Kristen Thane Clark

A quilt commemorating the 250th anniversary that I hope we celebrate next year as a nation. Monkey Wrench blocks to remind me to keep preparing, and North Star blocks to focus me on the goals. Agencies, organizations, and laws that are critical to our infrastructure are stitched into the fabric, along with the words that have greeted generations of immigrants at our NY shoreline. The initials of family members who actually were brave on behalf of our democracy are a contrast to those who claim they’re acting in our best interests.

The words that have greeted generations of immigrants at our NY shoreline: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, the tempest-tost, to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

Land of the free* (*conditions apply)

The initials of family members who actually were brave on behalf of our democracy are a contrast to those who claim they’re acting in our best interests.

My creative catharsis of 2025: a quilt commemorating the 250th anniversary that I hope we celebrate next year as a nation. Documenting these ideals now so that hopefully we remember that they once existed… #ThisismyAmerica #protestquilt 🇺🇸

Quilt in progress with blue and white North Star and Monkey Wrench blocks. Embroidered with Land of the Free* (*conditions apply), USA 1776-2026?, and Home of the Brave.

Hand-stitching the binding on my #protestquilt because I need to keep from doomscrolling! Land of the free* (*conditions apply)

Work in progress protest quilt of North Star and Monkey Wrench blocks in white, blue, and small bits of red.

Quilt block with “Land of the Free* *conditions apply” embroidery

Quilt block with “USA 1776-2026?” embroidery

Quilt block with “Home of the Brave” and the initials of my father-in-law and both of my grandfathers to honor their brave service

Spending time on this No Kings Flag Day working on my protest quilt. Land of the Free* (*conditions apply). Let’s keep marching to be sure our democracy is still standing for next year’s 250th anniversary! #protestquilt #nokings

Me in the sunshine wearing an Autism Advocate tshirt

My sweet dog, Max, running in the grass with daffodils

Daffodils in the sunshine with the White River in the background

Forsythia blooms next to the brook in our yard

During a really rough time for the autism community, I’m finding strength in the beauty of spring ☀️ #autismadvocate #mamabear

Getting into good trouble! In prepping Kendall, I tried to explain why we were going to stand in the rain with a sign by listing things she has rights to like doctors, medicine, safety, love. Her addition: she has rights to dogs. I think she gets it. #HandsOff2025 #DisabilityRights

Cardboard protest sign saying “my future depends on Medicaid”

Cardboard protest sign saying “disability rights!”

Because tomorrow we march #HandsoffMedicaid #DisabilityRightsAreHumanRights

Kendall sitting high in a horse’s saddle, beaming proudly

Kendall and support staff leading a horse in a horse ring

Oh, we are Autism Aware! And autism inclusive, advocating, accommodating, and loving. She had a fantastic kick-off to Autism Awareness Month by celebrating April Fools Day—tricking people about the time of day or current holiday season 🤣 How lucky we are to be in her world 💗♾️🤩 #AutismAwarenessMonth

You are loved. You matter. Your life matters. You deserve to feel safe. #TransDayOfVisibility SelfLoveRainbow

TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS! We shouldn’t have to say it. It should be obvious and one of the most boring topic to consider bringing up, like the fact that the earth isn’t flat. But because too many people are intent on gaining power by tearing other people down, here we are needing to say it.

Quilt blocks, quilt sketch journal, fabric scraps, and Zak Foster’s book The World Needs Your Next Quilt on my sewing table

Quilt blocks laid out on sewing table in a configuration that may or may not end up being the final layout

It’s National Quilt Day, and I’m working on a narrative quilt I’m calling “Home Sweet Home” (for now). Imperfections coming together to make something comforting and beautiful. 💗🧵

Thank you, @rebeccawhite.bsky.social , for representing our district with a “NO” vote on being one step closer to dismantling public education for VTers. We are losing to so many levels of privilege. I’m scared for our future. #disabilityrights #protectIDEA

Sign outside Co-op Food Store in White River Junction, VT that says “We remain committed to the fabric of our Cooperative Values. Values of kindness, inclusion, equity, honesty, diversity, respect, acceptance, belonging, community, partnership, sustainability, environmental stewardship…and did we mention kindness?”

It was assumed because we feel it every time we walk through their doors. But it matters that they put it in writing for all to see, especially for those of us who aren’t sure who to trust these days. Thank you, neighbors 💗 #InclusionMatters #ILoveVT #SupportLocal

“Didn’t even watch Angels & Demons”

Me and Tom standing in the snow in front of Old Faithful Geyser

Yellowstone National Park geysers in the snow

Gibbon Falls in Yellowstone National Park

Sparkling wine on the flight home

Saying goodbye to this vacation is rough, but as I always say, now we get to plan our next adventure! I couldn’t ask for a better travel partner ❤️ #YellowstoneNP #ProtectOurParks #MarryYourBestFriend

Sunrise in Yellowstone National Park in the snow

Another amazing day in Yellowstone #yellowstonenps #ProtectOurParks #ThisIsMyAmerica

Me standing next to the North Entrance Yellowstone National Park sign with snow piled up around it

Me taking a selfie with a Bison from the safety of our vehicle

Tom in the driver’s seat of our vehicle with a bison walking beside us sticking its tongue out

Snowy mountains and pine trees in Yellowstone with the behind of a moose running off between huge snow banks

Our second day in Yellowstone did not disappoint! Bison owning the place (note the one sticking its tongue out at Tom), wide open snowy spaces, elk at high elevation, and a moose (I swear it was there). #Yellowstoneforever

Colorful Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt on a bed

Tabby cat stretching out on a bed with a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt

Pieces of a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt spread out on the floor

A quilt years in the making, left 1/2 finished in Nanny’s sewing room when she passed. I finally finished it this weekend. We did it, Nan 💗 #griefinmanyforms #quiltingtherapy

(((HUG))) 🏳️‍⚧️

🙌

15 F, but I needed some air. Tough parenting weekend, but we did it together. Nothing compared to parenting others are doing, though, as rumors of ICE raids swirl & LGBTQ+ attacks continue. And people ask why we need Black History Month after the WH blames plane crashes on DEI. #surviving2025

Agreed! Game changer!

I just threw up in my mouth reading that EO

YAY!!!! 🎉

Keeps our hands unable to doom-scroll and puts our creative energy to good use 💗

Quilt being hand stitched

Tabby cat crawling on quilt being hand stitched

Tabby cat sleeping on work-in-progress quilt

Using my Quilting Era to disassociate from the reality of our misogynistic hellscape of a country. Ruby is laying claim to this one in progress. #quiltsky #catsforcomfort

I’m so sorry! Let me know if we can help entertain him with a call 💗

Noooo….

Trans & NB humans exist & DO NOT threaten me or my identity as a woman. We do, however, need protection from the sexual predator who signed this order, abusers in his administration, & misogynists they defend. I guess dehumanizing others is easier than reducing the price of eggs. #FoxInTheHenHouse

The person inaugurated today is not fit for office for countless reasons. Here’s a reminder that it was not a deal-breaker for more than 77M Americans to elect a convicted sexual offender. #ThisIsWhyWomenDontReport #BeliveSurvivors

On an auspicious anniversary

We’re EEG pros over here! I never imagined something like this would ever feel so routine, but she keeps smiling through it. #thisislifewithdisabilities #TeamKendall