Here is the next of the beautiful, inspiring, special contributions coming in to the #MandalasForMarinke remembrance project. I am grateful for each and every amazing contribution. You are invited to join; learn more here.
Beautiful Crochet Mandala
Maker Pia shared in her own post, “For my mandala, I chose Wink’s Crochet Mandala For Your Home pattern. Her main pattern picture, which is done in grey, yellow, and white, looks so sunny and bright that I had to pick that one. Here’s my version.”
Meet the Maker
This special crochet mandala comes from Pia of Stitches ‘n Scraps. She writes:
“Where do I start? I made this mandala when the project first started, but haven’t been able to think of the right words to send with it. I only knew Marinke from her designs and her story. I’ve had my own struggles with depression, and while our stories are different, I still feel that connection.
The news of her passing shook me (and frankly scared me) more than I would have expected. It dragged out memories and feelings that I had neatly boxed up and put away so many years ago. At first, I tried not to think of her at all because I didn’t want to think of that part of my life.
Now, thanks to this project, that’s not what I will choose to remember. When I think of Marinke now, I think of her beautiful designs. I think of the love that was all around her, even if she couldn’t always see it. Now, I think how wonderfully supportive our community of crafters is, and I think how lucky I am to be a part of it.
Marinke showed us beauty. In her far too short time here, she gave us stunning designs and showed us the beauty of her art. In her passing she showed us the beauty of a community coming together to support each other. So now, when I think of Marinke, all I will think of is beauty.
Goodbye Wink, you are missed.”
Words by Wink
Wink predicted the 2015 trend for crochet that looks like knitting. She shared:
“Last year, when my beach bag pattern came out for Deramores.com, I got a lot of messages from people saying: ‘You’re cheating! That’s not crochet; that’s knitting!’ Well, I guess the joke’s on them; it totally was crochet!
I used the half double crochet stitch, through the infamous third loop, to make the v’s that normally lie on top of the stitch come forward, to create that often sought after knit look!
I think the reason this stitch is gaining popularity is that it’s fairly easy to do, yet it looks complicated. And we all want to brag about our hand made items, am I right?”
About Depression
One purpose of this project is to raise awareness about depression so each post will end with some facts, thoughts or quotes about depression, suicide and/or mental health. This Week is National Suicide Prevention Week in the US and today specifically is World Suicide Prevention Day. In Autralia this is called R U OK? Day.
The R U OK? organization shares:
“One of the great things about asking “are you ok?” is you don’t have to know the answers to a mate’s problems. Nor do you have to be ok yourself. Or feel particularly strong. As long as you feel up to listening, not judging and just talking through stuff you have found useful in the past, you’ve everything it takes to have a meaningful conversation to support a mate in need.”
That link also takes you to their page that give you tips on how to ask, how to have the conversation and how to deal with your friend’s possible reactions including denial that something is wrong. HelpGuide also addresses this same topic with some additional tips for having the conversation. They suggest these four questions you can ask:
- When did you begin feeling like this?
- Did something happen that made you start feeling this way?
- How can I best support you right now?
- Have you thought about getting help?
All contributions to Mandalas for Marinke are welcome and will help raise awareness about depression while honoring her work in the same way that this great contribution has done today. Details to join here.
Great mandala, Pia!