"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Arthur Ashe Crafting a Path Through Illness #art #creativity #CraftSky #fiberarts #poetry #beginner #newstart #writing #Chronicfatigue #chronicpain #chronicillness #mecfs #gardening #collage #mixedmedia 🧶 🎨 🧵 🎵 🌱 📷 🪡 ✍🏻 🎭 💃 🧁

“Crafting Myself From Scraps” This artwork of mine features in the book Crafting A Path Through Illness so, if you like it, grab yourself a copy! #art #drawing #mixedmedia #spiral #sewing #linedrawing #chronicillness #invisibleillness #mecfs #ME/CFS #CraftSky #books

I was honoured to contribute to Phil Barnett’s project last year. Phil is an artist and writer living with chronic illness. You can buy The Spiral of Honesty book (Hardback, 50 pages, 28x28cm, 11x11") at microcosmic.shop/products/cop... #chronicillness #mecfs #art #poetry #naturephotography 💙📚

The Story of the Flat Birthday Cake and what it can teach us about creativity… #cats #cake #baking #creativity

2/ - Jeremy Jeffs, Photography project @jeremy-jeffs.bsky.social - ‘I would be there if I could’ – Alison Larkman’s Mirrorbox project - Moving Mountains, edited by @louisekenward.bsky.social - Crafting a Path Through Illness – by @germainehypher.bsky.social #chroniclife #PwME #mirrorbox #CFS

I celebrated my 50th earlier this month. I’m still recovering from being on the sofa/floor for two hours with family, gifts, and a visit from a python and an owl (it’s true and they were real!) but the love from friends and family lingers. 🎈❤️ #mecfs #chronicillness #invisibleillness #CraftSky

Are any of these on your New Year Aims list…? #mecfs #ME/CFS #Chronicillness #invisibleillness #creativity #poetry #art #crafts #knitting #crochet #fiberarts #photography #perfectionism #mentalhealth #writing #CraftSky #selfhelp #books #reading #bookreview 💙📚

Creativity needn’t require great art skills or crafty talent - just a little imagination inspired by everyday objects. #CraftSky #creativity #imagination #key

Not enough energy to clean, let alone create? Let the mess be your art! The patterns in these photos are starchy splatters on our black cooker from a pan of rice left to bubble away. What patterns can you find in mess? #chronicillness #chronicfatigue #mecfs #ME/CFS #art #photography #creativity 📷 🧑🏼‍🍳

“Would If I Could, Instead I Travel Inside My Head” features at the start of part 6 of the book Crafting a Path Through Illness. It feels relevant at this time of year when adverts for booking holidays abound on TV. #CraftSky #chronicillness #mecfs #ME/CFS #collage #art #maps #chronicpain #travel

10 activities you may not have thought of as creative… How do you integrate creativity into your life? #Creativity #chronicillness #chronicpain

I was given an Orkney vole pincushion this Xmas & have named her my Voodoo Vole. Check out her needle whiskers & rather punk safety pin ear piercing - it’s a trendy, round safety pin cos she’s a fashion conscious vole. #sewing #fiberarts #CraftSky 🪡 🧵

Did you receive any art or craft materials this Christmas? What plans do you have for creating in the new year? I’m dreaming up ideas for painting and collaging. #art #CraftSky #painting #fiberarts #collage

More naps than jingling here today. How about you? 🎄 🛌 #chronicillness #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #invisibleillness #mecfs #ME/CFS #fibromyalgia #migraine #Christmas

Craft yourself a merry little Christmas! 🎄 🧶 🪡 ✍🏻 🎨 🎭 🎵 🧁 🌱 🎁 #CraftSky #fiberarts #knitting #crochet #sewing #needlework #art #drawing #poetry #pottery #sculpture #christmas #handmade #homemade #creativity #painting #writing #artsandcrafts #crafting #crafts

This snowflake, that delights my tree every Christmas, was crocheted for me some years ago by a friend who was living at the time with FND, chronic fatigue and vestibular migraines. She chose the perfect yarn for the delicate snowflake. #CraftSky #chronicillness #fiberart #yarn #crochet #christmas

An idea for a last minute homemade Christmas gift: bath salts to soothe classic spoonie symptoms (can also be used as foot soaks for those who are unable to get in a bath) 🛀 Just don’t eat any of the ingredients, like I did… 🤭(details in photos)🍊 #chronicillness #mecfs #Christmas #homemade #ME/CFS

🎁 Go forth: tell all, repost, order (Amazon worldwide, books.org, Waterstones - anywhere you like to buy books) and wait excitedly for your delivery. 😁 🧑🏻‍🎄 #chronicillness #invisibleillness #mecfs #ME/CFS #CraftSky 💙📚 🧶 🎨 🪡 ✍🏻 🎵

