I’m a bit OCD
"I'm a bit OCD"…a phrase you probably hear on a regular-ish basis. Chances are the person saying it is referring to their preference for things to be undertaken in a certain way. The phrase is normally used innocently and without a second thought. Indeed the jovial tone usually accompanying the phrase often attracts smiles and sometimes even laughs from those in earshot. All in all then, you could easily be mistaken for thinking it's not a big deal. Unfortunately [...]
Waterlooville Music and Art FEST 2024
We had the honour of hosting the Creative Zone at Waterlooville Music and Art FEST this Summer. It was wonderful to see so many local residents come out to get involved and enjoy what was a beautiful day of community, music and creativity in the town centre We provided a number of varied craft activities with the support of our creative facilitators and volunteers; we had a range of childrens crafts on offer throughout the day, we made some community [...]
Alcohol awareness week 2024: 1-7th Jul
On 1st August 2020, I made an immediate decision to stop drinking alcohol after a mental health crisis that scared me. Although I wasn’t drunk all the time or drinking all the time, I realized I had started drinking for the wrong reasons and at unusual times of the day. I might down a shot of vodka or two while cooking dinner to try to stop my intrusive thoughts or drink a couple of glasses of wine so I [...]
Meet Maryna
Meet Maryna, our superstar from the Ukraine bringing people together through art. Maryna is a Ukrainian artist who studied drawing and fine art as part of her degree in fashion design. Back in April 2023, Maryna joined the Creatful team as a volunteer. Fast forward to today, and in little over a year, Maryna's impact has been truly inspiring. It quickly became apparent to Creatful that Maryna possessed both the skillset and mindset to really make waves. It was [...]
We are Creatful – Elodi
Elodi Fellows is one of our directors and supports our business strategy. You may have seen her at one of our events but she mainly helps out in the background."Hello, I'm Elodi. I am a proud mother of 3 beautiful boys, Zeek (15) Eli (7) and Cassius (1). I also work full time as a Strategic Account Manager within the Telecom industry which has me travelling the length of the country up to three times a week.With the pressures of managing [...]
We are Creatful – Lara
Lara Kynvin is one of our directors and volunteers, if you've been to our events you may have crafted with her. Lara supports our strategy around mental health awareness and suicide prevention. In 2023 Lara hosted Portsmouths first suicide awareness festival, "Lets get talking... about suicide" with Sarah from MAKE at Aldingbourne Enterprise. We are incredibly proud of what she achieved. AND she held the Baton Of Hope UK during its Brighton leg. Here is what Lara had to say... [...]
We are Creatful – Nancy
I'm Nancy... founder of Creatful, our main facilitator and business manager. You'll see me at most of our events and I am who you speak to on Facebook, Instagram or when you email us. I was born in Liverpool but left there when I was 18 to study Product design and then Design Management at university. Ive always holiday'ed in Portsmouth so I know it well and I now live in Purbrook. After uni I spent 14 years [...]
Suicidal thoughts
Intrusive thoughts are described as unwanted thoughts that can pop into our heads without warning, at any time A recent study found that 94% of people have unwanted or intrusive thoughts. So if you are reading this you’ve likely experienced them. But what do you do when your intrusive thoughts are telling you to hurt yourself? It took me years and a suicide attempt before I was able to admit that I was experiencing suicidal thoughts. During this time I [...]
Celtic Mandala*
At my Mandala workshops I’ll briefly talk about the history of mandala art. Mandalas can be spotted in many cultures throughout time. Ancient Celts used mandala as a way to focus the mind and communicate. Circles, often representing cycles, (life, death, sun, moon) can be seen in surviving art as far back as 20’000 BC. Celtic artisans and craftsmen (and maybe craftswomen, who knows?) developed a language of symbols that went beyond aesthetics to tell stories or symbolise things and [...]
The Power of Micro Connections
I have been pondering micro connections and the impact they have on my wellbeing and happiness. What do I mean by micro connections? Small everyday interactions with members of my community. In person connections. It could be a phone call with a friend, a few words with the person behind the shop counter, a chat with a neighbour, or striking up a conversation with a fellow parent at the school gate. I always smile at people I pass these days [...]
Volunteers
The 1st-7th June is this year’s volunteer week. I’ve been very lucky to have several volunteers who believe in Creatful join us on our mission since we launched last November. I say thank you to my volunteers at every opportunity and I am sincerely grateful for every second of time they give. However, Volunteers give so much more than ‘time’. I have spent most of the last 6 months working on a voluntary basis so I really understand the passion [...]
Don’t give up
It sometimes feels like I am jumping on the “Mental Health” bandwagon. Although having a lifetime history of depression I feel I am allowed to. I am certainly not a victim and am much more than the depression. I have bounced around over the years with good periods balanced out with lows. I have worked and managed to bumble my way through life. I’ve actually had a pretty good and varied life considering! Then lockdown hit and like so many [...]