Back to School Vibes
A great time of year to start something new!
Hello, dear reader,
Nineteen years ago this week, I tap, tap, tapped on the Internet and launched my first blog, “Wearing Black in New Mexico”—the name was a tip of my invisible hat to my move from New York, where black is the new black, to Albuquerque, a place where people dress with a wider variety of color. A peer in one of my writing workshops asked me if I was from “Back East". I asked how they knew. “You’re always in black” was the reply. I blogged about knitting and writing, about being a transplant, about my worries and triumphs.
I don’t maintain my website’s blog much, alas, but I’ve got this space to share my thoughts and ideas with you.
One of those thoughts: is there a better time than late summer to start something new? Oh, sure, there’s January 1. With a lifetime of back to school vibes resonating through me this time of year, though, I really do like late August and September for getting a new project underway or for learning something new. In fact, I’m considering what my annual “last 100 days of the year” project will be in 2024 (I’ll start on September 24; maybe you want to join me?)
If you’d like to learn something new this fall, here is the line up of what I’ll be teaching:
Poetry Mentor Workshop Series (on Zoom with Joyce Hayden)
One of the most powerful methods to develop and grow as a poet is to work with a poetry mentor—and there are hundreds ready to help you, right on your bookshelf! Each session, we’ll read and discuss a selection of poems by a featured poet, paying careful attention to how the poems work and make us feel. This online workshop will include time to craft our own poems inspired by that month’s poetry mentor. Participants will have the option of sharing their work for gentle feedback and exuberant appreciation. All readings will be provided.
$25 per 90 minute session or $120 for the whole series
September 9, 2024 at 6-7:30 p.m. Natalie Diaz
September 23, 2024 at 6-7:30 p.m. Evie Shockley
October 14, 2024 at 6-7:30 p.m. Ada Limon
October 28, 2024 at 6-7:30 p.m. Tina Chang
November 4, 2024 at 6-7:30 p.m. Tanya Lukin Linkletter
November 18, 2024 at 6-7:30 p.m. Ross Gay
Reparation Scholarships: Two full scholarships for BIPOC are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These scholarships are our acknowledgement that it takes extra time and energy to navigate the systemic racism in the creative writing and publishing industry. The scholarships are meant as reparation, not as an assumption of financial need. If you are interested in a scholarship, please email creativepatina@gmail.com to let us know.
To register: To sign up, please complete this form and send payment via Zelle (joywag@yahoo.com) or Venmo (@beverly-ArmyWilliams).
All workshops will be recorded, and the recordings will be available for one month after the workshop’s date.
Upcoming Textile Workshops (all in-person)
I’m thrilled to be teaching an in-person class at Tatter as part of their Creative Embroidery series.
Embroidery as Writing: In this workshop, we’ll examine historic and contemporary uses of writing with cloth, needle, and thread. Students will learn a variety of embroidery stitches that lend themselves to writing. After practicing copying words in embroidery, students will create a poem by responding to prompts with embroidered words or phrases, composed directly on the cloth. This process connects students with those, often silenced in other arenas who found voice through embroidery.
Saturday, October 12, 12-4 p.m. in Brooklyn, NY
And in November, I’ll be returning to Hartford Stitch. This studio exudes creativity, and I always enjoy teaching there.
Embroidery Basics: Using basic tools–a needle and thread–you can create simple or complex patterns with a handful of stitches. Whether you want to add something extra to your favorite clothes or enjoy the meditative quality of embroidery, this workshop will teach you eleven stitches to get you started. The workshop will cover beginner basics to get started: how to thread a needle, discussion of whether or not to use knots in your embroidery, how to transfer designs, and how to hoop your fabric (or not!). We’ll create an embroidery sampler with eight different stitches that are the building blocks for all other stitches.
Sunday, November 10th from 9am - 12pm (1 spot left)
Embroidered Portrait: With a few simple stitches you can transform a favorite photographed portrait into an embroidered work of art! The focus of this workshop will be embroidering a face. Participants will learn about different stitches to create lines and texture, how to transfer the photo onto fabric, and making decisions about thread types and colors. It is appropriate for both beginners and experienced embroiderers.
Sunday, November 10th from 1pm - 4pm
Hope to see you at a workshop this fall!
xx,
Beverly