Sight Support Heritage Project

We have begun working with Sight Support Derbyshire on a heritage WW1 project with their visually impaired members. We are working with groups in Chesterfield, Clay Cross and Derby to create tactile banners that will tour around the county at eye clinics and visual impaired centres.
The Sight Support Derbyshire organisation was set up in 1914, before the WW1 began so the banners will link these two important centenaries.
We have been researching with the groups at Derby Museum and at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Owl Kites & Victorian Cameos @ Grove Lodge

We had two busy sessions at Grove Lodge in the park during May half term.
Owl Kites on a very breezy afternoon, and Victorian animal cameos on a very rainy morning.
This is all to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Arboretum Park being first opened to the people of Derby.

Flying kites in the park on a lovely sunny afternoon

 

Victorian Animal Cameos

Mindfull of Art - update

This project has been a wonderful insight into working creatively with people living with dementia. We have delivered a wide variety of artforms over the last 4 months with 5 different groups based in a residential home, a hospital setting, a day centre, a memory cafe and the most interesting of all, with 4 families in their own homes. For this last group, we have worked with not only the person with dementia but also their husband, wife, sister or partner.

Watercolour painting

Dot to dot drawing

Hula hoop weaving

Batik painting

Sewing braid onto batik cushions

Painted Wooden Houses

Woven Fabric Bowl

Pipe Cleaner Flower Fairy

Printed Fabric Bag

We held exhibitions of all the work at each centre and also during the month of May at Ilkeston Library. In the next few months we hope to have an exhibition at Ilkeston Hospital.

The project was funded by Erewash Clinical Commissioning Group.

University Tepees with Early Years Students

Back again to work with the Early Years Students at Derby University, it was a very hot day, so they did well to get the tepees finished. Well done.

Victorian Peg Dolls @ Grove Lodge

Lots of doll making in the Easter Holidays with dolly pegs, fabric and pipe cleaners.
All to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Arboretum Park open to the public.

Aprons @ Goldsquad

What a great session we had with the Goldsquad ladies, we made wonderful aprons using shirts.
See the photos below

Breaston Memory Cafe

As part of our Mindfull Dementia project we have started working with the members of the Breaston Memory Cafe who meet every month.
We are working with people who have dementia and their carers and family members. It was a great first session with everyone having a go at batik painting. This work will be used in an exhibition at Ilkeston Hospital and Ilkeston Library to promote Dementia Awareness in May.
Have a look at the workshop images.