Creative Therapy

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to catch the 'Frayed: Textiles on the Edge' exhibition in Norfolk, which explored how people have made textiles as a form of occupational or creative therapy. On show were some fascinating historic textiles, but the one I was drawn to most was this:

Bed-hangings by Anna Margaretta Brereton, c.1801-5

As you know, I'm making lots of hexie patterned pottery at the moment, and seeing this just hooked me in even further!

The story is that between 1801-5, whilst in mourning following the sudden death of her eldest son, this lady immersed herself in creating this extraordinarily beautiful counterpane and bed hangings.

How many hexies must she have pieced together for the whole thing??!

Well, my preoccupation with hexagons has not yet lasted four years, like hers, but you never know!

Hexie pattern mapped out onto wet clay slab

I do find it quite therapeutic, just like she did.  

 

Fired once and now glazed and ready for second firing

Creativity is obviously a means of artistic expression, but just as importantly, it is often meaningful activity which helps in times of difficulty.  I heard somewhere recently that when a person is totally absorbed in 'creating', they get into 'the zone', a place where temporarily they transcend normal thought processes.

Close up of  hexie patterned bowl - after second firing and finished

I'm sure that when it comes to designing the next pattern range for our homewares collection, hexagons are going to play a big part!
But for now, these are the four quilt block patterns to choose from and three lucky winners of our Homewares Giveaway have to do just that!

The four pattern ranges in the Homewares Collection

A big thank you to all who took part.  Picked at random, the following names came up:

Annie at  knitsofacto.blogspot.co.uk
Lisa at   intheboondocks.blogspot.co.uk
Gill at  gillyflower5.blogspot.co.uk


Please could you email me (mail@cathydaniel.co.uk) with your choice of item from the homewares shop: www.cathydaniel.co.uk    - and your postal address.

So ... do you find your craft/creative activity therapeutic?  Do you get into 'the Zone'?  I know I do.

xCathy