Craftivism w/ Shannon Downey

This episode’s collaborator is Shannon Downey of Bad Ass Cross-stitch, who you may know from an amazing photograph taken during the 2017 Woman’s March—she had a giant embroidery that read: I’m so angry I stitched this just so I could stab something 3,000 times. She combines her passion for fibre art with her passion for dismantling a culture of patriarchy, misogyny, and sexism. Our conversation touches on so many things: creativity, the way questions help us grow, and the importance of seeing learning as a life-long endeavour. I was particularly struck by the practice Shannon has of what she calls ‘life editing’, learning how to discern what conversations and online engagement are worth her time, attention and effort, and choosing not to engage around vitriol and hate-speech.

You can connect with Shannon and learn more about the Badass HERstory project by visiting www.badasscrossstitch.com and www.badassherstory.com

To see more of my work in the world, visit www.kaitlynschatch.com