With guest Tamanna Rahman, a textile artist, clothes maker, and psychiatric nurse practitioner who integrates holistic mental health practices into her craft. Tamanna shares her journey, from her early love for textiles inspired by her grandmother to how COVID sparked her passion for sewing and embroidery and drove home that life doesn't have to look like it always has.

She discusses her work, Slow Work Sewing, and where she teaches embroidery workshops that guide students in translating daily experiences and emotions into abstract mark-making and stitch . The conversation touches on the therapeutic benefits of repetitive, bilateral motions in craft, the importance of aligning lifestyle with seasonal and personal cycles, and the concept of living a life that honors one's creative soul. Tamanna also share her exciting future workshop ideas and tips on self-care, creativity, and the freedom to live a fulfilling life on one’s own terms.

Tamanna studied literature and social movements at Williams College, and completed her graduate training at Yale University. She is originally from Los Angeles, and currently splits her time between New Haven, CT and Newfoundland, Canada. Find her online on Instagram @slow.work.sewing or www.slowworksewing.com.

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Join me as I tell you about my day at the coffee shop and how I went from frustratingly staring at a blank canvas to figuring out exactly what I wanted to do...simply by trusting in the process and taking the next step.

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So, tell me if you know this story.

This week I shopped for way too many groceries and then in an epic showing of avoiding what I SHOULD have been doing, I pulled everything out of the pantry, fridge and freezer. Yes all of it. Washed everything down and reorganized all food items in my life. I donated the "no-longer-what-I-want-to-be-eating-but-still-good", purged the outdated, composted the pickles that were gifted back in 2018 and scraped the gunk out from underneath the crisper draw.

Then and only then could I put away my massive grocery haul, full of the ingredients for no less than the 3 intensive meals to be made THIS week and meats to be turned into pressure canned meals. Yes, an activity that will take no less than 6,000 hours to complete.

Because, you know, it's the perfect time for that.

In the midst of a growing Christmas-gifts-to-make list, more work than I can accomplish and a fairly persistent case of the "mehs" (the sneaky kind that dull you down, but don't knock you out).

Why do we unearth the big, dirty project that we've been avoiding for months and do it, in a desperate frenzy, the moment we have other things that are arguably more important? To be fair, I found the big organization and clean-up to be like a giant, soothing exhale in my soul, aside from the guilt tucked in my belly that said, yes but what about the important and timely things? You have to do this RIGHT now?

This is actually one of my tips for life...when you're avoiding doing something important, simply drum up something even more important and in your frenzy to avoid that, you'll happily do the first one! You're welcome. (but don't tell me you're not already using this tip!)

Gah!

But honestly, it was the soothing I was after, wasn't it? The feeling of having things in order and well-tended...and under control. Maybe that's where the "meh's" came in. I believe we do things for a reason. Not simply because we lack discipline (although I like to berate myself from time to time with the best of them, I mean honestly what was I thinking with the canning project right now?) but because we are out of balance or out of sorts and we're trying to right ourselves.

And that, that I can have empathy for. That pantry/canning project took my time and added stress to be sure, but it also gave me something. The soothing I mentioned earlier, the feeling of order and control, but also the satisfaction of a job started and completed and the security that comes from ready-to-eat meals in the (sparkly clean) pantry.

And while I didn't consciously choose to overload my compact shopping cart so much so that I had to swap it out for a larger one at the checkout, I was, after all, looking out for myself.

Aren't we amazing creatures!?!

Now to sit with those feelings I was trying to sooth and see where I can bring balance back into my life in a non-time consuming, frenzied way. Again and again and again...

https://kinshiphandwork.com/

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With guest Elina Puaohiniemi.

I met Elina 5 or 6 years ago in an online community and have had the pleasure of watching her share her illustrations, books and so much love with the world. 

from Elina’s website:  (this delightful bit is exactly why I want to have Elina on the podcast!)

“Elina Puohiniemi aka elinap is an artist, life coach and the creator of Mira(cle)Doodles series.

