Crafting can help ease stress, increase happiness and improve your health by engaging in pursuits that offer reflective time, creativity and moments of quiet. In this sense, crafting has a lot in common with mindfulness and meditation, and can have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. However many of us don't find the time for this in our busy lives or simply don't know where to start. I love crafting and have been practising it for many years now, from making my own clothes to bespoke, personalised gifts that I sell at craft fairs. So come and join me and let’s sew, embroider, decorate and create!

I have always been a crafty one, happy cutting and sticking, colouring and sewing. When my health started to deteriorate five years ago, I turned to crafting to distract myself from the pain and to help me adjust to my new lifestyle. In that time my life has changed drastically - I went from working full-time in London and having an active social life to be unemployed, disabled and feeling completely lost and useless. But “Every cloud has a silver lining” and - with the support of my husband, family and a few close friends - I now have the opportunity to do what I really love. I am in the process of setting up a company to sell gifts and products I have made. I’m also planning to run art and craft sessions and one-to-one workshops for those who are unable to attend formal-style classes.