This month…
One of the silver linings of the past few months has been the resurgence of interest in craft. I’ve spoken to many friends who eulogise about the soothing effects of needlework, knitting, painting and pottery. It reminds me of my aunt, who was a semi-professional embroiderer. I remember, as a teenager, asking her about her dedication to her craft. Peering at me over her half-moon spectacles, she softly explained how the slow, repetitive process of pushing a needle through fabric allowed her mind to rest and helped her disconnect from her surroundings. I was mesmerised, yet too young to understand that this is what we now call mindfulness. Recently, my 27-year-old daughter took up the same craft, choosing to spurn ‘evening screen addiction’ in favour of this absorbing form of…