Since time immemorial\, women across cultu res have been gathering together to work in community. As we combat a lone liness epidemic\, learn about how coming together to create art is one of the ways we build meaningful connections and relationships\, strengthen ou r feeling of community\, and stitch an antidote to loneliness.
\nAbo ut the Panelists:
\nCorrina Sowden
\n
When Corrina was eight years old\, her Gr eat Gram taught her how to knit along with many life lessons. While taking an Arts &\; Crafts class in high school\, she rediscovered knitting. C orrina worked at a fabric store for a year\, but since then knitting and m ore recently embroidery have been fun hobbies. Her friends and family have been gifted many knitted scarves.
\nKatie Blattner
\n
Kate Blattner is the owne r and founder of Three Little Birds Sewing Co.\, a vibrant modern fabric a nd craft supply store located in the Arts District of Hyattsville\, MD. Fo r over a decade\, Three Little Birds has been a beloved hub for the maker community in the Washington\, DC area\, offering a carefully curated selec tion of fabrics and craft supplies. In addition to retail\, the store is k nown for its wide range of sewing and quilting classes\, which cater to ma kers of all skill
\nMaria Fernanda Vivar-Guzman
\n
Wanting to keep my Mexican he ritage alive\, my mother taught me to embroider around the age of 10 and I continued to learn other needlecraft as I got older. Crochet and embroide ry have become my main needlework outlets. During and after the pandemic\, many decided to learn a new needlework skill\, or even just resume forgot ten projects from the past\, which was the reason for my creating Needlewo rk Social at the Hyattsville Branch. So many friendships and communities h ave started with needlework projects\, and it continues to be a major conn ection to my family and culture.
\nTiana Davis
\ n
Tiana Davis first became intere sted in sewing in her teens\, watching hours of videos about upcycling clo thes for a refreshed wardrobe without supporting fast fashion. During the pandemic\, when everyone started collecting new hobbies\, Tiana decided to dust off her mom's handy (and still in the box!) Singer and subscribed to Sew It Academy. Five years on\, Tiana enjoys sewing in her free time\, an d has become a regular pattern tester for Greenstyle Patterns. She has a v ery loose\, informal sewing club with her group of friends\, that she is l ooking to turn into a general crafting group in an effort to build a stabl e community.
\n\;Audrey Lau
\nAfter completing her Ph.D. in Ameri can History\, Audrey Lau wanted a new creative and intellectual challenge. Stumbling upon a 19th century Amish cross stitch bookmark pattern at a gi ft shop following a tour of President James Buchanan&rsquo\;s home\, Audre y realized she could combine her love of history with a newfound love of & ldquo\;painting with thread.&rdquo\; During the pandemic\, Audrey found th e online world of &ldquo\;FlossTube&rdquo\; and discovered the concept of &ldquo\;craftivism\,&rdquo\; activism using crafts and a world of people t rying to modernize\, diversify\, and complicate the narrative of crafts of ten associated with rich white women. As the Adult and Senior Services Spe cialist for PGCMLS\, Audrey encourages library staff to create and cultiva te communities of stitchers\, fiber artists\, knitters\, crocheters\, craf tivists\, needleworkers\, sewists\, ravelutionaries\, and anyone seeking t o try something new in libraries throughout PGC. \;
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