Last night, I was invited to share my thoughts about creativity at a hub in my hometown that’s called Stitch Kitchen. Part of their ethos is to inspire and build community through creative practices, while reducing textile waste and its impact on our environment. When I read that I thought what better thing could I support?
This week they are selling huge swathes of fabric as part of a fundraiser (they are a non-profit) and despite having zero skills in the sewing department myself, I found myself frolicking around the vats of material, running my fingers over a piece of linen with cherries on it (who doesn’t love cherries?), and remarking about the possibilities of a tiny swatch cutout that was the only piece I found with birds as though I was chief designer at my own House of Couture.
My friend, Kylie, and her mum, Lorna, were there also, delicious creatures that they are, who were graceful receptacles for my terrible jokes which always seem to emerge when I am out in public. We met at an art workshop a little while back where we bonded over enthusiastic art experimentation and giggle snorts and they have been one of my people ever since.
We need places for congregation these days, don’t we? Most of my local friends that I have now I have met through art, joined in spaces where we have come together for shared making and shared creating.
At the start of my talk, I spoke about how we need to seek things out more and more that have us moving at a human pace. It seems ridiculous to point that out. But so much of what we are doing is the opposite; where information is coming at us and output is required of us that is more than a human body can assimilate or handle.
Art, craft, writing, working with our hands, puts us back in right relationship with ourselves. Back at pace with our own humanity.
Working, creating, doing things at human pace.
Thank you Fiona and Stitch Kitchen for having me. It’s a lot of energy to maintain the space that you have and offer and I, for one, am grateful that you do.
And what’s more, I was gifted with an elephant, which, along with birds, is my number one sign of a successful experience. A picture of him making himself at home amongst the books and daffodils.
I think he’ll be very happy.