Paper Cordage Workshops
For 12 months I have been running free paper cordage workshops in small groups of five, suitable for all ages and abilities. These workshops allowed people to learn a simple craft skill. It was an opportunity for them to connect, listen to each other's stories and opinions, and share their views in a relaxed environment.
Cordage is traditionally made using plant and animal fibre to make rope, yarn and thread. In these workshops, I taught people to make cordage by twisting strips of paper into 2-ply cord, using waste paper such as from shoeboxes, packaging and gift wrap.
Within these small groups, I facilitated discussions for ongoing conversations around textiles and environmental topics. The topics we explored were:
What is your relationship with textiles?
Is craft valued?
Are materials important? - traceability, where they come from
Should we design for the future? - longevity
Do you think we have a strong connection to people, land, earth?
What are your thoughts on climate change?
Thoughts on the textile industry
The workshops were scribed to record the themes and topics shared within the discussions. There was a short survey at the end for participants to capture their thoughts and what they experienced.
Photographs by Eddie Stenstrom
“It was inspiring. Being with different people, talking about these type of things, but at the same time we are all working towards the same end, is something wonderful and “humanitarian”, it’s something human, it completes us. And that is valuable.”
“Art is very important for mental well being, group workshops encourage creative conversations and ideas that can be taken into the wider community. I will reflect on the conversation and will share with family and friends”
“Creative endeavour helps bring people together, improving mental well-being”
“I’m going to do some visible mending this evening”
“Fabulous afternoon meeting interesting people and learning a new skill, where I can now use old paper to make things”
“Thanks for the invitation. It filled my heart and soul”
“I loved talking to Alice and Hannah about their making philosophies and also hearing about their experiences in the Textile/fashion industries”
“I really enjoyed this workshop and it definitely helped my mental health today. Thank you for hosting this!”
“This workshop brought joy and wellbeing to me, I think it is the same to other people too. It is also good chance to get to know new people”
“Most people forget about weaving, stitching and knitting these days. The project makes me think we need to calm down and explore nature more”
“Anything that encourages more greening of the city interests me. I’m an environmental campaigner with Portsmouth Friends of the Earth. Keep it up! Very important to get others interested and active”
“I think the sensibility art offers to people could be a retrieval for society. If people were more connected to what art can give they would be more thoughtful and better thinkers”
“I mainly just liked how it brought together different people from different backgrounds and how that led to interesting discussions and more valued input but also that there was clearly a lot of thought crossover and how we could relate to each other too”
“Textile is a material that connects us to many things, to our natural and personal roots. The ancestors had it in almost everything they did, and in that way we will be linked to them and to our origin. And this connection to the past may be the answer for our future”
“It definitely had me thinking more about sustainable materials and practices and pushing that forward with my own creative practice”
“It’s important to join in with others for creativity and mental health and to take time out for something new”
“Relaxing, interactive, friendly and informative. Sharing and valuing craft skills is so important”
“Help with mental wellbeing and to broaden the understanding of textile art”
“Fabulous afternoon meeting interesting people and learning a new skill, where I can now use old paper to make things”
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