Intro to Craftivism + Embroidery with Badass Cross Stitch

130 Western Avenue,Lowell MA 01851

07 August, 2022

Description

Craft-based activism has been used as a tool of resistance, coalition building, and even espionage! Learn from Shannon Downey aka Badass Cross Stitch —a leader in the modern craftivism movement. Shannon will provide an introduction to the history of craftivism and ways you can get involved in the modern movement. She will then teach you how to embroider in a zero stress environment, walking you through the materials, getting set up, designing your piece, and stitching. She promises you will walk out feeling better than you walked in! Please bring the following: an embroidery hoop (any size)a piece of light colored cotton fabric (enough to fit in your hoop)a tapestry or embroidery needlea few skeins of embroidery flossa water soluble marker/marking penscissorsIf you bought an embroidery (not cross stitch) kit during the pandemic with grand aspirations and then never got around to it - you can bring that! (happened to the best of us) If you have trouble finding anything, don't sweat it. Shannon will have extras of stuff. This workshop is pay-what-you-can.About Lowell Makes: Lowell Makes is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, shared community workshop and laboratory. They are an organized group of local artists, engineers, makers, and thinkers who work together to provide tools and learning resources to the public. They use these resources to collaborate on individual and community projects in order to promote science, technology and art; while working and experimenting on innovative ideas to encourage learning within their community. About Shannon Downey: Shannon Downey better known as Badass Cross Stitch, is a community organizer disguised as a fiber artist and craftivist. She blends her politics, activism, and art into projects that are designed to inspire others to take action, think, discuss, engage with democracy and their community, and find some digital/analog balance. She is the instigator behind #RitasQuilt #MakeDontBreak and @BadassHerstory She is on a quest to teach 1 million people to embroider and invite society to rethink how we categorize, and value craft and art. Shannon sold everything she owned and moved into an RV two years ago to bring art, activism, and community to the country that she still believes in. Learn more: www.BadassCrossStitch.com