The Obama Presidential Center Juneteeth Grand Opening Friday, June 19^th, 2026

I am a writer and words cannot describe how wonderful this day was! I was born on the South Side of Chicago and raised on both the West and South Sides of Chicago. People have spoken about needing an organization like the Obama Presidential Center for years. Now it is here!

I was supposed to be with my family on a bus tour, but when I learned that Story Studio Chicago was giving a writers workshop, I arrived in the area at 5:30 am, parked my car and walked around. It was a lot of positive energy. I dressed the part: Juneteenth t shirt, loc cap, black stretch pants, black shoes, carry along bag with African print and containing the following: notebook, pen, crochet hooks and red yarn.

I walked to Valois Restaurant and had an Obama special of steak and eggs. Then I walked back for the Story Studio and Art Institute of Chicago workshop. I took some amazing pictures. Again, words cannot even begin to describe how wonderful this has all been.

Congratulations to the Obamas! Thank you for all you do!

I Made It Back to Quilter’s Plus Finally

I made it back to Quilter’s Plus finally. That is the only thing about working and going to school at the same time: It delays your creative process.

Oh, the horror!

I wasn’t about to let my life be a horror story anymore. Freddy, Chucky and Jason were all going to die by strangulation with my yarn and stabbing with my crochet hooks and knitting needles. I got back to my Monday night sewing circle called Quilter’s Plus. I told them my intent: I wanted to master the crochet granny square this summer if it is the last thing I ever did. My maternal great grandmother was an expert at crochet, I loved the work of the yarn bombers for the Whitney Young High School 50^th anniversary yarn bomb, I was doing this, then I fell out of it and I have made the decision that I was going to do it, this was my story, but I was literally going to stick to crochet finally.

I’ve made sure my purse was a backpack where I am able to have yarn and crochet hooks. I am keeping yarn and crochet hooks in my car. I have yarn and crochet hooks in my home. In case of emergency, break glass. There would be no excuse and no escape: I would finally master the granny square.

There was a retired Chicago Public Schools bus driver who was also an expert at crochet who was only too happy to share her knowledge with me. She started the square first. I finished it and started another. Something in my muscle memory was starting to take hold. Life does get busy. We are all trying to complete a long-held dream and every effort must be applauded, but I had no idea of how much I needed this: pleasant company, cookies and crochet.

It was a good day!

Project Support (Fix Your Mistakes) Crochet Class at Knit1 in Chicago

If you are anything like me, then you make a lot of mistakes when it comes to textiles. A class specifically focused on your learning how to get it right was necessary for me to be able to move ahead at all. This is where Knit1 in Chicago came in. They have a project support class. I call it a “fix your mistakes” class because that is what keeps happening when I show up there.

It has been part crochet/part therapy. I shared with them that my maternal great grandmother was a master at crochet. Sniffle. I shared that I was deeply disappointed that I had not inherited the crochet gene and could never wrap my head around it, so to speak. I looked away, barely able to hide my discontent. I just knew I would walk away with the same problems I had when I walked through the door. There wasn’t anything anyone could do for me.

The staff at Knit1 insisted there would be none of that.

They taught me a simply beginner granny square pattern and that was it! I was off to the races! No more crying about what I didn’t get from the familial textiles gene pool! I focused and built only on what I could master and control, which was the beginning granny square! And this is the purpose of fiber arts therapy!

Thank you Knit1!

It got addictive! I was supposed to be doing this for stress relief and to continue a family tradition. I got some red yarn for Juneteenth and started to crochet some beginning granny squares. Even my mother commented, “That is beautiful!” My family is like that. They may have dementia, but when they see me making a project they like, they will say they like it and ask for it. I made up in my mind that once I’d made enough granny squares with red yarn, I would put them in an afghan and give them to my mother as a present.

Fiber and Fabric Craft Festival by h +h Americas at Donald E. Stevens Convention Center Crack the Color Code by MJ Kinman

This was one of the most useful and helpful classes I ever had in color theory! I have taken painting color theory classes. I’ve read color theory books. I took a color theory fiber arts/yarn class. I’ve taken color theory classes online. This class took color theory to another level. We spent more time hands on with fabric rather than speculating what might look good.

I’m working on a number of projects where my color theory lessons have to show up in order to make a statement. MJ Kinman’s color theory class greatly helped.

It also helped that I was sitting next to a former superintendent who also attended Northeastern Illinois University and was wearing the most wonderful quilted jacket! We exchanged information and have been talking about quilting, fabric and education ever since. There’s nothing like being around like minded people who love your enthusiasm about textiles.

I absolutely loved the Straphangers Lounge! A fiber arts subway station! Who knew?!!? I showed pictures to everyone I knew who loved fiber and fabric and they loved it as well!

My Patient’s Graduation Was on Wednesday, June 4^th, 2026

My patient’s graduation from Whitney Young High School took place on Wednesday, June 4^th, 2026 at the Arie Crown Theatre in McCormick Place. When we were at school earlier in the day, the Whitney Young High School staff remarked, “He knows what is going on! He’s so happy!” My patient was clapping and smiling all day. He had worked very hard. His family turned it up: Pizza and graduation cookies! Yum!

I was still technically working, so I wore my work black gym shoes and black pants, but a more dressy black blouse and makeup for the occasion. Whitney Young High School let all the graduates know during graduation rehearsal that they had a strict graduation dress code and my golly gee I was determined to adhere to it. I was asked by the school to also wear a graduation cap and gown. They even gave me a white and blue stole. Depending on the website you look at, this was supposed to be the colors for nursing and humanities.

