“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
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Taree artist Samantha Everett uses these words by Pablo Picasso as her drive to connect people with creativity.
Samantha shares a studio space, A Little to the Left, with her mother Jennifer Dayment, upstairs at the Taree Literary Institute.
The pair work under the name Sweetpea and Mumma. They love art, craft and re-purposing materials, but most of all they love the positive powers of creation on mental health and self esteem.
Every Wednesday they host a free “Make Time for Me” session from 10am to 3pm, where anyone, can bring anything to work on or even just come and sit.
“We encourage people, particularly women, to take time for themselves. We’re all busy for whatever reason, but it’s okay to stop,” said Jennifer.
Samantha said the sessions can also be a place for finding ones creativity for the first time.
“Everyone is creative. The hardest thing is accepting you can be – my personal challenge is to find a creative outlet for everyone,” said Samantha.
Jennifer said creating is beneficial when you are going through something hard.
“To learn something new and develop a hobby can really take you away from your problems. No matter what life throws at you, you have something to turn to.”
In Spring “Make Time for Me” will host Snail Mail sessions for writing a letter or message you’ve put off.
Weaving links
JENNIFER Dayment took a spiritually crafty trip to the Northern Territory.
Jennifer attended the 20th Alice Springs Beanie Festival and workshop with the Tjanpi Desert Weavers.
The weavers are a not-for-profit created to enable the Aboriginal women to earn a regular income from selling their fibre art. Jennifer said for these women weaving is just part of their lives.
“They create works of art,” she said.
When approached to do the workshop Jennifer was told to be respectful, to keep her eyes down and let the ladies talk.
“In no time we were all talking,” she said.
Jennifer said it was interesting hearing the women speaking about the problems in the desert such as camels negative impact on the environment and the subsequent loss of bush tucker.
“It was such a wonderful day of sharing between cultures.”