Joining in with The Mossy Carpet
We often ask ourselves, how do we enthuse people to join in with projects, make them welcome, inspire people enough so that they go yeah, we love mosses, or we’d love to make mossy pompoms or we’ve been really enjoying doing this thing or that where we live! Art and Energy presented The Mossy Carpet with two differing communities recently. One in Crediton, a rural market town in Mid Devon; the other in the centre of Plymouth at the Scrapstore. In both places we had a great time, and from those events came the makings of new pieces for The Mossy Carpet.
In Crediton we presented The Mossy Carpet at the Sustainable Crediton’s annual Green Fair. We were among a wonderful array of stalls that ranged from providing advice about hedgehogs, giving cycling support and information about water and our waterways. The Mossy Carpet represents the hands that have made it, and it celebrates the small moss like actions that we can all take to make the environment better for all of life!
Several people offered to go away and make a piece of carpet with their own group of friends, co-knitters or family. To our surprise and delight, one piece turned up within a week!
Karen Rickey turned up with a collection of pom-poms, knitting, crochet and felted pieces all put together of an evening gathering. While they made it they talked about the past and the future. Up-cycling things, re-using things. Stories from life as children. Making things in a group is often the best way to get conversation going. The group used a bit of towel from Karen’s mother’s old ragbag. ‘I love using textiles and fabrics that have a history to them’ she said. ‘ You can feel age and use through your fingers. Much better than new.’ We love these stories!
Karen bringing her group’s piece to add to The Mossy Carpet.
At the Green Fair, we also met Brana, who wants to set up a Climate cafe, or Climate action group in Topsham. She would like to get a group together to discuss this over a Mossy Carpet make too. You can e-mail her if you live in Topsham or nearby and are interested on branathorn@gmail.com. We really like that making The Mossy Carpet might help new groups set up to make a difference !
The group in Plymouth Scrapstore are called the Glad Rags. They got down to making mossy tufts straight away after being encouraged by Jenny from Art and Energy. And soon after, we received some lovely ribbon mosses to add to the carpet too.
So, you can see how easy it is to do this in a group. All you need is a small piece of cloth (60 x 60 max), some old yarn from the cupboard or charity shop, a pair of scissors and a needle or two…. and of course, a few other friends or crafters. then email us on hello@artandenergy to see whether it is best deliver or meet up, or you can post anyway if you live a long way from Devon to: The Mossy Carpet, PO Box 961, Exeter, EX1 9DF.
Talking around the making in Crediton
Getting ready with The Mossy Carpet at Sustainable Crediton’s Annual Green Fair in the Square.
Glad Rags group sitting around making at the Plymouth Scrapstore, meet 11am on Mondays
