So, I took some time off. From the blog, from social, from everything. And when I say everything, I even took nearly a week off entirely from reading. I’ll have to tell you all about that sometime soon. Taking some time off has been a long time coming. I don’t think I’ve even taken a break from social media… ever. And I’ve been one social since you had to have a .edu email address to use Facebook.

It also felt like the right time for me because, as a white lady who writes about books, crafting/art, and clothes, I honestly did not know what to do given *gestures broadly*. We’re defiantly living in a world where it is no longer enough to stick to your niche. Ignoring social inequity, racial injustice, and current events isn’t an option. 

I’ve always included content about sustainability and workers’ rights as they relate to the garment industry here, but like everyone else, it was clear I could do more. At the same time, I wanted to avoid short term-performative actions. Now that we’re in August, I’m starting to see how others are finding ways to integrate these things authentically and long-term into their online presence. I have a better idea of how to move forward.

Goings On

Re-Launching this website. I’m considering this post to be the soft launch of my website. I’ve been considering blogging seriously, rather than sporadically, for a while now, so over the month of August I’m working on professionalizing the site and developing new content. By September I plan to have a real content calendar and be posting regularly. There might be a few other things in the works as well.

Staying a Student for Another Year. At the same time, I’m still working on my dissertation. I was totally supposed to have finished up my Ph.D. by now, but for various reasons that just hasn’t happened. Given the job market in museums and academia, it just makes sense for me to keep being a student for a while longer. Now I just need to have a talk with my advisor about that…

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

Reading

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia was a perfect first choice. It was creepy and engaging in just the way a summer novel should be. The author did a great job planting hints about the central mystery so that by the time I was at the last chapters I had almost, but not quite, figured it out. The whole thing had big Guillermo del Toro vibes, so if you were a fan of the movie Crimson Peak you will definitely be into this book. Purchase at AZ/Bookshop/BookoftheMonth.

Watching

College Basketball Star Now Making Moves in the Art World. What I love about this video is that it spends a lot of time focusing on Michael Thorpe’s creative process. He walks us through how he uses photography as a starting point for his art, which is a really interesting approach. I also loved seeing the relationship between the artist and his family. It’s clear that they love and support him very much, which is so comforting to see. Watch on YouTube.

Doing

Request an absentee ballot (and register to vote if you need to). I know November 3^rd seems like a long way off, and a lot can happen between now and then, but I’ve already put in my request for an absentee ballot so that I can vote by mail. If you’re in the US and in a state that allows for no-excuse absentee voting I strongly suggest you do the same. If nothing else, now is a great time to check on your voter registration and update it if you need to!

Product

Leaf Razor. Ok, this may be a little off-topic, but I need to talk to people about this razor. This is not sponsored and not an affiliate link, I’m just obsessed and none of my IRL friends want to hear about it. The thing is, I’ve resented the cost and hated all the waste involved in buying razors for years. There is do much unnecessary plastic involved! However, I was too chicken to try and use a conventional straight razor. The leaf lets me use straight razor blades just like I would use a triple blade conventional style razor. But the refills work out to about 42 cents each and are fully recyclable. Seriously, I love it. Purchase at Leaf Shave.

Drink

Todd and Holland Pine Needles Green. Even though I haven’t been leaving my house, I still have been trying to buy from local stores. I moved here in January, so I had only just started exploring before everything shut down. One of the places on my “to try one day” lists is Todd and Holland. So, when I needed more tea I placed an order with them. My favorite is this Chinese green tea. It’s not very astringent and has a tone of umami. At first sip it reminded me a bit of the Japanese green tea Kabusecha, but with a little bit less brightness. Purchase at Todd and Holland.

Donate

Social Justice Sewing Academy. This is one of my new favorite organizations. They work at the intersection of activism and art to help young people learn to use textile art as a means of self-expression. I learned about it through the Craft Industry Alliance, which also did a great podcast episode with its founders. I highly encourage you to check them out and maybe make a donation.

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