Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Shannon Downey

@badasscrossstitch.bsky.social

10K followers 1.7K following 680 posts

Art activist. Craftivist. Chicagoan. Educator. President of the Joyful Menace Society. My book, Let’s Move The Needle, is out now. 🖖🏼. Big fan of libraries and dogs. Super 🏳️‍🌈. Gen X

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · Dec 13

It’s so weird spending 5 years working on something in service to others and then it’s out in the world and you have to spend all your time being like “hey will you buy this and read it bc it’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done and I would hate for it to go to waste” 😂

bookshop.org/p/books/let-...

Let's Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives, and Makers; Build Community and Make Change! a book by Shannon Downey

Create change in the world with this inspiring guide to social activism, from the artist and craftivist behind Badass Cross Stitch. Craftivism, or the space where art and activism meet, is a powerful...

bookshop.org

49 140 520

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 1d

Friends, I’m leading a craftivism/embroidery workshop Thursday evening in chicago at Hey, I Thought of You.

Register now! #craftivism

heyithoughtofyou.com/index.html#e...

Hey I Thought Of You | Local Art, Gifts, & Craft Classes

heyithoughtofyou.com

7 18

Reposted by Shannon Downey

Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social · 5d

Federal agents are overtly abusing their power to try to intimidate advocates and elected officials. We need ICE out of Illinois immediately and justice for people like Ald. Jessie Fuentes who are defending their communities.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/03/f...

Federal Agents Handcuff Chicago Alderperson At Hospital ER

In another incident caught on video Friday, federal agents inside a car randomly threw tear gas into a Logan Square street while people — including a 2-year-old — were outside nearby.

blockclubchicago.org

650 6K 16K

Reposted by Shannon Downey

John Collins @logicallyjc.bsky.social · 6d

So much chaos, just to protect monsters in the Epstein files.

180 1.7K 5.5K

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 7d

Oh my heart! Thank you!

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 7d

My baby turns 1 today! If you need some hope, a laugh, and all the tools to level up your art activism #craftivism then this is a must read.

www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/shann...

My book, let’s move the needle wearing a birthday crown behind a cake with a candle, a balloon that says one and above is a sign that reads happy birthday

Reposted by Shannon Downey

Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 8d

I can’t believe I’m watching interviews of city mayors talking about how they are coordinating with other mayors to discuss how to protect their residents FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

I know we are “used to it” but it is absolutely insane

1.5K 18K 60K

Reposted by Shannon Downey

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 8d

The president said, in a televised speech, that he's sending his new, less restrained, more violent military into US cities to practice their brutality on immigrants and minorities, to better train them to apply that brutality to other countries.

He said this out loud.

650 5.6K 15K

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 11d

Had the honor of bopping over to nyc for this amazing event at Hachette headquarters with her agenda: Women changing publishing and the media. Here’s my adventure in under a minute. :)

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 13d

Hmmmm going to need a hand massage after this. 😁

Piles and piles of copies of my book at a book signing table.

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 13d

And maybe if the barista doesn’t say someone’s name loud enough and I know who ordered it I will shout it out again so they can get their drink in a timely fashion. So…basically the entire commercial was an affront to my personality

1 1

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 13d

And yes I will talk to people around me at restaurants to ask what they ordered if it looks amazing.

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 13d

Look if the young person bagging my groceries is about to put the bread at the bottom of the bag I’m intervening.

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 13d

There’s a new progressive commercial. The “we can’t prevent you from becoming your parents” one. I have been laughing at them for ages bc they are spot on. However this new one goes too far!

I feel VERY UNCOMFORTABLE with how much I saw myself in it. 😂😂 I feel attacked.

2 10

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 14d

NYC I’m here!

Welcome to New York sign from airplane window

Off the page: the women changing publishing and media event flyer

Reposted by Shannon Downey

Capitol Fax @capitolfax.bsky.social · 17d

Big news about Broadview, if true

HuffPost @huffpost.com · 17d

Homeland security communications show officials are moving operations following a protest in which demonstrators said they were hit with teargas.

ICE Plans To Evacuate Chicago-Area Facility Following Immigration Protests

Homeland security communications show officials are moving operations following a protest in which demonstrators said they were hit with teargas.

www.huffpost.com

4 14 66

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 18d

Oh no! You ok?

1 2

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 18d

Some days (the best days) activism looks like working with a crew of 10 badasses to bring together 200 Chicagoans to learn advanced community defense strategies and tactics!

What an invigorating day. So many more Joyful Menaces!!!

We save us.

3 18 180

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 18d

Some nights activism looks like pre-folding 300 blank zines for comrades.

(And only 1 paper cut)

3 40

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 19d

Chicagoland! You have until 2pm to register for tomorrow’s all day community defense training. You will leave with so many skills and connections.

www.eventbrite.com/e/free-chica...

Free Chicago Citywide Training - Sat. September 20th

Practical resistance training by and for community organizers to bolster local responses to ICE and possible Nat'l Guard incursions.

www.eventbrite.com

1 9

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 20d

If you are in chicago and you have thought - I just don’t know what to do - I have somewhere you need to be on Saturday!

www.eventbrite.com/e/free-chica...

Free Chicago Citywide Training - Sat. September 20th

Practical resistance training by and for community organizers to bolster local responses to ICE and possible Nat'l Guard incursions.

www.eventbrite.com

3 72 110

Reposted by Shannon Downey

Jason Dogwood 💙 🏳️‍🌈 🌱 @jasondogwood.bsky.social · 21d

People in Florida are painting rainbows 🌈 in pot holes to get them fixed quicker 🤣

160 1.4K 4.9K

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 21d

💜

Reposted by Shannon Downey

NWArkProgressive @arkprogressive.bsky.social · 21d

Buy some from @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social #chicago www.badasscrossstitch.com/buyart/p/chi...

Chicago PATTERN Bundle — Badass Cross Stitch

You get all three patterns in a pdf download. Pattern will tell you which stitches, colors, and number of threads to use to complete each piece. THIS IS FOR EMBROIDERY PATTERNS NOT FINISHED ARTWORK

www.badasscrossstitch.com

1 1 7

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 22d

Thank you!

Shannon Downey @badasscrossstitch.bsky.social · 22d

We will be sending out some simple prep work for folks without experience so long as you feel you have a medium to high risk tolerance for direct action.

1 3