April was a busy month. Despite all the changes and uncertainty, the weeks have flown by, and daily routines have been keeping me grounded.

A big focus of mine this past month was launching Punch Needle World, an online community and informational resource for Punch Needle Rug Hooking. Punch needle has become a central part of my work as an artist and I am passionate about its history, and invested in keeping the traditional technique alive even as I work to push it in new directions as an art form. Punch Needle World is my way to give back, elevate the community of artists around me, and support new creatives interested in learning more about this craft. (If you're interested in learning more, check out the website and feel free to join the Instagram community or mailing list to keep up with that endeavor!)

On a more personal note, this month has been centered around adjusting to and creating a "new normal". Morning routines and evening routines have been key to keeping me on track. Coffee and morning walks, delicious dinners and weekly conversations with friends have been good for the soul.

A couple weeks ago, I broke the lease on my new art studio that I just moved into this past December. I only had a few months to work from the space before COVID-19 made getting downtown and safely working within a large creative office building impossible. Moving into that space was a big step for me, and while it was hard to say goodbye so quickly, I know this is one of the best ways I can prepare myself as an artist and solo entrepreneur to ride things out for the months to come.

Some things I have been thinking about these days:

Adaptability. In the midst of so much uncertainty, I have been thinking a lot about the importance (now more than ever) of being flexible and being able to adapt to new situations. Humans are incredibly resilient, but many people have a natural aversion to change when faced with it head on. While it might seem scary, I think there is value in leaning into the change - even being malleable enough to let it guide our course - rather than resisting and insisting on the quickest return to "the way things were". Rather than asking "how can we regain what we have lost", maybe we should ask "what new opportunities might this open up"? The current situation will shape our world for years to come, in ways that we can not yet imagine. As an artist, a creative and an entrepreneur, I believe it is prudent that we begin thinking today about how we can best position ourselves to adapt and stay flexible over the next 2-3 years -- and beyond.

How current events, necessity, influences art. In a similar vein, I have been thinking a lot about how current events influence art, and how restriction and necessity often lead to incredible things. This is very exciting to me as an artist! Sometimes being required to work with restrictions leads to creativity that would have been impossible otherwise. Traditional Rug Hooking, Korean Jogakbo and the quilts of Gees Bend are all art forms that evolved out of necessity and restriction (ie. poverty). The women who pioneered these craft movements began simply, by using what they had at their disposal to create functional personal items that were popular during their time -- floor coverings, traditional wrapping cloth, and quilts. I am finding myself increasingly drawn to this type of work, and wondering what shape my own work might take out of necessity in the coming years.

Looking forward,
xx