Spread the inspiration around this Christmas with multiple copies of this book on your shopping list! If you’ve yet to peak inside the pages, be sure to ask Santa for a copy for yourself! #chronicillness #chronicpain #mecfs #ME/CFS #invisibleillness #CraftSky #art 💙📚 🧶 🎨 ✍🏻 🪡 🎵 🎅🏻 🎁

Red Leaf Christmas tree at Chester Cathedral - decorated with creations from the ME community (that’s my beaded leaf!) & messages of hope from leading ME scientists/clinicians. #mecfs #ME/CFS #Christmas #CraftSky #Chronicillness theredtreeandme.substack.com/p/red-leaves-and-messages-of-hope-chester

“A treasure trove and a perfect Christmas gift for loved ones with limited energy. I was stunned at the research, history, depth and encouragement. It's not just a crafting book, it's a therapeutic book even if you don't do one thing from it." #Chronicillness #mecfs #ME/CFS #Craftsky 💙📚 🧶 🪡 🎨 ✍🏻 🎵 🎭

November is dementia awareness month so I thought I’d share with you two of my makes for people with dementia: a twiddle lap-mat, sewn as a commission from a friend for her mum, & a knitted twiddle muff, made some years ago for charity. #CraftSky #knitting #sewing #dementia #anxiety #chronicillness

@paulaknight.bsky.social is completely bed bound. Slowly, she creates digital images that she sells as cards, stickers, clothing & phone cases on her Redbubble shop. Take a look & support a disabled artist this winter. #Christmasgifts #disability #art #me/cfs #chronicillness #mecfs #digitalart

My article from the latest issue of @actionforme.bsky.social’s magazine, InterAction. If you are a member of AFME you can enter the competition to try and win a free copy of Crafting a Path Through Illness. 😀📖 #mecfs #me/cfs #chronicillness #invisibleillness #chronicpain #art #crafts #CraftSky

Wondering whether to add the filled-with-goodness book that is Crafting a Path Through Illness to your Christmas shopping list and/or personal wish list? Perhaps this review will help you make up your mind… 🎁 💙📚 #mecfs #me/cfs #chronicillness #invisibleillness #art #craft #bookreview 🧶🎨✍🏻🎵🎭🧁🌱🪡✂️

See that gorgeous smile, there? That’s recent birthday girl @annakwood.bsky.social having just opened the 🎁 I made for her big birthday: a cushion inspired by Rennie Macintosh, upcycled from purple fabric I had saved for special use. #sewing #upcycling #charlesrenniemackintosh #chronicillness #MECFS

chronic.market/chronic-illn... Fiction, self-help, nature, creativity, poetry, memoir, cookery, children’s books… Have a look, put them on your wish list, buy copies as gifts, talk about them, share the link - please lend your support in whatever way you can! 📚 📖 #chronicillness #mecfs #books

The catnip arrived that I bought to make a new toy for Kiki. I’m not well enough to sew today but seeing her scoot around with a Jiffy bag on her head, literally chasing the high, made up for that! 😸 🐈‍⬛ #mecfs #me/cfs #fibromyalgia #chronicillness #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #cat #blackcat #funnycat

Overall Amazon star rating: 5/5 Mark, a reader, says: "An absolute gift for folks trapped in a chronically ill body. It is both a companion in hard times and a call to creativity." #creativesky #chronicillness #chronicpain #art #craft #selfhelp 💙📚 📖 🎨 🪡 🧶 🎵 ✍🏻 🎭

Happy Halloween and Samhain Blessings to those who follow the wheel of the year. 🎃 (Pumpkins picked, decorated and brought to my bedroom by family. Thank you!) #chronicillness #chronicpain #mecfs #me/cfs #migraine #fibromyalgia #Halloween #samhain #pumpkin #CraftSky #creativity

Kali-Ma and ME. Mixed media using paper, pen, lace, fabric and a Nietzsche quote. A black and white reproduction of this artwork features in my book Crafting a Path Through Illness. #Chronicillness #Chronicpain #me/cfs #mecfs #godessart #mixedmedia #drawing #collage #arttherapy #philosophy #goddess

Watercolour interpretations of one autumn leaf didn’t turn out quite as I’d hoped but I’m pleased with them and had fun loosening up with my line and colour placement. An analogy for days with chronic illness can be found in there, I feel! #chrinicillness #chronicpain #mecfs #art #painting #leaves

I love hearing readers’ responses to the book. Please do let me know if you’ve enjoyed any aspects of it! #art #craft #chronicillness #chronicpain #mecfs #me/cfs #bookreview #craftsky #creative 🧶 🎨 ✍🏻 🪡 🎵 🎭 💙📚

