I did a Stitch Therapy Zoom meetup on Sunday, which was awesome. I've been feeling the need to stab things multiple times, and I figure it's safest to do that on fabric and much more fun to do it in good company. It was a hoot, and we'll be doing it again on the first Sunday of each month until we can meet safely in person.
Hey, maybe even after that.
If you'd like to join in, send me a note and I'll send you the link.
In other news:
Alter your Clothes Like a Pro starts online this Saturday. If you've been meaning to get your clothes better fitted, this is an excellent opportunity! Click on the link to sign up.
This year's Opulent Mobility exhibit is shaping up beautifully. In the meantime, check out some of the artists. Penny Richards has been part of Opulent Mobility since 2015. She makes wonderful wheelchair costumes for her son Jake.
How We Are is a wonderful project by Nicole Walker and Matthew Batt on how artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers are dealing with these pandemic times. They generously let me share some of my thoughts. Click on the link and spend some time checking out the other photos and essays!
Thanks to you all. Let's get out the vote and keep that hope alive.

The artists of this year's Opulent Mobility will be Abilities Dance Boston, A. Laura Brody, Yaron Dotan, Corina Duyn, Jennifer Fearon, Sandy Huse, David Isakson, Molshree Jain, Wendy Lewis, Vincent Mattina, Rebecca Niederlander, Penny Richards, Katherine Sherwood, Abigail Stockinger, Misty Stokes, Dianna Temple, and Emily Tironi.
Many thanks to everyone who shared their art! As usual, it was lovely working with Anthony Tusler to choose the artworks for this year's exhibit. Thanks also to the NuMotion Foundation, who are helping sponsor the audio description and voice over for this year's exhibit.
The full exhibit will be online in December. If you'd like to learn more about the artists, I"ll be sharing their websites and information over the next two months on the Opulent Mobility Facebook page and through Instagram.
This powerful image is from Dianna Temple's Wheelchair Tornado series.

Many thanks to Shout Out LA for their article on me, my art and teaching, and Opulent Mobility! It was such a delightful surprise to have it come up during a week while nearly everything has been on fire. Right now our evacuation order was lifted, but it's been close and so many are still endangered.

Good wishes and good fortune to the many folks being affected by the fires and all the extreme weather of late. My friend Farrah (AKA Mz. Creation) is offering a sale of her fun, fuzzy scoodies and mitts with 75% of all proceeds going to the Phoenix Talent Fire Relief Fund through October 15th. You can also go direct to the fund here. If you have other good links for relief funds, please share them.

On an up note, congratulations to all the artists who shared their work for Opulent Mobility 2020! As usual, it was a delight choosing the works with Anthony Tusler. Once I hear back from all the artists to verify their involvement I will share the list with you all.

Here's hoping you're keeping safe and healthy in these very weird times. Let's get out the vote.
XO Laura

It's been quite the time for the past few weeks, and right now much of the West Coast is on fire. It's a tough time for so many and we're not even close to out of the woods yet.
There are fortunately some things that help me keep hope alive.
Maybe they will help you too.

The Opulent Mobility 2020 deadline is past, and I am so thrilled with the amount and quality of the submissions! I'm going over them all with my co-curator Anthony Tusler, and can't wait to choose the artwork and get this show started. I'll share the artist list with you all in October.

Making dance dresses and masks from Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric for Abilities Dance Boston was such fun. They're doing a collaboration with the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, and I got to combine my love of costumes with a love for children's picture book art. Want to make your very own Very Hungry Caterpillar stuff? The museum gift shop has you covered. This fabric is freaking adorable.

Teaching sewing, pattern making, and alterations has been a delight. There's a real sense of community about coming together to make things, and I love it. I hope you'll consider joining us!

The Glendale Community College online courses are Knock it Off Pattern Making in October and Alter Your Clothes Like A Pro in November-December.

If you prefer a one-on-one session, sign up through Hire Artists for a Zoom or Skype meeting and we'll make some magic happen. Make Do and Mend or Alter Your Clothes.
 
The YouTube sewing tutorials have been more fun than I expected to make. So far, I've put up videos for sewing on buttons, threading a needle, operating the foot pedal on a sewing machine, finding substitutes for pattern paper and seam rippers, and making a clear window mask. If you have videos you want to see, please get in touch! I'd love your suggestions.

It's so easy nowadays to feel hopeless, and one of the best ways to I've found to keep hope alive is to take action. Vote Forward is a super simple way to help get out the vote, and I've been participating for the past 2 years. You can also sign up as a poll worker!

There are so many ways to make an impact- find one that works best for you. And if what you really need is rest, do it. Hey. Thank you all for joining me in these difficult times.
Let's help give each other hope.
XO Laura

By request, the deadline to submit work for Opulent Mobility 2020 has been extended to August 31st, 5 PM PST.
This way we all get a chance to breathe.
Thank you to everyone who has already shared their art! I'm truly looking forward to this year's exhibit.
I hope you're keeping safe and healthy out there in these very difficult times.
Best,
Laura

If you haven't heard of the Auntie Sewing Squad yet...
 
"The Auntie Sewing Squad began on March 24, 2020 as a singular effort by artist Kristina Wong (in Los Angeles) who started making masks in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and needed some support in creating masks and increasing awareness. Kristina started taking donations to cover postage only and making masks for free."

The aunties (and uncles) make masks and gather donations of needed materials for vulnerable groups: farm workers, those released from ICE detention or prison, immigrant communities, and the Navajo Nation.
All funds raised purchase supplies in bulk.

They're also offering a free Mask Sewing Camp July 15th.

Got clothing to mend, remake, or re-invent? I can help with that.
All classes are online via Zoom unless otherwise arranged.

Classes with 50% of proceeds benefiting the Loveland Foundation
Re*Making 101
July 26th, 11 AM - 2 PM
Mending Monday
August 3rd, 7-9 PM

Schedule private lessons through Hire Artists:
Make Do and Mend
Alter Your Clothes Like A Pro

4 session class through Glendale Community College
Alter Your Clothes Like A Pro
8/1/20- 8/22/20 from 9:30 AM- 12:30 PM