I had to go on YouTube to figure out what I needed to do to keep my graduation cap on my head. I remember when I graduated as an undergraduate student that this was a problem. I saw a video that recommended using a lot of bobby pins and hair clips, which I rushed out to buy at my local beauty supply store. I wore orange disposable gloves. I wanted something to represent the school colors besides my graduation stole.

My patient looked too cute in his graduation outfit. We both were determined to show up and show out.

It was delightful to see all the students dressed up for graduation. Some of them had me sign their yearbooks! It was just to sweet! Whitney Young High School runs from the 7^th grade to the 12^th grade. In other words, some of the students had been waiting for this day for nearly six years.

This is why you have to be patient for something.

Needless to say, like most things in this life, my patient’s graduation was a group effort. My patient’s extended family was there. The nurse who has been with him since he was six months old was also there. My patient had partied so hard all day that he fell asleep during his own graduation party!

I took tons of pictures. I received virtual flowers and ballons from people on my iphone. The ceremony was recorded and placed on YouTube the very next day. This was another event I felt honored to be apart of. I literally remember when it was yesterday that I received that call I almost did not pick up.

I am grateful I took the call.

My Patient’s Graduation Quilt is Done!

My patient’s graduation quilt is done! I couldn’t be more pleased. I could not wait until I went to work on Monday to show his family and I texted pictures to his mother. She literally cried when she saw it: “It’s soooo beautiful! Thank you for such a lovely and thoughtful gesture! I am in tears! It is an heirloom! I want to wrap up in it!”

I texted pictures to people in my sewing circles. They said, “What a rewarding career! You must be so proud!”

I was. I was literally crying. I was not prepared for how emotional this would all be for me.

My patient’s graduation took place on Wednesday, June 4^th, 2026.

Obama Center Visit with the Chicago Lyric Opera and Committed Knitters

Committed Knitters is a knitting and crochet circle that meets on the University of Chicago campus at the Arts Incubator. They usually meet on Wednesday afternoons from 11 am to 3pm. It is led by Dr. Alva Batey-Stepancic. She has gone above and beyond to create a warm and welcoming environment. Although I generally work during the week during this time, I am still a member of Committed Knitters. I do try to attend as many events as my work and school schedule will allow.

This was one of those events that I knew I simply could not miss.

Dr. Alva received an invitation for Committed Knitters to attend the Auditorium Acoustical Commissioning at the Obama Presidential Center on Friday, May 28^th, 2026, in the Elie Wiesel auditorium for a private performance by the Chicago Lyric Opera singers.

The Committed Knitters helped out tremendously with the Whitney Young High School 50^th anniversary yarn bombing project.

I literally cried during their performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “Amazing Grace.” The Obama Center was preparing for their grand opening on Juneteenth, Friday, June 18^th, 2026. The Chicago Lyric Opera singers were doing just a practice performance, but truth be told, they were more than ready for the stage. It was a sincere honor to be there. It was an honor to be a part of the Committed Knitters knitting circle. The Committed Knitters members wore their t shirts and took a group photo.

Thank you Dr. Alva and all the Committed Knitters! The Whitney Young High School yarn bombing would not have been a success without all of you!

Jennifer Chiaverini Author Reading at Quilter’s Quest Quilt Shop

Ironically, there was an amusement park across the street from Quilter’s Quest when author Jennifer Chiaverini dad an author reading at the quilt shop on Thursday, May 21^st, 2026. It seemed the writing muses were giving a nod of approval. It was great to see Jennifer back into the quilt fiction swing of things. She wrote the Elm Creek series and then switched to historical fiction. Now, she is back to her quilt fiction roots and my sewing circles and I could not be more thrilled.

Jennifer Chiaverini is a quilter herself. She created a fiction series based on quilters. This book series was popular among quilters, like me. As a matter of fact, people from my sewing circles actually showed up at Quilter’s Quest for her author reading and we did not even know we would be there!

Jennifer then asked the audience were there any questions.

“You’ve written over 20 novels,” one of the members of my sewing circle said.  “How are you doing this?”

Jennifer admitted that 2025 was a challenging year. Her husband needed surgery and there were setbacks getting to a number of her author readings, but she still tried to make the time to place the time and energy on her writing.

I asked Jennifer about any advice she had for aspiring authors. It was the standard: make dedicated time to write your novel, find a writing group, do meticulous research, especially if there is any historical element to your novel. This advice has worked well for her.

Congratulations Jennifer Chiaverini! We are all so proud of you!

Author Reading With Mia Manansala

It has to be a wonderful feeling when the library you once worked for now has your author reading! This is exactly what happened to Mia Mannansala on Wednesday, May 20^th, 2026, at the Forest Park Public Library.

I adored the book, “Death is in the Cards.” One of my Whitney Young High School 50^th anniversary yarn bombers was a Chicago librarian who also enjoyed her books.

Mia Manansala gave a slide lecture detailing her journey from library employee to published author. She first started with a mystery writing class from Lori Raider Day. Then she won a number of writing competitions. Her mother was a librarian and recommended JoAnn Fluke’s mystery books. Mia loved these books. However, she was concerned about the lack of ethnic representation. So, she remembered Toni Morrison’s quote where, to paraphrase, Ms. Morrison pretty much said, “Write your own novels.” So, this is what Mia did.

There were Filipino dishes for the audience to enjoy. I had her books on my iphone. Although I love the digital age, I must say I miss the good old days of having the author sign your book. I mean having books on your phone decreases bulk in the house, but I do miss having my book signed and holding a book in my hands. To make up for this emotional loss, I told Mia Manansala that I was an aspiring author and a student at Northeastern Illinois University for their teacher certification program if she would be interested in lending her editorial services to a young adult mystery novel that I was trying to write. She said she would be interested and if she could not help me, she would try to find someone who could.

This is all I could ever ask.

Congratulations to Mia Manansala! Happy Writing!