Oh my god!! Following recent shoulder surgery, I have been severely limited in the amount of crafting I can do. I didn’t realise how much I do until I couldn’t. I was used to doing something creative everyday. Boy, did I miss it!
We are always told crafting is good for your mental health and your general well-being – hot glue fingers and pinpricks aside – but you don’t realise it if you are a crafter. Taking that away has really put me down. I feel frustrated and annoyed that I cant do what I want to do.
Luckily, the shoulder is getting better and I can resume my crafty bits and pieces. But it made me think about people who aren’t able to access this kind of creativity, through physical or mental capabilities or financial stress. What can we do as a crafting community to help people?
One of the ways I feel that I’m helping is our community post box toppers. I’ve lost count of the number of people who comment that it really cheers them up.
Another nice community touch is leaving small craft pieces in public spaces like parks. Painted pebbles are popular, a nice picture and inspirational quote and a message to take me home or pass me on. Other things can be left – knitted or crocheted hearts, flowers small bears or amigurumi. Just make sure they are protected from the weather. Imagine the joy of the recipient on getting such a lovely surprise from an unknown donor. You never know but it could give someone the lift they need to get out from a dark place.
Whatever you do whether its joining in on a community project or doing a random act of crafty kindness, you will get pleasure from other peoples joy and spread a little crafty happiness as you go by.
What Kate Made Today 