Creating calm

During the endless lockdowns, I started stitching. Nothing fancy, just simple embroidery to start with. Now a patchwork quilt is slowly taking shape. However, it is not the end result that’s important. It’s the quiet daily act of sitting and stitching that is beneficial. My eyes following the thread, my hands busy, mind calm.

The therapeutic power of making and creating can’t be underestimated. Art in all its forms is healing. Unlike exercise, which engages your body, or meditation, which clears your mind, art-making forges a connection between both your mind and body to promote healing.

The communities of Kensington and Flemington are full of people making and creating. At Kensington Neighbourhood House we’re lucky enough to host multiple groups each week and see first-hand the enormous benefit art-making brings to people’s lives.

With travel off the cards for many, and a reluctance to get back into crowds, we’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of people wanting to engage in creative activities at a local level.

Our semester two program will include lots of options for people who’d like to learn new skills while meeting their neighbours.

Highly skilled ceramicist Shoko Mafune will be teaching the art of Japanese pottery, including how to hand-build with clay. Participants will be able to select their own glaze and Shoko will glaze and fire their pottery for collection.

Putting a new spin on a retro craft, Oz from Lennon and Me will run a macrame flower wall hanging workshop, teaching weaving techniques using all-natural Australian yarn. The results are gorgeous – have a look at our website for photos.

Talented local artist Anna Kolusniewski will be teaching a range of different skills, including polymer clay beading, resin cheeseboard creation, and how to make pressed tin Christmas decorations.

If you prefer your creations to be edible, we’re also planning a range of cooking workshops. Verena Puello, the larger-than-life head chef of Donde Mama will be running her popular Colombian Empanada workshop. This is a great way to get creative in the kitchen and enjoy a meal with other cooking enthusiasts.

We will also be offering a preserving workshop where you can learn how to make jams and chutneys from scratch, a sourdough baking session, vegetarian Mediterranean cooking, and my personal favourite – a Devonshire tea master class!

These programs are just some of the ways we are working to help our community reconnect and renew. Helping people to unwind, one stitch, snip, brush-stroke and scone at a time!

Our semester two activities brochure will be hitting Kensington letter boxes at the end of June.

You can also jump online to see everything on offer: kensingtonneighbourhoodhouse.com