One random weekday in February, I got three texts within an hour, all with the same link to an Instagram post from Chicago Public Library’s Makers Lab. I didn’t know much about the Makers Lab (definitely my loss), but the idea of teaching classes at the library and working on an exhibited piece pulled me in. This residency was the first artistic thing I ever applied for, and despite a lil self-doubt, I spent hours scouring the Makers Lab blog, reading everything I could find about past artists, and then jumped right into the application.

That same night, I finished the application, and the more I worked through each question, the more excited I got. In Fall 2023, I hosted five Sip & Sew Pop-Ups and two private events, where I walked groups of 6-8 people through sewing projects step by step. The goal was to create a fun, low-pressure environment for folks to learn a new skill and meet new people. The energy from those events was contagious, and while I was eager to host more, the school year and expenses took over. So, when I saw that the residency included an adult class component, it felt like everything was falling into place.

By the time I clicked submit, I had already fully envisioned the exhibited piece and potential workshops, all that there was left to do was to cross all my fingers and toes and wait. I had never checked my email so much. Mid-March, I learned that within the final 2 days, almost 50 additional makers had applied, making this year the most competitive year yet.

When I got the email at the end of March notifying me that I was one of the two chosen makers for the year, I walked into the school bathroom and sobbed. A year ago I would have never thought about applying for something like this let alone view myself as an artist. I felt an affirmation that was deeply needed at the time. Once the tears dried up, the fear set in because now I had to bring it all to life.