Crafting with Lucky Ewe

The recent crafting workshop with Lucky Ewe interns was such an amazing experience. The whole session had a calm, mindful atmosphere. Everyone was so present-working with their hands and it reminded me how therapeutic crafting can be. It also gave me a chance to speak with the Lucky Ewe interns and other members of the community and really understand the amazing impact of the work that the charity is doing.

I led the wool Christmas decoration-making- we made wreath decorations made from felt balls. I chose this craft because it's simple enough for beginners and also works perfectly as something to sell at their Christmas fair. It was an opportunity for people to learn but also to relax and focus on creating something beautiful while chatting and sharing stories.

This workshop was a learning experience for me, too. It gave me so much insight into how people interact with handmade, tactile objects and how those interactions can create a sense of calm and connection.

It also gave me a chance to get feedback on some of my samples. What stood out to me was how naturally everyone connected with the wool and other materials. I know from my research how calming and grounding natural textures can be, but seeing it in real life was exciting. Watching people engage with these materials and find joy in the process was so affirming, and reassured me that my research was heading in the right direction.

One of my favourite parts of the workshop was chatting with the interns and other volunteers. They were curious about my work, especially the process of taking the raw wool and turning it into my final design. They asked so many interesting questions that I hadn't even considered myself, about natural dyes and how the raw materials transform into finished textiles. This has really pushed me to make sure that I document the entire process of creating my work, from the raw wool to the community benefits of the end product.

For me, this felt like a big step forward. Moving from smaller, personal projects to something more interactive and community-focused was such a rewarding challenge. Hearing feedback directly from the community I've been designing for was reassuring but definitely gave me fresh perspectives on what to prioritise in my work. There was a clear preference for full-body interactions with objects. This is something I need to consider when upscaling and designing installation pieces. How can I make the work fully immersive and extend beyond just the floor or walls?

I left the workshop feeling so inspired to keep exploring new ways to combine tactility, nature, and community. It was a reminder of how impactful these moments of connection can be, and I'm excited to keep building on that.