In
times of financial worry, charities suffer. The public pull in their
purse strings and stop giving. When the living is easy, our money is
often given to charity to ease our consciences, to allow us to carry on
our day to day lives without having to interact with needy causes and
to feel like we're doing something.
But I want society to be different.
As crafters we have skills that we can put to use and make a difference that is not dependent on the free change we have in our pockets.
6th July sees my LET ME EASE YOUR DAY project launch in Belfast. A movement that takes what can often been seen as a middle-class pass time, yarn bombing, and purposes it for the good by providing knitted, crocheted and sewn textiles to the people in our society who might just need a random act of kindness to ease their day.
It could be you.
You may be having a bad day.
You could be sleeping rough.
Your job may be in jeopardy.
You could be worried about your mortgage.
You could have lost your cat/your friend/your child.
All these things leave us feeling vunerable.
What if, during your day, you found a small item left for you by a stranger specifically to nurture you. It won't solve all your problems, but it may just put a glimmer of warmth in your chest.
Now, you may
argue that LET ME EASE YOUR DAY is still a middle class reaction to
human loneliness, but surely, as makers, it's a way that we can make a
difference with textiles.
If you have the time to open your heart and fibre
stash. If you have a piece of fabric that could be turned into napkins
or a tablecloth for a pensioners' drop in centre, an old sleeping bag
or tent that could be the warmth needed by a rough sleeper, a cushion
that could provide comfort to someone on their commute, some yarn that could make socks or a hat to keep out the cold, then commit a
random act of kindness. Be different. Click here to read the guidelines
and rules for LET ME EASE YOUR DAY.
And come to events and meet MyTarPit's Monroe, the giant plushie helping us draw crowds on the street and putting humour into the project. Because textiles have power and doing something worthy doesn't mean piousness.
1st date: Belfast, 4:30pm 6th July. Outside Ulster Hall & what used to be Larry's Piano Bar, Bedford Street. Bring your fibre and needle (or hook) of choice. BE PART OF IT!
