The Mindfulness Centre of Excellence, in conjunction with Cocoon Family Support and Wellcome Trust are planning a wonderful @sewmindful day on Thursday September 21st, 10-3.30 for new mum’s who are experiencing low mood and/or post natal depression. Booking is essential as we have a crèche and need to know numbers.
Here is a flier with the information and a poster (in case you work anywhere you can put this up!).
We will be at the amazing Jackson’s Lane Creative Hub (Highgate, London) for a day of rest, relaxation, sewing, mindfulness and creativity.
Come and enjoy sumptuous and beautiful fabrics, explore sewing skills and mindfulness, and share experiences with those who know just what you are going through.
Based on the work from the Weaving a New Story project (supported by King’s Cultural Institute), this one-day mini workshop will allow mums the chance to develop their sewing skills, get in touch with their creativity and find out more about the “me too” club and Cocoon Family Support.
Here’s what one mum said about her experience:
“In February I joined a group of women with PND to try out mindful sewing as an alternative therapy. I was hugely apprehensive, unsure of how this might help or even that I should be there. I’m so pleased I stuck at it. The group, sewing and mindfulness have helped me to identify the positive threads that tie me together, and provided an opportunity to collaborate with other women to create something beautiful from great distress” #sewmindful #pnd#womentogether #cocoonfamilysupport
Rosie from Cocoon will be at the event, along with some of the mum’s who completed the longer intervention in the Spring. You can also drop into the Cocoon services on a Friday at St Stephen’s Children’s Centre (Vauxhall – 1245 – 215) or in Camden on Saturday morning (9-11).
You can see the Program Notes from the Weaving a New Story Exhibition held at King’s College London in June. These mum’s created some amazing work and contributed to a showcase quilt which will go on display at Guy’s Hospital in January 2018 for a 6 month public exhibition.
Two blogs about the project are below:
Why we are weaving a new story…(for general public audience)
Weaving a New Story …(for professionals)
On September 21st we will be sharing and showcasing some of the amazing artwork and achievements from the project and you will get a chance to have a mini version of the workshops. It’s a condensed format but we will share basic sewing techniques to get you started, basic mindfulness techniques to help you manage your mood and the daily challenges of parenting. Participants (max 15) will have a chance to try out the Kantha and Sashiko techniques and create a mini quilt over the day.
The event will be filmed by a production crew from the Wellcome Trust including Director Jonathan Beamish and Assistant Producer Tom Pegg. It forms part of a collaboration between BBC Tomorrow’s World and Wellcome Trust who are making an awareness film to showcase the type of support that can help young mums if struggling with mental health difficulties. If you would like more information about the filming and the consent form we will be asking people to sign, click here (pdf version, word version).
Tamara will have copies of her recently launched book #whatismindfulness. This book contains the model that was used to underpin the work in this project.
Program for the Day
10 – 11 Mums who have booked into the event arrive to drop babies at the crèche. Time to settle, chat to each other and let the crèche workers know what your baby needs and wants over the day (please bring snacks, drinks, toys that your child will need). This time is about taking time to settle into the space. Ensure your baby is happy and settled so that YOU can fully enjoy the experience.
Those who have alternative childcare can arrive at 1030AM.
11 – 11.30 Coffee and check in at the Cocoon Hub. Meet Rosie from Cocoon and mum’s from the previous group. Learn about the services Cocoon provides and hear about the “me too club”. There is a chance to explore the art show from the previous group and talk to other mums. Some gentle mindful movement to get into the body, release and relax and prepare for the day. Led by Tamara Russell
11.30- 12.30 Kantha Stitching Workshop facilitated by Liz Finegold
12.30 – 13.00 Lunch and chat (lunch provided)
13.00 – 14.00 Sashiko Workshop facilitated by Liz Finegold and Tamara Russell
14.00 – 15.00 Pick up a cuppa and head over to the Borro Workshop. Embrace your creative soul. Putting it all together to create a mini-quilt from the day.
15.00 – 15.30 Closing, Reflections and Get ready to go home.