blogging – Chacalit

Christmas Gifts

Today I started making christmas gifts. Actually, I started yesterday. I was talking on the phone and ironing fabric for 10 bowl cozies. I think that I need to rebrand that name for everyone to use without being treated bad. I have other small ideas that I want to do to add to this list. I actually downloaded a list from Pin Cut Sew. I have one person on my list. I need to make simple gifts. I also need to fill my list. C is the only person on the list.

So I want to talk about a list. First, I will have an amazon wish list but this isn’t about me or what I want. I think I will make my list simple. Starting with cord wrappers, bookmarks, book sleeves/iPad covers, pencil pouch for journals, key lanyard in long and wrist sizes, ornament, post card, and eye glass covers. This is ambitious to do in two months. Whatever I do give away, I hope to sell on my website.

I hope to have a clothing line (POD) available as well. This will be another way to share gifts with friends and family. I thought t-shirts, hoodies, and totes would be an easy sell. Also, here winter is chilly so maybe some beanies and scarfs. My goal is to have several individual shops connected to this blog via Shopify. (Fingers crossed).

What do you think? Can I do this? Will you be shopping or putting your name on the list as a recipient of my gifts or just shop my store. Let me know in the comments.

Here is where you sign up for my list: Gift list

Makes Me Thank of Luxury

Bigger boats ahead!

Amazing Stitching!

X or Maybe it’s Lots of X’s Mark the Spot?

Poetry Is A Form Of Beauty

Summer Red (haiku)

Empowering Voices: Krystle Yang’s Artistic Journey

I have been doing workshops, art, sewing and most importantly advocating for those voices that have not been heard. I have been an artist at Redline Contemporary Art Center for a long time. The community studio has been a host to so many different organizations and the clientele. Krystle Jasmin Yang was one of them.

Krystle is creating jewelry and has been coming to this safe, resource based, day shelter ever since I met her at Redline years ago. I started doing workshops at The Gathering Place a few years later and she attended my workshop. I wanted to share her story from her voice.

Krystle Jasmin Yang

I started making earrings because I have always loved working with my hands. I always put love in my handy work. It gives me a chance to put my creativity in the earrings I make. I enjoy it so much and I get so many compliments on my work.

I was on the streets for over 10 years and I have dealt with a lot of mental, emotional, verbal and unfortunately sexual abuse. I have been accused of doing this most horrible things to people that I cared about.

Now Krystle is creating jewelry and selling it on TikTok. Here is her handle @Krystleyang7295 Follow her, support her, and/or buy her jewelry. Thank you for taking the time to read her story.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor, and guess, a Writer

It’s my birthday!

I am officially a senior at age 55. I wanted to do something different for my birthday. I am going to spend this month shopping thrift stores for discounted items. I will also go get my free birthday meals. Finally, shopping is part of birthdays. I have my amazon Wishlist: Gift list. This is so whomever wants to contribute is welcome. Finally I am having a sale on my store.

I have quite a few hand made sewn and art products on my site. I am have a 30 day sale starting 4/21/2026 -5/21/2026. You will get 50% off anything linked to my website (code: Birthday55). I also have some prints at Redline Contemporary Art Center in the Reach Community Studio. Feel free to stop by to check them out.

So the last thing I want to say about my birthday is that I am going to match my sale and celebrate all month. I am going to do things for myself to remind me that I deserve pampering. I will make some clothes, art, notebooks, and clean my place. I also want to spruce myself up with a hair color and pedicure. I will probably update everything on my socials. Facebook – Instagram

Thank you for helping me feel good for my birthday!

Crazy Creations and Becoming Whole

This show was up at Redline during the Christmas time. The to smaller ones “Nurtured Dream” in green and “Shadow Life” in browns are currently hanging at Saint John’s Cathedral in Denver.

When I created these pieces I was thinking about how I am getting older. Plus, I just evaluated my life, again. This time I decided that I needed to stop living for others and start living my life.

Here’s my artist statement:

“As an artist, I like using different types of mediums, but fiber is the best. I prefer used or repurposed textiles. In these pieces there are some donated fabrics and new fabrics. My art is a loosely traced version of a selfie that I took of myself. I took this picture because I loved who I was in the mirror. This means I am enough and I don’t need approval.

These three pieces are representing the phases of me “Becoming whole. “Shadow Life” is a reminder of how I left myself in the shadow of others to help them in their journeys. “Nurtured Dream” is what I thought that life should be and what I should look like. Unfortunately, I came to a realization that I was setting myself up for failure. “Infused Wellness” is a combo of both with acceptance of how life is ever changing. I am accepting my body as it is and accepting my life as it is to achieve mind-body wellness.”

I have been so busy with life, that I am just getting to posting. Please reach out with comments, inquiries, and with thoughts of how they make you feel.