In case you forgot that you creativity can empower you

In case you’d like to listen to me and Gary Red Oak O’Neil, a Wangunk elder, potter and educator talk about the power of craft, we were both guests on the show Disrupted: www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupt...

What is bringing in softness in your life right now amidst all the everything?

In case you don’t know, knitting (and craft in general) has a long history. Find out more (and hear from me and others!) here: www.teenvogue.com/story/how-kn...

Harriet Tubman #quilt by my Mom, Vera P. Hall, who makes quilts celebrating Black people who fought for their own freedom. This seems to be the crowd favorite of the “We Didn’t Wait for Freedom” series. Happy #Juneteenth #quilting

A reminder that craft has been used for centuries to tell stories, share big feelings, highlight injustice and more. In the making, we can show ourselves and others we’re not alone in our anger, our grief, our overwhelm. ❤️

In case you’re navigating tariffs as a small biz, know that you’re not alone!

Agreed, and the more we amplify what Booker is doing, the more we make it matter, in public perception and as an example to other elected officials. On the other hand, the more we disparage and tear it down, the more we make it not matter. It's not all up to him.

Today in mini mantras with a special bonus friend

Sharing in case you too would like to chuck 8,000 squishy bricks at sturdy walls right now. (Or maybe hug them real hard instead?)

Thinking about keeping track of all the people I see shouting that they have the one perfect thing to sell me that’s better than all the others. Because in my own business I don’t have the one perfect thing to sell you. I do have ideas on how you can streamline and make your marketing easier.

Today in playing with letters

I’ve been thinking a lot about kindness and anger lately. How you can be kind and angry. Angry and kind. How anger is a fulcrum. And how important kindness (to community, to loved ones) is to holding on to your sense of self* too. How it keeps us going, caring and whole. * And self worth

On #internationalwomen’sday it’s clear our rights are in jeopardy. Highly recommend Shannon’s book as a framework for action. Holding on to the needles will get me through in tandem with resistance, always. Yarn by @woolensandnosh.bsky.social 🧶 #knitsky #craftivism @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social

Trying to balance being informed and being creative and doing work and being present with loved ones and looking forward and downtime and not just screaming into the void? It’s usually a lot. Recently, it’s a lot a lot. I have no tips or course to sell you. But I can tell you you’re not alone.

When it comes to creativity, I’m hearing a lot of “if not now, when?” lately. Due to age, due to frustration, due to doomscrolling, etc., etc. So in case you need someone to say “start now,” You can start now.

Crafty brick-and-mortar shop owners looking to welcome in Joann customers and Joann customers wondering about local options, I gathered some advice for you here: craftindustryalliance.org/as-joann-shu...

How long have you been on here? (A gentle reminder to go create vs. just consume.)

I’m thinking of creating posts with information and takeaways and around craftivist, artivist, protest and creative resistance projects. Is there anything else you’d want to learn from such posts?

Today in signs I think we’ll be seeing a lot more of. See also: If you’re a small biz and your prices are going up due to political (or other) events, sharing those increases can help customers know what you’re going through (and support you).

My feed is full of very important news updates, which I appreciate. I’d also appreciate it being full of other important news too, regarding the projects and seeds people are planting to build a more thoughtful, diverse + creative future. Who’s up to interesting projects right now?

Yep, trying out Flashes too. I do love IG, but not its overlord (sigh). bsky.app/profile/bets...

This protest is a great reminder that AI content is someone’s content. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Dreaming of a feed full of small acts (of resistance, of hope, of love) people took toward making the world better. And what the world might be like if that spurred on the algorithm vs. hate.

One thing I’ve learned while studying acts of creative resistance is that there are many ways to speak out nonviolently and with the skills you have. This? It’s one of them. gripped.com/news/huge-u-...

Just a note that if you’re a freelancer and finding it super weird to talk about your work and find new clients right now, it’s not just you. (Unless I guess it really is just me? 🤔) (1/3)

A note for creatives out there, when you share your work it can be a lighthouse for others. It can provide a moment (or a map) of safety and light the way.

Flowers are blooming here (thanks global warming). In my grief and sadness, I keep staring at the buds starting to burst. And thinking about the wisdom of planting seeds, of digging in the dirt, of hope. May we plant seeds so that the flowers bloom and we remember how much there is to fight for.

A note for anyone making a craftivist project right now, adding a call to action can help it go further. Add a link to a verified resource where people can get involved, take action or learn more. Share your feelings and ask others to share theirs. Maybe it’s something else (1/2)

What we make now echoes back to what has been made in the past. The feelings you have now have been poured into creative acts before. The path now is to use that energy to create something new, vulnerable + connective to keep you, keep us, tethered to and aware of that vast, deep + wide lineage.

One thing I keep thinking about as I read the news is how we must keep telling our stories. To ourselves, to our loved ones, to others. Whenever I feel panicked and scared and overwhelmed, I freeze and shrink. Connection brings the thaw. Stories are the threads that bind us together.

Love this project printing out Immigrant Rights Cards to hand out! There are so many ways to help and create ripples of change.

If you don’t know what to do right now, there are many ways to act. If you don’t know your own voice, what it sounds like, how loud it is, what it wants to say, go do something creative. Creativity is great for connecting with others, but first, it allows you to know, hear and use your own voice.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. About how when everything seems so broken and fractured, what we do have control over is what we each can do to make a difference. The like-based structure of the internet has often lied to us that changes must be big to count. And it is wrong. ❤️

In terms of craft writing and workshops, what do you need most right now? I have my own ideas, but also would love to hear yours. I’m building my own roadmap, but would love to have your input on what you need.

I’m working on some slides for a talk and want to highlight all the phrases people use to talk about craft and art that is political, narrative or activist based. (1/3)

In case you’d like to start your first craftivist project, I wrote some notes for you www.hellobetsygreer.com/notes/how-to...

Just a reminder to step away from the news today. Take a walk. Have some tea. Listen to the birds. Call a friend. Journal. Meditate. Knit. Pet your dog. Read a book. Ask for a hug. Bake. Plan an in-person gathering. The analog world needs you and your creativity too. ❤️

Y’all, everything is terrible. But one thing I can do is share what I’ve learned over the past 20 years learning about #craftivism and craft/art related protests. Why they started, their impact, etc. If you hear of anything related happening right now, could you let me know?

Your stitches may be small, but they can help you move forward, find new collaborators and plan where you’re headed next. Each stitch or thing you make? It’s an opportunity to share your voice with yourself and others. ❤️