Compassionate Crafting

Generating moment-to-moment awareness and healthy coping skills through creative expression.
A group focusing on mindful awareness and well-being through crafting.
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This group is open to creative and open-minded individuals interested in expanding their inner work and discovering a new way to engage life while in a supportive, nurturing environment with others. 
This is not a therapy or process group.

Slow down, breathe, relax and find calm in connecting the body-mind with our peaceful, true nature.
21st Century sociological observations suggest we are infected by the "‘Hurry Virus’. Urbanization, modern media, new forms of work, women’s entry into the employment market – all have contributed to time pressure and increased stress, anxiety and depression. They also impact on poor diets and a lack of physical activity. ‘The feeling of constantly having to rush (the hurry virus) is a serious health issue, affecting not only adults, but also children’.” (“The Determinants of Health and Wellbeing in the 21st century: A new challenge for health promotion” Kickbusch, 2012)
The act of making a hand-crafted item happens only in the present moment. Attending to what we are doing with full awareness and without judgement, we cultivate inner peace and promote wellness in the body and mind. The finished product is an expression of our moment to moment process and tells the story of our personal journey. 

Come tell your tale through yarn, pigment, fiber, thread or pen and find your true self, a more relaxed you, and a brand new coping skill!  

Meets every Friday from 6-8pm and the last Saturday of the month from 10am-Noon at 181 Kenwood Ave, Oneida (in the cafeteria). Parking and entrance in the back of the building.
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Group is open format and will be ongoing. With the exception of coloring book materials, you must bring your own supplies and clean up after yourself! Walk-ins are welcome.
​Free (donations are welcomed)
Generate moment-to-moment awareness and healthy coping skills through creativity
How do the meetings work?
Meeting structure:
  1. The first half hour is a meet & greet where individuals are welcome to share their finished and works in process, (this is voluntary and not required) and ask questions and receive guidance about mindful crafting.
  2. The next hour begins our mindful crafting. This is done in silence and not a time for talking or socializing. During this hour we are focusing on the projects we are creating, following our breath, observing what we are making with our hands.
  3. Twenty minutes of the last half hour can be spent on continuing with our project or writing in a mindfulness journal. The remaining ten minutes is clean-up time. Everyone helps out with this.

Some group guidelines:
  • This is a technology free time. No phones, televisions or other electronics allowed (unless the item is required for a particular craft; such as using a tablet to access a pattern or a phone for photography). 
  • During mindful crafting time there is no socializing or casual conversation. We spend this time focusing on the crafts, our breath and the movements of our hands and bodies, while allowing thoughts and feelings to come and go.
  • Please arrive no later than 30 minutes from the start of the meeting. Consistent attendance is important for maintaining group support and strengthening one's commitment to self-awareness and well-being. Please try to come regularly (it doesn’t require that you come every week, but the more often the more benefit).
  • There is no judging of our work! Negative comments are not permitted, either by others or ourselves!
What constitutes a craft?
Knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, spinning yarn, jewelry making, sewing, drawing, painting (small scale and non-toxic please!), coloring, weaving, origami, writing...anything creative really.
Knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross-stitch, spinning yarn, jewelry making, sewing, drawing, painting (small scale and non-toxic please!), quilting, coloring, weaving, origami, writing...anything creative really. 
  • If you use paint, please bring plastic drop cloth to cover your work area. Any craft using liquids or pigments must work on the tiled section of the floor or in the kitchen area.
  • Always bring cutting mats and other things to protect the table and counter surfaces.
  • You are welcome to bring equipment for you craft as long as it portable and doesn’t take up a lot of space and doesn’t make a lot of noise. Bring your own extension cord for any equipment that uses electricity  (Ex: spinning wheels, looms, easles, sewing machines, typewriters, needlepoint stands, extra lighting, etc.)​
Suggested resources:
True Perception by Chogyam Trungpa 
Zen and the Art of Knitting by Bernadette Murphy
Zen and the Art of Needlecraft by Sandra Detrixhe
Zen and the Art of Quilting by Sandra Dextrixhe
Hook to Heal: 100 Crochet Exercises for health, growth, connection, inspiration and honoring your inner artist by Kathryn Vercillo
Crochet Yourself Calm by Carmen Heffernan
Paint Yourself Calm: colourful, creative mindfulness through watercolor by Jean Haines
Mindful Beads: 20 inspiring ideas for stringing and personalizing your own mala and prayer beads by Alice Peck
Mindful Knitting: Inviting Contemplative Practice to the Craft by Tara Jon Manning
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

photo credit: Nuwandalice Hooky love via photopin (license)
photo credit: nz_willowherb Transformation via photopin (license)
photo credit: incurable_hippie Embroidery Skeins via photopin (license)
photo credit: dailyinvention Crane via photopin (license)
photo credit: wuestenigel Notizblock mit Stiften via photopin (license)
photo credit: faungg's photos Color Selection via photopin (license)
photo credit: BloomKitty Midi in Amboyna Burl via photopin (license)
photo credit: wuestenigel Jewelry Tools via photopin (license)