About the sessions: Over two hours in a relaxed space, you will learn the basics of embroidery and how to develop those skills further from facilitator CJ Starc. This beginner’s embroidery workshop will teach you some basic embroidery stitches such as running stitch, backstitch, and satin stitch. Though these workshops are aimed at beginners, they are open to anyone wanting to sit and craft. You will leave with an embroidery kit (a hoop, embroidery thread, an embroidery needle, fabric, and a booklet) to continue embroidering on your own time! These workshops are by and for trans and gender-diverse people, to create a safe healing creative space.

About the facilitator: CJ (he/they) is a queer trans non-binary artist, workshop facilitator and curator whose practice focus on organic shapes and textures. They seek to de-gender embroidery, whilst honouring its perception as feminine work. He uses mostly second-hand materials to depict nature and abstracted depictions of the body. They center queer trans kinship and lived experiences. Their work has been exhibited at Brunswick Street Gallery, the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre and forty-five downstairs gallery, as well as being published in journals such as Baby Teeth and Antithesis. They aim to challenge our perceptions of bodies in a cis-heteronormative patriarchal world. CJ graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Gender Studies and French at the University of Melbourne. He lives and creates on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country.

Refundable deposit: There is a $5 refundable deposit for this session, and as long as you either attend the session or cancel more than 1 day in advance, you will be refunded this cost. If you do not cancel with at least one day's notice, or you do not show up, you will be charged the $5. If you are committed to coming to the session but the $5 fee poses a financial barrier, please contact us at peersupport@tgv.org.au.

Safety: We will not be adding any signage with the word "transgender" or any use of the trans flag outside of the venue, and we have a private space within. We have the venue booked for the full day, so folks can leave in small groups (or individually if preferred) to avoid attracting attention. If you have any additional safety requests, you can get in touch with us at peersupport@tgv.org.au.