Atiliay noun, a play off the French word “atelier”; a workshop/studio, esp of an artist or designer; my creative space

Notes plural noun, a brief record of facts, topics, thoughts written down as an aid to memory; a short informal letter

 

🐾 For a smile: go to this website and click on the link that says “don't press here” lol I know but trust me, especially if you're a cat lover!

 

📷 Photo booth lovers: re-create vintage photo strips for free, from home on MySketchbooth.com! It was created by V as a passion project--there were no booths near her and she wanted to take pics form home. (Photos are not stored anywhere! Read the FAQ section for more info.)

 

🧵 Stitching workshop replay: If you missed the recent stitching workshop, you can watch the replay here.

 

🍂 For some fall vibes: Autumn Town Leaves by Iron & Wine, October Skies by Mumford & Sons, Cardigan by Taylor Swift (I really like Ophelia too--esp. the ship/sea scene!)

 

🍰 Been watching: Great British Bake Off (for all the good vibes) and Physical Asia (I can't stop watching but it makes me soo stressed lol).

 

❤️ Ways to help: Beginning Nov 1st,  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will end for an estimated 42 million people across the country. If you are able to help, consider being a grocery buddy, support your local food bank with monetary donations (I've read this is the best option so they can get what is needed), food donations, or volunteer your time. If you'd like to support a plant based organization, I recommend Chilis On Wheels. To support larger organizations, Feeding America is a 4/4 star rated on Charity Navigator and World Central Kitchen does amazing work locally and abroad. Check your community socials and websites in case they have ways you can help your neighbors. If you or someone you know needs support, here some resources and these are local WA resources. This has been so disheartening but it's also been so inspiring to see city programs, restaurants, and every day people stepping up.

 

🎁 Thoughts on the holidays: As we get closer to that time of year, I've been seeing ideas of how we can focus more on presence instead of presents, support small and local businesses instead of big corps, not feel like we have to spend a ton of money, and make the holidays handmade and upcycled. Here are a few ideas I've liked and wanted to share in case you want to incorporate them into your holiday season:

Hosting swaps so we buy less and re-use more (holiday decor, winter clothes, toys, wrapping paper, etc.), do a gift exchange of only small useful gifts/thrifted items/handmade goods, make gifts, upcycle old clothes into holiday ornaments, buy from non profits or goods that have a give back element, go to craft shows and support makers and artists, have a casual potluck (make it themed: soups, a certain cuisine, favorite childhood dish, etc.) do what works best for you and don't let consumerism tell us how to celebrate!

I'm going for a handmade approach and making my friend's artistic kiddos personalized sketchbooks with art prompts on each page--I am so excited about these!

 

💌 A little bit of art & inspiration in your mailbox! I recently shared about this project (thank you to everyone who voted)--more details to come very soon, please stay tuned!

Take good care of yourself and of those around you.
Happy Halloween (some costume fun below)!

Thank you Bao for your vision and execution of the photo above! Lol :D And a tribute to the other half of my costumes, my favorite little gremlin. Val, you got out of dressing like Derpy Tiger this year ❤️

 

 

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