Making Place Irregular News: July 23

Witam wszystkich (hello everyone)
I'm just back from an amazing visit to Krakow, Poland.  WOW, what a brilliant city! 
I'm not a great traveller so it definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone and pressed lots of 'anxious' buttons: flying, not knowing what's where/who's who/what's what, city crowds, and entertaining teenagers (OMG!)

However, I did it and I loved it and it's reminded me just how important (vital) it is to take oneself out of 'the everyday' so we can open ourselves up and move beyond where we are.  It's in these more challenging spaces that we learn, we understand more about ourselves and the world around us and we open ourselves up to new thoughts and ideas.  

It's made me think about what this means for our Making & Mending.  I would be rich if I had a Polish Zloty every time someone said "I can't draw/I'm not creative" when I mention I work in the arts!  For too many people the idea of creating something feels like a momentous, risky and unachievable challenge. 

So I truly applaud the bravery of everyone that pushes into that unknown creative space - the blank piece of paper waiting for a first mark, the picking up of a new tool and using it for the first time, the trying of a new technique just to see what happens.  Out of this vulnerable exploration comes something new in the world, new understandings and new potential - all power to that, we certainly need it.
 


Our next Makers & Menders session is fast approaching. This month will be at Stratton Village Hall on Friday 28th July, with set up from 7pm (we're usually ready to go by about 7.20pm) until 10pm. Please don't forget to book which you can do here.  As always the session will be on a Pay What You Like Basis.

It would be brilliant to see you with a project you are working on.  And if you are stuck in that challenging 'don't know where to start/don't know what to do' space, the rest of the group is on your side and will have lots of ideas to help you get going.  As usual, I'll bring along a range of books, materials and tools you can use and my recycle project this month is cardboard signage and rubber printing for the forthcoming Crafty Bundles (see below) at New Brewery Arts - you are welcome to join me in that.
 
Crafty Bundles is on Saturday the 19th August and aims to inspire people to root through cupboards, dive behind sofas and deep into the back of drawers to find art & craft materials that no longer serve them.  I hope Crafty Bundles will help to energise a local circular arts economy by encouraging people to donate what they don't want and get inspired by what others have shared.  I like to think of it as a creative movement to reduce waste and help fellow Makers & Menders navigate the cost of living crisis.  Excitingly, things are starting to arrive already.
If you haven't registered your interest yet you can do that here.  I'll also be looking for a small team of volunteers to help on the day.  If that's you, please drop me an email and let me know you're up for it: [email protected]

I'm looking forward to seeing you soon M&Ms.  If you can't make it in person to any of our gatherings don't worry, you can always follow along on Insta @itsmakingday

Meanwhile I encourage you to take a creative risk this month and see what newness it brings.
Sending love
Jay xx