I started writing this blog back in 2011 when I lived in California. I moved there for my job, and didn't really know many people, so it was part way to keep in touch with my friends and family, part way to feel less overwhelmed by living in a new place. I enjoyed living in the Bay Area, specifically in Alameda, but it was also like being dropped onto an alien planet. The Island of Misfit Toys became a place for me to work things out, and vent when needed. In the nine years I've been writing this blog, I've shared personal things, written funny stories about homicidal Peeps, and created very interesting lives for both of my cats. I know my more recent posts have been way angrier than what I normally write. I wanted to spend the summer sharing my novel (a few chapters at a time, like how books used to be published), but 2020 had other plans for everyone. Recently, I've felt like I was spinning in an angry writing place, so I took the last few weeks off from the blog. I've been thinking about stuff and things. I've been thinking about the mess we're in (insert PJ Harvey song here). I've been thinking about how to stay connected in this weird world we live in. So I hatched this little idea I'm sharing with you today.
Back in July, a Japanese theme park announced its reopening. (Do you hear that, America? That's the sound of countries reopening and having real national leadership.) In "normal times," the reopening of a Japanese theme park wouldn't be a big deal, but this is 2020. Nothing makes sense anymore, and everything is a big deal. The reopening was significant for a very specific reason: in a video promoting the reopening, visitors were asked to "Please scream inside your heart" rather than screaming out loud as they rode roller coasters. This was a safety measure, of course, but it's also the most perfect thing anyone has said since March.
I don't know about you, but I think "Please scream inside your heart" is the perfect way to describe 2020. The day I read the article about the theme park, I embroidered myself a version of the saying. I love it so much, I've now made a total of five original patterns depicting the idea of screaming inside your heart. I can't help myself. Each of the patterns were designed for one of my friends (or myself), so they're named after them too:
- Erin - The Original Scream (first image)
- Jessica - French Knot Scream (third image)
- Heather - Screaming Balloons (second image)
- Bridget - Tiny Hearts
- Kelly - The Roller Coaster
People love these pieces. I chalk it up to a combination of my whimsical awesomeness and the accuracy of the statement. This got me thinking: how can I use these gems to make the world, or at least my part of it, a little bit better?
And then someone posted a meme on Facebook about giving adults prizes to do things like wear a mask, you know, like when we used to get pizza for doing our summer reading. It hit me: I can reward people for being good citizens, but instead of pizza, they get a piece of art. Genius!
I decided to make 10 of each of the first three patterns (Erin, Jessica, and Heather) for a total of 30 original pieces. Each one is hand drawn and hand embroidered. It will be framed (in a hoop like the first image above), numbered, and signed. Lucky recipients will also receive a hand stitched good citizen card (see below - glitter paper!). It's going to to be awesome. As of this writing, I've stitched 13.
So, how do you become the proud owner of one of these amazing works of art?
EASY - by showing me how you're being a good citizen.
I know the vast majority of you are out there doing your best to make the world suck less, and you do it with no thought or expectation that you deserve accolades for being a good citizen/human. You're doing the right thing. You're making your community a cool place to live. You're helping people who need it. You're already a good citizen. You deserve a gold star, or a piece of random art from a person you may not know. Same thing.
- Volunteer - maybe you made masks or donated food or helped someone with their resume or something related to a job search. How have you been volunteering your time/skills/awesomeness?
- Let's vote! Did you register to vote for the first time? Awesome - tell me about it and why you decided to register. Already registered? What's your voting plan? Having a voting plan is so important this year.
- Getting out in the streets...or engaging with your elected officials - Have you protested or participated in a march? Or maybe you've been texting/emailing/sending letters to your elected officials. How have you been showing up for social change?
- Wear your mask - I wanted to make sure one option was so easy, anyone could do it. Take a photo of yourself out in public, wearing your mask, and practicing excellent social distancing. (See logistics/disclaimers for a note about this option.)
- Donate. If you can donate, show a receipt of a donation made to one of the following organizations made in 2020 (yes, I'm gating this one a little bit, but it's my project so I get to make the rules):
Complete this amazingly easy Google Form to tell me your story. You'll be one of eleven people who own one of these pieces of art. You get something cool for being a good citizen. How much fun is that?!
A few more logistics/disclaimers:
- If I receive over 30 entries, I'll hold the entries over that number for a second campaign. I'll let those people know what to expect.
- Embroidery pieces will start shipping in October. If you live near me, and are cool with it, I can deliver your piece to you (following social distancing best practices).
- If you are one of my friends for whom a pattern is named, you're not eligible to get another one.
- You don't get to pick which pattern you get. I'm going to use a very scientific method involving my cat, Keely, deciding which person gets which pattern. He's really good at this sort of thing.
- You have to live in the US. Sorry friends around the world, I didn't budget for international shipping. Maybe another time.
- Only three people will get picked for wearing a mask. Wearing a mask shouldn't be such a big deal, but it is, so I wanted to applaud those of you doing the right thing and wearing your mask.
- I'll close the form once I hit 30 entries or on November 3, whichever comes first.
- I reserve the right to disqualify any entries if the person submits something inappropriate or horrifyingly irresponsible. If you use this to be a jerk, you get nothing.
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