How thoughts create reality

Albert Einstein said "The world we have created is a product of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking"

I decided to stitch Confucius' wise words "A journey of a 1,000 miles starts with a single step". I am using it as a meditative reminder to help me on my personal path of growth!

This year I am thinking about my thinking and how my thoughts can impact on my actions or non actions! In January, Sarah Corbett, founder of Craftivist Collective hosted a thought provoking new year's resolution 'Craftivist footprint' workshop at Fabrications, which encouraged participants to think about their imprint on the world, what it means to be a global citizen and stitch an intention on a pre prepared foot or shoe print.

Sarah provided all the participants with their own mini tool kit including a description of what a 'good global citizen is someone who'.......
*Is aware of the wider world & has a sense of their own role as a world citizen
* Respects and values diversity
* Has an understanding of how the world works economically, politically, socially, environmentally
* Is outraged by social injustice
* Participates in and contributes to the community at a range of levels from local to global
* Is willing to act to make the world a more sustainable place
* Takes responsibility for their actions
(Source: Oxfam 1997)

As well as very interesting discussions on these points as a group, Sarah created a space of 'stitching in silence' so that individually we could really concentrate on our sewing, still our minds to really focus on our intention.

Craftivist Foot print workshop - all full house with Italian TV crew as well!

In February, I enrolled on a short course on the MIND at the New Acropolis. I feel I've discovered a bit of a secret gem (although the association has been residing in Islington for 15 years) New Acropolis is a philosophical association with a cultural and social vocation whose objective is to practise philosophy in the classical tradition, that is not merely intellectual and theoretical philosophy but philosophy for life, for a more humane and fulfilling existence. 

The NA's belief is that the mind is an important key to building a sustainable future. Many of the problems we are facing today as humanity are caused by our own actions. Their school provides a space for awakening a spirit of universal brotherhood/sisterhood through an ethical and moral approach based on the idea that it is by improving ourselves that we can improve the world.

 "We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world" (Buddha)

Week 1 we looked at and discussed mindsets, assumptions, perception, mental filters  - VERY INTERESTING!
Week 2 explored concentration and inner awakening. Taking away our conceptions (ideas in our mind) to meet what IS without our filters or judgements coming in. We focused specifically on an art work drawn by Lama Blo-Bzang Don-yod in the 17th Century. The purpose of the drawing is a tool to awaken the path of the soul and to overcome the obstacles and difficulties in conquering our mind through simple daily physical and mental exercises. The New Acropolis have produced a beautiful little book called 'Concentration & Inner Awakening' containing the illustration and how to understand the symbolic elements contained within it.
This week is the final part of the course and will look at how to develop our minds creatively. Imagination and the ability to create what does not yet exist, to cultivate and further our minds.

"The real magic of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes" Marcel Provost (1899)

Emotional Baggage Exchange

'Emotional Baggage' have been handling different kinds of baggage and helping people feel a little lighter since 2004. Set up by myself and good friend and colleague Belle Tidswell, our check in boothe has appeared at a diverse range of events and we aim to be 99% exclusively inclusive.

Alongside our handling service we have also developed a range of thought provoking gifts including the Emotional Baggage DIY kit and Controversial Debates game. Each year we participate in the Art Car Boot Fair in Brick Lane, creating a different experience or game alongside the boothe including - Controversial Debates (live version) the Lost & Found Tombolla and last year year we encouraged visitors to plant seeds of change with our 'Tree of Life' exercise.

At the year's Art Car Boot Fair, which is taking place this Sunday, we will present our 'Emotional Baggage Exchange'. We will invite visitors to offload their Emotional Baggage at the boothe (or in the privacy of their own home), feel a little lighter and win a limited edition, positive piece of baggage, all this for a mere £5!
Belle and I have been busy designing, screen printing, cutting and stitching to make a collection of amazing types of baggage you can acquire including "Handy Bags", "T-Bags", "Clutch Crutches" and not forgetting those "old Bags"

Meet Paul Gardner, our proud sponsor! Paul has kindly provided the cotton bags, which we've printed our designs onto. Paul is a very warm character and provides an excellent service to all us local traders. His family have been supplying bags and market sundries since 1870, making his shop the oldest family business in the Spitalfields area.

An Insiders View : Fine Cell Work

An event on Buckingham Palace Road last Thursday was an affirmation once again to me of the value of craft in our society and it's power to create social change, well being and self worth.

I felt very lucky to get a place at this month's Craftivist Collective's monthly meeting, which on this occasion was limited to 20 places as Craftivist Collective's driving force Sarah Corbett had scored a talk with Fine Cell Work at their cosy cushion filled offices.
Fine Cell is a charity and social enterprise which trains and pays men and women in prison to do professional needlework. The work they produce sells internationally. Recently they were commissioned by the V+A museum to produce a quilt for the amazing 'British Quilts 1700 - 2010' exhibition.

The talk was very insightful and surrounded by the prisoner's exquisitely fine and detailed needlepoint cushions, piled high ready for orders (for the Tate Modern, English Heritage..) was even more inspiring.
Fine Cell was founded in the 1980's by social reformer Lady Anne Tree (born 6 November 1927 and died this month 9 August) Last Saturday The Guardian wrote an article about this exceptional and determined lady who used her standing and energy to drive parliamentary changes in prisoner's rights and abilities to earn a small wage whilst in prison. She was an advocate of crafting in prisons as a constructive way forward to achieve this. In the article she is quoted
"Sewing could not only provide a small nest egg to ease prisoners lives on release, it also has a spiritual quality - you can retreat into sewing, you can block out the noise. It is meditative, a way of thinking, of taking stock. so it's not just about the money. it's the feeling of self worth that is vital"
The talk revealed how a high proportion of the prisoners that Fine Cell Work with are ex-forces and live with mental health difficulties. Fine Cell Work's training and projects offer them an opportunity to reflect on their lives and make a worthwhile contribution.

We learnt more about our favorite quilt from the V+A exhibition - 'The HMP Wandsworth Quilt' which was created by a total of 52 prisoners who contributed designs, ideas, drawings and embroidered samples over 3 years. Assisted by 9 Fine Cell Work volunteers - women trained by the Royal School of Needlework or members of The Embroiders Guild who are highly respected and appreciated by the prisoners for giving their time and knowledge to them.
The prisoners were determined to make the base design of the patchwork the architectural footprint of the Wandsworth prison itself. The quilt is an authentic portrayal of 21st century prison life, with the prisoners stories, emotions and hopes stitched into the layers of fabric.

Thank You Fine Cell Work for the work that you do. I was touched by this quote by Jeffry Marcus (HMP Wandsworth) in your literature "You're rejected by society and you have to reflect on what you've done, and then let go, then you need something in place that you can actually get self worth back. With the quilting you go can go inside yourself, start creating things and feeling that you can belong to society"

Now for a shameless plug! Fabrications will be proud to be a stockist (in about a month's time!) of Fine Cell Works witty 'SWAG' bags and also 'The HMP Wandsworth Quilt' postcards.

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.

Offload your Emotional Baggage

Visit Barley and Belle (Emotional Baggage Handlers) at this years Art Car Boot Fair

and hopefully feel a little lighter!

Check in at our handling boothe. (Payment via symbolic exchange)

All unclaimed items will be destroyed.

We will also be selling our Emotional Baggage DIY kits and launching our new game 'Controversial Debates'