january recap

your week will be filled with pancakes

Feb 01, 2025

extradisciplinary is the name of my freelance art, craft, and education business in Portland, Oregon. I’ve decided to start a lil newsletter as a way to mark time, remind myself of what I’ve accomplished, and update loved ones and students who aren’t on social media (because we all know I’m terrible at texting). The plan is to send a monthly recap of what I’ve been up to and what I’m looking forward to, with links to my project-related blog posts, upcoming classes, and things that bring me joy. Eventually I may add more reflective pieces as I continue to recover from my post-academia burnout—stayed tuned. Thanks for being here!

classes

fortune cookies

I taught two sessions of my Felt Fortune Cookies class this month and the kiddos LOVED IT. The fortune cookies are super quick, super simple, and can be made on a sewing machine or by hand with a needle and thread. The current record holder made 42 fortune cookies during class. If you want to make your own, you can find the instructions and a short video on my blog.

Some favorite fortunes:

All you need is love and cookies.
The fortune you seek is in another cookie. (There were schemes hatched to fundraise by selling cookies that all contained this fortune so you’d have to keep buying more)
Your week will be filled with pancakes. (Love this)
Cats will rule the world.
Beware strangers wearing red hats. (Solid life advice)

Fortune cookie classes at Modern Domestic (and a glimpse of the chaos that ensues)

klum house bag lab

I also taught a four-week class for adult sewists of all levels where folks could bring in any pattern from Klum House, a local bag designer and educator I adore. The students learned how to insert zippers, work with leather, punch holes, and set rivets and other hardware. I was so grateful to work with such a kind and supportive group of sewists for my first time teaching this class and I am so proud of the skills and confidence they developed this month. I’m teaching another session of this lab starting February 27—I hope you’ll join me!

makes

Here are three of my favorite projects I completed/shared this month: a quilted Ruby Vest with an Aero Quilt Block on the back, a Klum House Fremont Tote, and a Klum House Slabtown Backpack. You can find more photos and all the details about how I customized each piece on my blog.

highlights

D and I visited the Portland Japanese Garden to see an exhibition featuring Kintsugi artist Naoko Fukumaru. She describes herself as a “professional ceramic restoration expert and ceramic therapist who transforms trauma into beauty.” It’s worth a moment of your time to peruse her work.
I won two tickets to the Ritual Dyes crafternoon at the PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater showing 9 to 5 for Dolly Parton’s birthday. It was so sweet to see everyone working on their projects (shoutout to D for learning cross stitch in a dim theater)! We’ve already bought tickets for their March crafternoon screening Mars Attacks.
D and I celebrated the tenth anniversary of adopting our cat Dutch.
We had a cozy coffee & couch catch-up with dear friends.
Like the rest of Portland, we savored the 2+ weeks of glorious sunshine in the middle of winter.

little pleasures

I finished Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. It’s an accessible companion to his longer book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. Both invite you to reflect on how you actually want to be live your life today, not in some imaginary future when you’re finally “on top of things.”
Between my Wilde House Paper Open Journal, Intentional Planner, and my beloved Finch app, I’ve been sticking to a daily-ish journaling practice, and—I regret to inform you—it actually does help with mental clarity and emotional regulation.
I was highly skeptical when a friend recommended we watch Taskmaster, but D and I are currently wrapping up season NINE. You deserve a good laugh after surviving the past month.
I bought myself a Curly Bear Warmies weighted stuffie-slash-heating pad and it makes winter bedtimes 1000 times cozier.

looking forward to

Hellebores, snowdrops, camellias, daffodils, and other blooms that always bring me delight and comfort in winter.
Anna’s hummingbirds starting to build their precious nests.
Katie Moody’s 30 Days of Sketchbook Joy beginning next week. Maybe I’ll keep my sketchbook practice going for the 100 Day Project too 🤷🏻‍♀️