Beside Textile Project

'A Journey towards mental wellbeing and wholeness'

Mental Health action week 12 - 18th April

Please visit the Ideas Store this month to see some fantastic textile pieces from a project I am very proud to have been a part of. I was approached by Beside last year to facilitate a collaborative textile banner with their members.

Beside is a Tower Hamlets based charity working with people who have recurrent or long term mental health difficulties. Their aim is to enable their members to rediscover their inner resources and develop strategies to support their mental health and wellbeing

After a series of 'taster' sessions in crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, feltmaking, knitting, rosette making, weave, we explored the theme of the project through drawing and debating! The discussion around ideas of 'wellbeing' was very insightful and provocative and triggered

lots of thoughts and approaches for the banner.

Once a foundation design was settled upon, each week the piece has evolved into a visualy and conceptualy strong statement as well as a great display of feltmaking and embroidery skills.

Some of you may have seen the group adding the last touches to the piece for the last month at Fabrications on a Wednesday afternoon. So if you're in Whitechapel please call by the library and shop for some ideas around mental health.