Creativity In Lockdown by June

A members story of how creativity has helped during 2020 in lockdown to share and inspire others moving into 2021 by June Waddington.

Being creative is something that I have enjoyed for many years. Following a career in hand made cake design (mainly wedding cakes) and teaching sugarpaste classes as well as handmade chocolates - in retirement I have continued to follow my passion for craft in many different ways.

For awhile I made beaded jewelry and became quite addicted to watching craft channels and experimenting on new ideas.

For me 2020 has been quite a challenging year after a heart attack in February just before lockdown followed by blocked arteries in the neck and hospital treatment in lockdown means that I have been isolated at home.

Although I feel blessed for the health care and treatment provided by the NHS who are my heroes, it has left me understanding the need to rest and I am not able to visit family and friends while leaves me feeling sad and lonely at times.

Here are some handmade cards I send to the wonderful staff who looked after me in the NHS at a difficult time for which I owe them my life.

A friend sent a poem to me in lockdown that I wanted to share as it was quite appropriate for 2020 and approaching Spring 2021 too.

'IN THE TIME OF QUIET', by PHILIPPA ATKIN No one’s told the daffodils about the pause to Spring And no one’s told the birds to roost and asked them not to sing No one’s asked the lazy bee to cease his bumbling round And no one’s stopped the bright green shoots emerging through the ground. No one’s told the sap to rest, deep within the wood And stop the sleepy trees from waking, wreathed about in bud No one’s told the sky to douse its brightest shades of blue And stop the scudding clouds from puffing headlong into view. No one’s asked the lambs to still the springs beneath their feet, To stop their rapid rush and quell each joyful bleat

No one’s told the stream to halt its gurgle or its flow And warned the playful breezes, not to gust and blow. No one’s asked the raindrops not to fall upon the earth And fail to quench the soil in the season of rebirth No one’s locked the sun down, or dimmed the shimmer of the moon And even in the darkest night, the stars are still immune. Remember what you value, remember who is dear Close the doors to danger and keep your family near In the quiet all around us take the time to sit and stare And wonder at the beauty unfurling everywhere.

Look towards the future, after the ordeal And keep faith in Mother Nature’s power and will to heal.

I am pleased to share some of the beading designs I have made during lockdown as being creative gives me chance to relax, unwind and make something that I can be proud of.

Another blessing has been a member of Creative Wellness during lockdown.

I have gained so much inspiration and help from creative wellness reading the positive quotes every day help to put things in the proper place and also give food for thought.

We are all on a journey and I trust we all come out of dark places to see the sun shine the birds sing and the wonderful world we live in.

All in all we have so much to be thankful for.

Thank you for reading my story and I hope that it will encourage others to have a go and realise that being creative is about so many different things.

Copyright © 2021, Creative Wellness Journey

Debbie Crouch

Creative art for all ages and abilities. - Let’s share the beauty of creativity