Picture the scene – it’s cold and dark outside and you’ve arrived home from a stressful day at work. Back in the comfort of your abode, you shut the rest of the world out and pick up your latest crafty project. Suddenly, your worries from the past few hours melt away as you find yourself immersed in the creative process. It’s this magic that textile artist and teacher, Ellie Beck, writes about in her book, Mindful Thoughts for Makers, as she explores how getting crafty is intrinsic to true wellbeing. Here, she shares an extract about the soothing nature of settling down with an artistic hobby.
One of the joys of being a maker is finding moments of quiet space to create something. In this ever-busy world we live in, sometimes stepping away from the noise can help us to find a deeper sense of meaning in our work. While it is true that not every aspect of our creative lives needs to be imbued with hushed tones, it is beneficial for our minds when we actively seek the internal quiet. The chatter of a knitting circle or a companion in your studio or at your kitchen table is always a welcome addition to the pleasure of sitting and creating something. But if you are always in company, with noise around you, it makes it harder to find the space needed to contemplate the depth of your creative work. Stepping outside group activities and sitting by yourself in the quiet of the day is an important part of any maker’s process. It might seem hard to replace the enjoyment of creating alongside someone else with the endless silence of working alone, but once you have experienced your internal quiet it makes those moments seem more profoundly special, and something to seek out.