It's Nice to Make

Music to accompany our knitting sessions. I listening to mum singing along to Louis and Ella singing Cheek to cheek. #unforgettable Bought this music player /radio from www.unforgettable.co.uk to play my mum's play list on a USB stick. #livingwithdementia #dementiadiaries #lookingaftermum #dementiacare #dementia #windrushgeneration #goldenoldies #therapeuticknitting #knittingtherapy #takingbackcontrol #kickalzintheballz https://www.instagram.com/p/BsiF3JPnTW1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qzt5k7jmxwkz

Loving the Xmas card that my mum made at the day centre. #xmas #itsnicetomake #dementia #alzheimers #dementiacare #livingwell #creativity #selfexpression #windrushgeneration https://www.instagram.com/p/BrxmbUcnsXA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zqorhhis6tl9

"Occupation for an idle hour" #iveneverread but I should read a #janeausten 📖 Recycled, washed and rewinded #yarns ready for a new project. #dementiacare #dementiadiaries #alzheimers #therapeuticknitting #itsnotfortheweak #itsnicetomake https://www.instagram.com/p/BranD4yHGUc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cmbblr03ax0i

One week later and my mum's finished the scarf that she was knitting. Reasons to be cheerful - knit, knit, knit. #dementia #dementiacare #alzheimers #livingwell #reducinganxiety #mindfulknitting #therapeuticknitting #manyfacesofalzheimers #livingwithalzheimers https://www.instagram.com/p/BrIGd0SgrRR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1npehw1ihceba

Bilateral repetitive psychosocial invention. It's going to be a very long scarf for Mark. #manyfacesofalzheimers #knittingtherapy #knititation #kickalzintheballz #livingwell #wellbeing #dementia #alzheimers #reducinganxiety #agency #greenandblue https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq5OKihHeWF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fvgz7e0r6kyu

On the train for one of my regular visits to care for my mum. It's a two and a half hour journey so some bilateral repetitive psychosocial invention (aka as knitting) makes the long trip easier. And it's Carers Rights Day today. Oh how I wished that my local council bought into this directive. #wellbeing #wellmaking #dementia #alzheimers #livingwell #reducinganxiety #mindfulknitting #dementiacare #therapeuticknitting #dementiacarer #itsnotfortheweak #itsgoingtobeascarf #brioche #doingwhatican https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqzn3YonCEe/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=alajby2onwki

Colours chosen, now the hard but rewarding work begins. #therapeutic #embroidery #wellmaking #livingwell with #dementia #alzheimers #culturematters #neuralplasticity #itsnicetomake #manyfacesofalzheimers #craftingtogether #craft #butterfly https://www.instagram.com/p/BqkanOrHe2e/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fj5m6ij9srlu

As a child I was obsessed with how my mother's pinking shears cut zigzag edges. I think my mum brought these with her from Barbados when she came to London in 1954. They're still kept safe in her sewing box. Her mother was a #seamstress. #pinkingshears #toolsofthetrade #tooloftheday #dementiacare #dementia #windrushgeneration #barbados #manyfacesofalzheimers #therapeuticmaking #magic #passeddownthroughgenerations https://www.instagram.com/p/BqU3qQin9cQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gl6dalsyn44i

There's always time for a bit of a sing-a-long whilst knitting. #manyfacesofalzheimers #dementia #dementiacare #thefuturesnotourstosee #quesarasara #singing the #goldenoldies #therapeuticknitting #knittingtherapy #takingbackcontrol #windrushgeneration https://www.instagram.com/p/BqPOk6BA2Mk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14x9cywrjh4kx

Before my mum starts her next embroidery project we organised the threads. So satisfying ❤️ #embroidery #wellmaking #dementia #alzheimers #livingwell #reducinganxiety #mindfulmaking #dementiacare #nextproject #culturematters #windrushgeneration #haptic #skillz #agoodeyeforcolour #anchorthreads https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp_7lMKnpYS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nlxp6i8ztpgg

While the hospital is investigating unexplained weight loss, I've got practical and taking in my mum's trousers at the waist so she stops using multiple safety pins to keep her trousers up! #wellbeing #wellmaking #dementia #alzheimers #livingwell #beingpractical #pfaff #sewingmachine #dementiacare #dementiadiaries #dementiacarers #doingwhaticando https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp96YfeH5ge/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14yi8jnwbf3tx

Hospital visits can be stressful, so while I wait for my mum while she is having a scan, it's time for for some #knititation. The knit and meditation combo coined by the wonderful @knitnibble This is my first attempt at broiche knitting and I think I'm getting the hang of it. Why isn't there a knit emoji??? #wellbeing #wellmaking #dementia #alzheimers #livingwell #reducinganxiety #mindfulknitting #dementiacare #therapeuticknitting #dementiacarer #brioche I❤️#briocheknitting #itsgoingtobeascarf https://www.instagram.com/p/BppR4wrHNHm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1g7quqyr42qrf

Early to rise - early to knit. My mother started knitting at 6am this morning, while watching Ghosts on the Loose on the Talking Pictures TV channel. #knittingtherapy #therapeuticknitting #scarf #wellbeing #dementia #alzheimers #livingwell #reducinganxiety #mindfulknitting #dementiacare #dexterity #windrushgeneration We ❤️ #talkingpicturestv https://www.instagram.com/p/BplpyPNH_dg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1401mixv2z9u4

Knitting scarves. In recent years my mum prefers bright 'sunny' colours. Me- I'm still expressing my inner 'goth'. My mum is wearing her falls alarm on her left arm, me - I'm wearing my #fitbit2 #dementiacare #dementia #alzheimers #therapeuticknitting #crochet ##craftingtogether #wellbeing #dementiadiaries #generationaldifferences #windrushgeneration https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpep_CZnm2M/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14ou9n8y9bab4

Calypso in the morning. Dance like no one is watching. #kickalzintheballz #harrybelafonte #jumpintheline #calypso #86yearsyoung #dementiacare #dementia #windrushgeneration #backhome #mum #mom #iammymothersdaughter https://www.instagram.com/p/BpbqU4mHfVS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lw9dd8jkt0oe

My mum always knitted my jumpers when I was young. I don't think I owned a shop-bought jumper until I was in my late teens. Today my mother still knits things for me, albeit the knitting instructions now also serve as a reminder - pinned to the work in hand. #therapeuticknitting #wellbeing #wellmaking #alzheimers #homeknitted #dementia #dementiacare #powerofknitting #forgetting but not #forgotten #notgivingup #mother #scarf #actsofmaking #knittingtherapy #dementiacarers https://www.instagram.com/p/BpXL80mne8I/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ncis9bi9i7n9

My mum quietly embroidering French knots. This is a clip from a short film that I made in 2016. It was first screened as part of the Crafts Council's Real to Reel craft film festival in 2017, and it was recently screened as part of the Real to Reel 2017 showcased with the British Council at Saudi Design Week earlier this month. #wellbeing #wellmaking #dementia #alzheimers #livingwell #embroidery #frenchknot #realtoreel #britishcouncil #saudidesignweek2018 #craftscouncil #musclememory #nondeclarativememory #thinkingthroughdoing #film #mum #dementiacare #86years #craftingtogether #iammymothersdaughter #windrushgeneration https://www.instagram.com/p/BpUA8zCnvI6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7o1t5b12raq1