All the way through May my friend Danielle is going to have a display on craftivism in her window at The Make It Shop as part of the Chorlton Arts Festival. For the uninitiated, craftivism is:
a way of looking at life where voicing opinions through creativity makes your voice stronger, your compassion deeper & your quest for justice more infinite* (Betsy Greer)
The theme that Danielle has chosen is Crafting a Kinder World.
Last year’s Chorlton Arts Festival window display: Unleash Your Creative Beast
As well as the display, there will be a craftivism event on 27 May and I will be there to help host it. The plan (so far) is to create a “Kindness Tree”. We’ll spend the day inviting people to craft all sorts of small items to hang on the tree, each with a message of kindness. Subsequently our gifts and messages will be given away to spread the love.
Our last Make It Shop event: 60 Million Trebles Hook-up
I’m currently putting together a few bits and pieces to contribute to the shop window display, but most of my craftivist creations are long gone – having been given away to those in need (either of the object made or the message it embodied). So, I need to make a few more… but you can help me out here if you like. If you would like to send me an item to put in the window – whatever the craft, as long as it represents an aspect of craftivism – then please do. It could be a charity blanket, a twiddlemuff, a motivational embroidery, some bunting with a message, a piece of artwork, or whatever other crafted object fits in with the ethos. The display runs throughout May, so we would need your contributions in the next two weeks. There are two provisos. First, that the nature of the object is kind – craftivism is a gentle form of protest, or political action through positive creation – so any contributions that are displayed need to fit with this. And second is that, when the display is finished, you will allow me or Danielle to donate your object, whatever you send, to an appropriate charity or deserving person rather than send it back to you.
You can keep up to date with what’s happening on the Make-it Shop website here. And you can contact me to arrange making a contribution using the contact form below. And if you are in Manchester on 27 May – call in and say hello, have a cuppa and make something with us.
-oOo-
* Putting aside the fact that something is either infinite or not… I don’t think it’s possible to be ‘more infinite’!
The Snail of Happiness 
katechiconi
/ April 7, 2017I’d have loved to contribute, but bearing in mind the parlous state of our mail system right now (I still haven’t received some legal documents posted over a month ago!), and the fact that I’d have had to post it a few days ago to get it to you in time, I will content myself with standing on the sidelines applauding!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ April 7, 2017Yes, unfortunately I’ve been a bit tardy in getting my head around this so only contributions form the UK are likely to make it in time. However, I’m hopeful that one or two more local folks will be able to join in.
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katechiconi
/ April 7, 2017Maybe another time….
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nanacathy2
/ April 7, 2017I shall put my thinking cap on. I like the idea of activism through craft.
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Laurie Graves
/ April 7, 2017Oh, my gosh! What a great idea.
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Danielle Lowy
/ April 7, 2017Thank you for this great introductory write-up, Jan. Maybe people a bit further afield could join in by sending us a message or an image to print out? I’ve got an idea of an image I’d like to create as a template within which we can put people’s messages or images. It’s two hands forming a heart. Unfortunately I can’t draw 😦
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The Snail of Happiness
/ April 7, 2017That would be lovely… I’ll write a second post soon, and perhaps an artist will appear!
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thecontentedcrafter
/ April 7, 2017That’s such a lovely idea. It is also a wonderful way to bring the community together and for like minded people to meet up – doing good in all directions!! ❤
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The Snail of Happiness
/ April 7, 2017I hope so… I wish I had been a little more organised so people could have contributed from further afield, but we can always accept sentiments and pictures by email to add to the display.
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nettyg
/ April 7, 2017I love these craftivism events, but same as Kate here, a contribution wouldn’t get there in time anyway, but given that we’re still a couple of feet under water in places, and the post office was wiped out, no chance at all. I have a friend in the UK who is a clever craftivist, she might like to contribute…..is it ok to share with her?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ April 9, 2017We are just in the process of sorting out a card template for folks to add their own words, so that we can include contributions from further afield via email… I’ll post about it when we get organised.
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