All seasons leaf garland. Wet felted, knitted and machine embroidered. Made in collaboration with my daughter - albeit without her knowing. Let me explain… (explanation in final photo) #nature #textileart #felting #knitting #sewing #leaves #CraftSky #chronicillness #mecfs #me/cfs 🧶 🍁

Andy McLellan lives with M.E and is very understanding of chronic illness, so book your space on this free online Zen and Haiku Writing workshop knowing you’ll be in a safe space. glasgowzengroup.com/whats-on-gzg/ #haiku #poetry #zen #buddhism #chronicillness #mecfs #freeevent #onlineworkshop

My reflexologist knows how I surround myself with items from the outside world as much as possible & brought round some feathers for me. I felt inspired to have a go at drawing one of them using soft pastels - here’s the result. #art #drawing #pastel #chronicillness #me/cfs #mecfs #nature 🪶

It brings me such joy to read your appreciative words… and I’m hungry for more! Reviews are so helpful for potential readers so please do share any good thoughts you have about Crafting a Path Through Illness on the platform of your choice.😀 #chronicillness #chronicpain #me/cfs #craftsky #bookreview

Can you relate to this piece? The title, “Disconnect”, is both an expression of the feeling and a suggestion of a self-care action to take. I’m sending love to all who feel the pain of disconnect. #Chronicillness #invisibleillness #chronicpain #me/cfs #mecfs #drawing #art #blackandwhite

“I'm not self-medicating with art supplies. The lady at the store wrote me prescription. Well, she called it a receipt. Whatever.” Source unknown. If you know who I should credit, please put the details in a comment. Thank you. #chronicillness #mecfs #me/cfs #chronicpain #art #arttherapy #funny

I feel inclined to relate the process of my experimentation with painting and collaged composition to that of adapting to the fluctuations of chronic illness. See my final picture for my contemplations and appeal for your responses. #chronicillness #invisibleillness #mecfs #art #natureart #craftsky

The Power - a poem by Cath Jevon, housebound with M.E. but expressing her inner power. #chronicillness #chronicpain #mecfs #me/cfs #poetry #nature #art #innerpower #creativity #spooniecommunity #creativewriting

‘One Red Leaf at a Time: an international art project’ is still receiving submissions to raise hopeful awareness. This pic is my offering. 🎨 🧶 📷 ✍🏻 🪡 “Strength for today, hope for tomorrow – one leaf at a time.” Dr Jo Greer 🍁 theredtreeandme.substack.com #mecfs #ME/CFS #chronicillness #CraftSky

“Beautiful, sensitive book. I'm just blown away. So much deeper than a craft book" Miriam Grace, chronically ill psychotherapist & host of Women of Steel podcast. 320 pages. Tips, hacks, activities, inspiration, solidarity & more. #chronicillness #chronicpain #me/cfs #mecfs 💙 📚 🧶 🪡 🎨 ✍🏻 🎵 #craftsky

3rd attempt at painting in the style of Dufy. I really like this one! Next to try a composition of my own that doesn’t have an existing painting as its guide. Time spent: 1.5 hrs split into 4 sessions over 2 days with lots of pacing in between. #painting #flowers #art #mecfs #me/cfs #chronicillness

1st attempts at painting in the style of Dufy - a bit hit & miss but cropping down to parts I like makes me happier with my efforts. A reminder to focus on the pleasurable & the glimmers of hope among the imperfect brushstrokes of a chronically ill life. 🌸 🎨 🌼 #mecfs #chronicillness #art #flowers

You are invited to join the latest Pillow Writers’ Salon on Thursday, September 18th at 11am PT/2pm ET/7pm UK. Register: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi... This live Salon will feature readings of comic & serious, stories, essays and poems. #chronicillness #chronicpain #mecfs #me/cfs #poetry #writing

Pastel interpretation of pine bark in sunlight. Inspiration was a photo taken through zoom lens from where I lay. The photo was out of focus but I just wanted a reference for when able to use my soft pastels to recreate the essence of the tree trunk in the golden light. #art #chronicillness #MECFS

4 months since I’d left our home, 6 years since sleeping in the forest just 10 minutes away from us, but here’s evidence that I lay beside big-trunked trees again! Check out the crafty creations decorating our Wendy House on Wheels… #ME/CFS #mecfs #chronicillness #chronicpain #CreativeSky 🌳🏕️🌲 🚐 🧶

Some recycled sari silk yarn and double-sided sticky tape transformed my bog standard Specsavers glasses case. What practical items and disability aids have you made more aesthetically pleasurable to use? #craftsky #fiberart #spirals #chronicillness 👓 🧶 #me/cfs