She has been illustrating her spiritual path with doodles since 2010. At first she doodled lizards while trying to solve her struggles and cope with daily blunders in parenting, self-love and other areas of life –
The lizards did bring her answers, but not deep enough, she thought, barely scratching the surface.

Onward she went on her quest to understand life and studied to become a life coach, and then a Master Coach. Maybe that would bring her the depth she desired from life, she thought… While studying she made observations on different personality types, and the bigger picture of life, and finally came to the conclusion that it was the ego that she had been drawing. Lizards weren’t enough!!!”   read more

Elina lives in Finland with her husband, their two teenage sons, and a poodle.

 http://www.doodlingmiracles.com
 http://www.elinap.me/books 

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My guest today is Nan Webb, Founder at Bolt and Spool, a cloth merchant in Cleveland, OH.

Nan began sewing at the young age of 8. Her love for pattern design, texture, and all things uncommonly beautiful inspired her to open her historic Murray Hill Road boutique in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood in 2010. The storefront is a space where sewists of all levels can feel welcomed and inspired. Nan is equally comfortable with needle and thread as she is with a golf club, trowel, or bike handle in hand. Merging her passions with a degree in journalism from Ohio University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve she has established a thriving business that nourishes the sewing and crafting community in Cleveland and around the world.

You can see what she’s up to at…

• Bolt and Spool

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In this solo episode, I share my ritual for reflecting on the season I just left and dreaming of the season to come.  You can get my workbook, A Vibrant Life, on the website...https://kinshiphandwork.com/in-kinship-a-podcast/

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Jasmine Petrie is my guest on this episode, follow along as we talk about weaving, natural dyeing and being in the right place at the right time...or is it following the sparks to be on the right path?  

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howlattheloom.com
@howlattheloom

Bio:
Weaver, natural dyer, zine maker, loom doctor, life artist, teacher, and lifelong learner, Jasmine Petrie of Howl at the Loom resides in the forests of her childhood in Northern Michigan. She enjoys spending time with her family, tending garden, being in nature, and occasionally traveling afar.

Jasmine holds an A.A. and Certificate in Textiles from North Central Michigan College and continues to fulfill a hunger for deeper knowledge of fiber arts by seeking further study under seasoned instructors.

Artist statement:
I find inspiration from the symbiosis of the natural world, passing of the seasons, and the dilapidation of our industrialized society – and how it is all connected. I enjoy the different textures of various textiles and let them tell me what they want to be during my process, as I seek to utilize discarded materials as the focal point of many pieces. Through my studio practice, it is my mission to have as little waste as possible and to source any new materials from local and sustainable sources.

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My guest today, Kristina Rogers, shares her sweet, intention life in San Miquel, Mexico and 4 ways in which you may experience your intuition.  

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Today's guest, Liz Murphy is one of those you eagerly follow online (she was a knitting pattern designer and shared her family's homesteading journey) and feels like you know her in real life. 

In fact, even though she doesn't know your name, you're pretty sure she's one of your dear friends, she just doesn't know it yet!  At least that's what happened to me!  (is that sketchy? ;-)

Over a year ago, Liz announced online that, to her very own surprise, she was shifting gears from designer knitting patterns and into offering mediumship readings. 

Her email was grounded and heart-centered and I remember reading it in awe of her bravery.

Shortly after I booked a reading and had an experience that I can't logically explain.  We talk a bit about it on the show!

We also talk about how Liz and her family live a life different than most and how allowing herself to shift gears and pivot when it feels right have given her a life she loves.

mediumlizmurphy.com

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Intentionality.  And if there's one thing that my guest on this episode has in spades, it's intentionality!

From her self-built, off-grid tiny house compound (her words!) to her work as a textile artist, clothing and sewing pattern designer, and garment construction instructor, Ann Tilley lives in her values and on her own terms and she's a joy to behold!

Listen in as we talk about building a tiny house on wheels, the why of it and how it feels to live in it, what it's like to have solar power and what drives the desire to both live small and sustainably, as well as about beekeeping and sewing clothes and embracing life on our own terms.

Give it a listen! 

Mentioned in the podcast:

Those magic pants!

• Ann's Website
•  YouTube
•  Instagram

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