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I have been involved with Network Arts on a weekly basis since it came into being. I was even at the meeting when the name was decided upon. I am an occupational therapy technician and my specialism is textiles. My weekly input to Network Arts has covered a lot of ground. Members have been able to experience a large variety of textile topics such as tie-dye, marbelling, batik, polymer clay modelling and many more. We have produced cards, bags, jewellery, decorated boxes. tapestry, embroideries, wall-hangings the list goes on.
It has been a privilege to watch the confidence and self-expression of members grow as they realise how much they can achieve that they thought they couldn't. Many have ventured onto the sewing machine and been excited at the results. Some now come with their own ideas and decide on their own designs and colour schemes. Creative activities are vital to everybody in some form or other. To be engrossed totally in something creative - being 'in flow' - enables people to switch off the problems they face daily and be absorbed in the task in hand. To be in an environment where this can happen is of great benefit to the mental health of people. I retired from my post as an OT tech for the Central COS team in 2008, but have been privileged to return for one day a week to continue to work with the Network Arts textile group.
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