm me.
She currently has a call out to artists to participate in several of her upcoming issues.
Find out more »
Do you have a call to share via my newsletter? Send it to info@leanneprain.com.
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2020 Challenge: Don't throw it away, sew on a button.
If you purchase new clothing from time to time, you probably have a stack of little cards or envelopes holding all the 'extra' buttons for your garments. Do you know how to stitch these buttons onto your clothes? Why not practice and try to fix a few next time you sit down with a cup of tea and a movie? Lisa Comfort's directions on how to sew on a button are a great place to start.
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Books That You Should Know About.
I'm really enjoying Lisa Congdon's latest book Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic.
This book is a great guidebook for those seeking ways to discover their own creative voice and style, and serves as a coach for those seeking to develop their own artistic practice.
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Late last year, I finished The Witches of New York by Ami McKay. It's a fun romp to the magic and mysticism of New York City in the 1880s. If you are looking to escape for a day or two, I'd highly recommend both this book and The Birth House, her novel on midwives in rural Nova Scotia.
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My 2020
 The ten year anniversary edition of Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti was released in North America in October 2019, and it should be hitting the shelves of the UK, Australia and New Zealand any day now!
If you picked up a copy, drop me a line and let me know what you think.
Yarn Bombing was recently excerpted in Garland Magazine (AU), which is a fascinating magazine focused on textile journeys throughout the world.
In the spirit of Susannah Conway, I have chosen a word for 2020: Practice. I intend to put it to good use as I tackle my next book project which is set to be published in Fall 2021. I'm not ready to talk about the project's concept yet or share a name, but I look forward to revealing it to you here first.
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Thanks for joining me for this second edition of the Creative Co-conspirator newsletter!
Unless 2020 gets the very best of me, I aim to send out a new edition every two weeks. If you enjoyed it, please forward it to a friend, and encourage them to subscribe!
Have feedback? Don't hesitate to reply and let me know what you think.
:: :: :: xx Leanne
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