here + now // my summer of discontent

worst. summer. of. my. life. well, mine and everyone else’s i suppose.  i’ve watched my life and the little community i built dissolve in front of me in so many ways.   covid-19, wildfires, racism and out-of-control police forces have been raging all around us for months and i can’t lie, i’ve been struggling. struggling like i never have before. my soul feels heavy, my mind stagnant and my body heavy + inert rendering me seemingly paralyzed.

waking up to an eerie apocalyptic orange darkness with ashes floating down on me last week just further confirmed that my suspicions were correct; the world indeed was coming to an end.

but then a little light in the darkness. proof that life will go on, and in fact has gone on in spite of the frenzied chaos all around me. i found out on monday that i will be featured in an upcoming book about women of color who engage in textile arts.

and just like that … a glimmer of hope and finally a bit of a sense of purpose again.

so the world (as we knew it) has come to an end. and i feel fine. over the last months i have kicked. i have screamed. i have shut down. i have cried and i have grieved. but now my summer of discontent is over. time to roll up my sleeves and rebuild.

welcome to rebel yarn’s new incarnation! join us …

here + now

reading // “woman of color” by latonya yvette, an unapologetically candid exploration of life’s trials, including motherhood, love, death, and racism. part memoir, part lifestyle guide—packed with moving essays, gorgeous original and archival photographs, and practical style and beauty advice. a fun and inspiring read.

writing // this post, the first in the monthly “here + now” series giving you a self-indulgent glance into studio 167, head quarters of rebel yarn and the joint.   find out what inspires us. what we’re working on. what we’re digging’, feeling and thinking.

considering // a bold move, but that’s a story for another time : )

listening // to khruangbin’s new album “mordechai”. if you have been to the joint, our brick + mortar store in old town vallejo, you will have indulged in the musical stylings of khruangbin since we usually have them playing all day, every day. “con todo el mundo” is hands down my favorite album of all time and my definitive go to for artfully setting a mood and creating atmosphere. their latest release doesn’t disappoint and immediately went into heavy rotation as well.
if you are not familiar with khruangbin yet, stop what you’re doing right now, click here and check out their performance in npr’s tiny desk series. khruangbin will always and forever be the perfect soundtrack to my life … dreamy, soulful, funky and chill - just as life at it’s best should be.

enjoying // the sunshine on my skin on this rare day of good air.

wearing // a scarce content smile on my face.

eating // a bowl of thick velvety greek yogurt with a swirl of date syrup and fresh pomegranate seeds. i apparently ate so much of this heavenly concoction when i was pregnant that my now six year old still can’t get enough of it and has it every single day!

knowing // that through it all everything is as it should be and …

learning // to trust in that knowledge.