the seed #002

White text reads "THE SEED a note from my studio #002". The background is a close up of branches of a trillium and some moss growing on a rock.

Hi there!

Thanks for being here. This is the second-ever note from my studio, but it’s the first-ever instalment in my new monthly(ish) newsletter! I enjoy sharing my art with my community, and posting on billionaire-owned social media platforms that are full of AI slop has become increasingly uninteresting to me. SO I’m planning to send out little notes to you to share: fun events and projects I’ve got coming up, art that I’ve created recently, my experiences in nature, and art that’s inspiring me!

I imagine that the cadence of these notes will shift and change over time – I’m human after all! You will probably hear from me more in the warmer seasons and less in the winter. I’m excited to see how this evolves and grows with time.

A digital painting of a globe. White handwritten text reads "earthshakers creativity club". The background is a photo of a night sky with northern lights.

upcoming events

The spring/summer dates for the Earthshakers Creativity Club are live! Our next in person meetup is coming up on May 24 in Downtown Kitchener! Masks are required and provided <3

This space is open to everyone that wants to explore their creativity in community! Feel like doodling on some scrap paper with a random pen you found in your junk drawer? Great! Want to write in your journal? Love it! Have some clothes that need mending? Amazing! I also have some art supply kits at the in-person meetups that you can use!! I hope to see you there πŸ™‚

Learn more about Earthshakers & RSVP for an upcoming meetup!

what i’ve been making

I have been exploring sewing this month! After getting through my large pile of things that needed mending in March, I felt really inspired to sew something new.

So… I made some cute little pieces for my sewing kit – a needle book, and a pouch and a drawstring bag for notions! I sewed these all by hand with scrap and thrifted fabric.

A digital painting of a globe. White handwritten text reads "earthshakers creativity club". The background is a photo of a night sky with northern lights.

works in progress

I put together this concept sketch for an application to a local public art opportunity.

Here’s a little sneak peak of my design πŸ™‚ Hopefully I get to bring it to life!!

A digital painting of a globe. White handwritten text reads "earthshakers creativity club". The background is a photo of a night sky with northern lights.
A digital painting of a globe. White handwritten text reads "earthshakers creativity club". The background is a photo of a night sky with northern lights.

My next sewing project is a vest, in a gorgeous mustard yellow jacquard cotton fabric! Photographed here is the toile, or mock-up, that I made to check the fit before cutting into my fancy fabric.

Also, I’ve been knitting my first sweater and I am so happy with how it’s going so far! I’m about to attach the sleeves to the body of the sweater, and then I’ll work up towards the neckline!

let’s go outside

Spring is here!!!!

I’ve been getting outside as much as I can, even for a short walk around my neighbourhood with my dog on the days where I don’t really feel like it. Hearing all the different birds singing and seeing the landscape come to life in vivid colour brings me so much joy πŸ™‚

There have even been a few brave blooms from the woodland strawberries in my little garden.

If you also like spending time outside and want a space to share your adventures and observations, I invite you to join the lil online club I created for that exact purpose: In Our Nature. It’s a relaxed space, allowing you to pop in whenever you feel like sharing or reading about what others are up to! (It’s also a great way to try out Discord if you’re new to that platform!)

A digital painting of a globe. White handwritten text reads "earthshakers creativity club". The background is a photo of a night sky with northern lights.

what I’ve been inspired by recently

My sewing practice has been energized by a few artists that so generously share their work through videos on YouTube:

  • Bernadette Banner focuses on historical sewing, and has made some incredibly intricate projects that are just so stunning
  • Ash Bentley has a lot fun with her creations, including unique wearable art pieces and so much more
  • Carly B makes whimsical, colourful garments with beautiful details and finishes

And here are a few excerpts from one of my favourite books I read recently, Circe by Madeline Miller:

“Let me say what sorcery is not: it is not divine power, which comes with a thought and a blink. It must be made and worked, planned and searched out, dug up and dried, chopped and ground, cooked, spoken over and sung.”

“Little by little, I began to listen better: to the sap moving in the plants, to the blood in my veins. I learned to understand my own intention, to prune and to add, to feel where the power gathered and speak the right words to draw it to its height.”

Thank you for reading πŸ™‚

Nikki

NS | sent via email May 9, 2026; posted online May 16, 2026

the seed #001

White text reads "THE SEED a note from my studio #001". The background is a close up of red leaves on a northern redo oak tree in autumn.

Hello!

