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The Holstee Manifesto Quilt
A few months back, Mary pinged me about a girl here in Portland who made a quilt inspired by the Manifesto. Though I was traveling at the time and wouldn't be back home for several wks, I immediately emailed Katie and it's now my pleasure to introduce both her and the awe inspiring quilt she made. This kind of passion is priceless and meeting people like Katie is one of the best parts of my life with Holstee.
Below is our 30 min. audio interview where we discuss Katie's background, inspiration for making the quilt, her life outside quilting, her future plans and more. Enjoy!(download)
(download)
For more updates on Katie's work, connect with her on Twitter and Pinterest!
Katie- thank you again for taking the time to do this interview and, from our entire Holstee family, a big hug and high 5 for sharing your passion :D You rock!!
MK
Collaborating with The Domino Project for 'Self-Reliance'
The Domino Project is on a mission to change the way books are built, sold and spread, all in the blink of an eye. Slashing red tape, fluffy margins and the typical protocol of publishing, The Domino Project (founded by Seth Godin @ThisIsSethsBlog and spearheaded by the poetic @heyamberrae) is providing a launchpad for ideas worth spreading. They are on the pulse of literary triumph, inspiration and evolution, and we had the pleasure of collaborating most recently on a limited edition deluxe hardcover release of Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance.
In classic Domino Project style, we worked hard and fast to produce a custom cover for the book and also threw in a five-pack of custom-made greeting cards produced from 50% elephant poo and 50% recycled paper.
The Result? The limited edition book sold out within hours of being available on Amazon, with super positive reviews all around.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson often encourages people to dismiss the standards of society and to follow one's individual heart, we often discuss and reaffirm the standards we believe in, knowing we only have ourselves to answer to in the end.
It's an honor to be part of such a timeless read and we have everyone to thank at the Domino Project for an incredbile collaboration.
A stimulating Q and A with Ralph Waldo Emerson below-
Ralph Waldo Emerson, in Self-Reliance: The intellect is vagabond, and our system of education fosters restlessness. Our minds travel when our bodies are forced to stay at home. We imitate; and what is imitation but the travelling of the mind?
Question: Society's quick pace makes it hard to focus and concentrate. What can one to do achieve serenity today?
Emerson: Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.
Q: Many in society are afraid of of being themselves and speaking authentically. Why do you think that is?
Emerson: Man is timid and apologetic; he is no longer upright; he dares not say ‘I think,’ ‘I am,’ but quotes some saint or sage. He is ashamed before the blade of grass or the blowing rose. These roses under my window make no reference to former roses or to better ones; they are for what they are; they exist with God today. There is no time to them. There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence.
Q: What is the key to happiness with one's work and occupation?
Emerson: A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace. Do your work, and I shall know you. Do your work, and you shall reinforce yourself. Your genuine action will explain itself, and will explain your other genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothing.
Q: There are so many popular opinions in society today. How should we know whom to listen to?
Emerson: Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.
Q: What advice do you have for creators and artists who don't think they create original work?
Emerson: Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession. That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him.
Brain Pickings 500
Today, one of our favorite blogs, Brain Pickings passes the 500 post mark. To celebrate this incredible feat, we've got a trifecta collab consisting of Len Kendall, Brain Pickings + yours truly. Brain Pickings has curated the content of the top 50 posts, Len has brilliantly interpreted and illustrated each one and we will be hand silk screening each one onto upcycled T-shirts. Take a moment to explore the full artwork, which is available under CreativeCommons non-commercial license. The coolest part is, the artwork is fully clickable, meaning that each individual illustration will lead to it's respective post!
We are producing a super limited round of 50 Tee's as a fundraising effort to help save the Brain Pickings email newsletter, which recently lost its main sponsor. To produce the quality content, we all get to enjoy on a daily basis, requires some serious commitment, more than 200 hours a month, every month, for 33 months, to be exact. So lets show editor, Maria Papova and Co some love :-) The Brain Picker 500 Upcycled Tshirt [$50] is available now, on a first come, first served basis.
