Mandalas for Marinke was a collaborative crochet project launched in 2015 to raise awareness about depression and suicide in the wake of the death of crochet designer Marinke Slump, also known as Wink.
More than 300 people contributed over 1000 crochet mandalas to the project. Many used Wink’s original crochet patterns. They shared their stories about depression, suicide, mental health, and crafting to heal. Over the course of a year and a half, I did nearly daily posts on my blog, Crochet Concupiscence. I’ve since sold the blog, but I kept these posts, moving the full archive to this website.
I went on to publish a book of images and excerpts from this blog posts. Here I’ll share some of the original page notes that I posted for others about participating in the project.
What is the Mandalas for Marinke Crochet Project?
This is text from the original page about the project.
The world has lost a beautiful spirit. Marinke Slump, known to many as Wink, from the blog A Creative Being has succumbed to the struggle with depression and suicide. The online craft community has been devastated. My initial reaction was a painful mix of sadness, shock and fear. In the face of such devastating news I wanted to do all that I could to bring our community together.
After re-reading her story in Crochet Saved My Life
I was both touched and humbled by all of the creativity and love that came from so many people in making these mandalas, and I am honored to be able to share the art, stories and information that came with those contributions. I hope that Marinke would be proud.
ORIGINAL INFORMATION FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROJECT
Note: the project is complete. This is an archive of the work. This information here is just to reflect what the initial project details were.
WHAT IS #MANDALASFORMARINKE?
This is a collaborative crochet art project in which contributors from all over the world were invited to create a crochet mandala in honor of Wink. This project was used to celebrate her life and creativity as well as to raise awareness about depression.
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE TO #MANDALASFORMARINKE
- Crochet one or more mandalas using a pattern by Wink. The more colorful the better but of course all mandalas will be accepted. NOTE: In an update I added that in addition to seeking regular mandalas for wall display, I was also seeking tiny mandalas, huge cozy rug mandalas and mandalas made out of alternative materials.
- Add a handwritten (or typewritten) note. It may include any or all of the following:
- What inspires you about Wink’s work
- Why you chose to contribute to the project
- Something you want people to know about depression and / or crafting to heal
- Your own story related to mental health/ depression/ suicide
- A message directly to Wink or Wink’s family about how her work touched you
- Note: If you don’t wish to include any of these things, feel free to draw a picture or just share a short message like “thinking about you Wink”.
- Additionally please include an index card with your name and email address as well as any of the following information that you would like published online. (Note that your email address will not be published; that’s for me to be able to contact you as needed to keep you updated on the project.) Include:
- Website/ blog
- 1-2 social media links
- 1-2 sentence bio about yourself
- Any additional brief information you want people to know.
- Note: It is totally fine not to include any of this. If you wish to be anonymous, just print your name on the card (so I know who sent it) and then write ANONYMOUS beneath it.
- Optional: Before mailing in your contribution, take a photo of it and share it on your own blog and / or social media channels. You can share your story there if you’d like. Use the #MandalasForMarinke hashtag so we all know where to find it!
- Optional: Share a photo of your photo with the tag #MandalasForWink. The Design Wars team (including ACCROchet) has set up this online project as a separate tribute to Wink but it dovetails nicely with mine. The more we celebrate Wink, the better.
- Mail your contribution.
- NOTE: By sending in a contribution, you are agreeing that your crochet mandalas as well as your written message are allowed to be published online and in print and showcased in an art show to raise awareness about depression. There will be no monetary compensation for your contributions. Contributions will not be returned.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH CONTRIBUTIONS TO #MANDALASFORMARINKE
Here is what I committed to for this project:
- Each contribution will be recorded and shared online with the #MandalasForMarinke tag. It will also be promoted through social media. Each post will include at least one fact about depression to help raise awareness about this issue as we celebrate Wink’s work.
- All of the crochet and written contributions will be curated into an art show. (Date and exact location TBD.) The show will include a pamphlet about depression awareness and how crochet can help with depression. It will also include a live reading from Crochet Saved My Life.
- The crochet and written contributions will be compiled into a book associated with the art show. It will be for sale online to reach everyone who can’t be present at the actual event. A portion of all sales from this art book will go to raising awareness about depression.
- Update: I will also find a way to donate the mandalas after the art show. I’m not sure to who or where yet. It just occurred to me after reading a lovely comment from Christine on Facebook who said, “When I read your post, I was struck by the joy and creative flair of Wink’s designs -I am sure that anyone receiving one of her creations would have a smile on their face every time they looked at it.” This is so true and I want to find a way to share these mandalas with others.
WHY I’M DOING THIS
When I read the news about Wink this morning, I felt like I’d been punched in the heart. She and I first connected online when she shared her story with me for Crochet Saved My Life
- Wink’s work means a lot to me. I don’t want it to be wasted. I want it to be celebrated. I want to honor her and the immense creativity she brought to the craft world. That’s the main reason for doing this. She is a beautiful soul with amazing talent and it should continue to be shared.