Just thought I’d write a quick note to let you know about a few things I’m up to!

Four squares with zig-zag edges are arranged in a square shape (two rows of two squares). In the top left one, there is text that reads "Kwartzlab Makerspace Holiday Market". The top right square has a snowflake design. The bottom left square has text that reads "Tour our creative space with over 20 talented artisans: leather, yarn, pottery, wood, art, and more! Stair access only. Masks required and provided." The bottom right square has text that reads "Saturday November 22, 11am-4pm".

On Saturday, November 22 I will be a vendor at the Kwartzlab Holiday Market!I’d love to see you there πŸ™‚

Kwartzlab Makerspace
145 Bedford Rd., Kitchener, ON Canada N2G 3A3 (*2nd floor, accessible by stairs only)
November 22, 2025
11 am – 4 pm
Masks required and provided!

A digital painting of a globe. White handwritten text reads "earthshakers creativity club". The background is a photo of a night sky with northern lights.

I’m hosting the next Earthshakers Creativity Club meetup on December 1 at 7:00pm Eastern! This session will be virtual πŸ™‚

Learn more about Earthshakers & RSVP!

Here’s some art I made recently!

A digital painting of a globe. White handwritten text reads "earthshakers creativity club". The background is a photo of a night sky with northern lights.

Wax pastel study of Evening Silhouette by Arthur Lismer (1928).

A digital painting of a globe. White handwritten text reads "earthshakers creativity club". The background is a photo of a night sky with northern lights.

Watercolour pencil sketches of some reference photos Mel, an artist friend of mine, took.

I went for a walk at Huron Natural area the other day and it was exactly what I needed. Here are a few photos I took! It was a few days after our first snowfall, and I really did feel the changing of the seasons.

Never underestimate the power of a long walk in nature!

P.S. There are currently proposed and approved developments that jeopardize not only Huron Natural Area, the adjacent Aster Meadow Natural Regeneration Area, and all the Life that lives within! These lands are both part of Kitchener’s Core Natural Heritage Features, which are supposed to receive the highest level of environmental protection. Learn more about the proposed developments and how you can help protect HNA.

A digital painting of a globe. White handwritten text reads "earthshakers creativity club". The background is a photo of a night sky with northern lights.
A digital painting of a globe. White handwritten text reads "earthshakers creativity club". The background is a photo of a night sky with northern lights.
A digital painting of a globe. White handwritten text reads "earthshakers creativity club". The background is a photo of a night sky with northern lights.

Naming the River

The water in your body is just visiting.
It was a thunderstorm a week ago.
It will be the ocean soon enough.
Most of your cells come and go like morning dew.
We are more weather pattern
than stone monument.
Sunlight on mist. Summer lightning.
Your choices outweigh your substance.

by Jarod K. Anderson

Thank you for reading πŸ™‚

Nikki

NS | sent via email November 16, 2025; posted online May 16, 2026

Kwartzlab Market 2025

White text that reads "Kwartzlab Holiday Market 2025" The background is a photo of a cloudy sky at sunset.

I will be a vendor at the Kwartzlab Holiday Market on November 22! There will be over 20 artists and makers there!

Kwartzlab Makerspace
145 Bedford Rd., Kitchener, ON Canada N2G 3A3
(*2nd floor, accessible by stairs only)
November 22, 2025
11 am – 4 pm
Masks required and provided!

 

NS | November 15, 2025

Four squares with zig-zag edges are arranged in a square shape (two rows of two squares). In the top left one, there is text that reads "Kwartzlab Makerspace Holiday Market". The top right square has a snowflake design. The bottom left square has text that reads "Tour our creative space with over 20 talented artisans: leather, yarn, pottery, wood, art, and more! Stair access only. Masks required and provided." The bottom right square has text that reads "Saturday November 22, 11am-4pm".

I am feeling so grateful after the holiday market at Kwartzlab on Saturday!

huge shoutout to the Kwartzlab team for hosting such an amazing market, and for requiring masks in the space!! masking and cleaning the air with air purifiers goes a long way in making events like these more accessible – THANK YOU!!!

also shoutout to everyone that attended the market and supported myself and all the other amazing vendors that were there selling their handmade wares! it is so uplifting to see such overwhelming community support for artists and makers – THANK YOU!!!

I still have lots of stock left and everything is available on my website!! check it out if you’re looking for cute holiday gifts for your loved ones that are made with so much love and care and not a single billionaire profits from them hehe πŸ™‚

NS | November 24, 2025