- Crochet saved my own life and the lives of many people I know. In the end, crochet couldn’t save Wink’s life forever. That’s tragic. But I know from our many online interactions that it did improve her life in many, many ways. It brought joy and creative expression to her world and to the many worlds that she touched through her work. Crochet is not a cure all and it can’t fix things but it does help us heal. I want people to know this.
- I know that many people will be affected by the news about Wink and won’t know what to do with the feelings that it brings up. Crocheting in the wake of tragedies can help us individually and collectively in so many ways. Crocheting mandalas, in particular, can be meditative and healing. I want to offer this project as a way for people in the online craft community to channel their grief or any other feelings that they are having.
- Finally, I’m doing this in part for myself. I am sad about this death. I am scared about the role depression has played in my own life and the knowledge that even doing all of the “right” things might not save me from it forever. I need to come together with my own community in this way to re-balance things for my own mental health.
OTHER WAYS TO HONOR WINK
I would love it if you participated in this project, sending in at least one mandala and statement. But it’s okay if you don’t want to. Here are some other ways that you can honor Wink:
- Share this project on your own blog and social media accounts so people know about it.
- Visit and share on the memorial website her loved ones set up.
- Wear a flower in your hair and share a photo of it tagged #wearingflowersinmyhairforwink. This is an Instagram tribute that’s been set up because the last photo on Wink’s Instagram has her with flowers in her hair.
- Raise awareness about depression among your community in any way that feels right to you. It’s important to talk about this topic.
FAQ ABOUT #MANDALASFORMARINKE
WHO WAS WINK? WHAT HAPPENED?
Marinke was a crochet designer that I met online several years ago when she shared her story for my book Crochet Saved My Life
WHY MANDALAS?
Wink really brought the crochet mandala pattern into the limelight and it took off throughout the craft world. She used other people’s patterns in creative ways on her blog, creating stunning posts showcasing color inspiration. She created her own original crochet mandala patterns that so many people have used. Plus the mandala is a meditative item to crochet and can be healing for yourself as you work it.
DO I NEED TO BLOCK/STIFFEN/FRAME MY MANDALA?
The crochet mandalas are going to be added to the crochet project in the way that you send them. I will not be doing additional blocking or stiffening on my hand. However, you are welcome to send them as is, fresh off the hook, if you’re happy with the way that they look. I want to make it really easy for everyone to contribute in the way that is right for them. If you want to block, stiffen and/or frame your piece(s), please do so. If you don’t, that’s okay too.
DO I HAVE TO USE WINK’S MANDALA CROCHET PATTERNS?
No. You are welcome to send any crochet contributions that are made in Wink’s honor. The reason I specifically wanted people to try to work from Wink’s patterns is because they are so inspiring and the mandalas are really what she was known for most in the world of crochet. I want to see her own work continue to inspire people and live on. That said, if you have any crochet mandala at all, something that you made in the past or from your own design or whatever, it is totally welcome to be included in the project. If you used someone else’s pattern, please include that info in your note to me so that the designer can get recognition. .
HOW HAS THIS PROJECT RAISED AWARENESS ABOUT DEPRESSION?
- Each contribution was posted online with the story / info the maker has shared. The early contributions included information direct from Wink’s blog. The first year of contributions included at least one bit of information about depression, whether that was a quote, a new resource, or a fact about mental health.
- The contributions were displayed in two different art shows in Southern California to raise awareness about depression (as well as about the health benefits of crochet).
- The works were into a crochet art book. It hass been gifted to various libraries and organizations to help raise awareness.
- Many people contributed mini mandalas (hundreds of them!) that have been freely gifted to folks who are in need of a smile, who have been affected by depression/ suicide and/or who need a tangible reminder that they are not alone.
IS THE #MANDALASFORWINK PROJECT THE SAME AS #MANDALASFORMARINKE?
No, but we were happy to work hand in hand. #MandalasForWink was a separate project honoring Wink, created by the team at Design Wars. People around the world were asked to share a crochet mandala online with that hashtag to spread Wink’s beautiful inspiration far and wide. Anyone who joined the #MandalasForWink project was encouraged to send that same mandala (or any other crochet mandala) in to the #MandalasForMarinke project as well. Likewise, anyone participating in the #MandalasForMarinke project was encouraged to virtually send their work to the #MandalasForWink project.
I HAVE IDEAS ABOUT HOW I’D LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE OR COLLABORATE TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT. HOW CAN I LET YOU KNOW?
Contact me via email (kathryn.vercillo on gmail) with your message. I’d love to hear it.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW CROCHET HELPS PEOPLE HEAL?
You can learn a lot from my book Crochet Saved My Life. You can learn from each of the posts on this website. You can check out general information about crafting to heal on my Psych Central blog. Check the “resources” tab on this site for even more information.