Name: Flavia Oliveira
Age: 38 years old
Country: Canada (born in Brazil)
Instagram: @florshook
About the series
The Healing Craft Series features creators sharing their thoughts and feelings on crafting and healing through crafting.
“Crafting is so meditative and healing, it’s the best
medicine for the soul.”
Flavia Oliveira, @florshook
What kind of craft do you do and how long have you been doing it for?
I’ve crocheted since I was 13 years old, and I’ve been attempting on knitting for about 5 years now.
What is your favourite place/time of day to craft and why?
I crochet/knit anytime of the day, as long as I have free time to do it
What inspires you (in life & in crafting)?
Nature and music.
How has/is crafting helping you and your mental health?
I moved to Canada by myself 11 years ago, and being far away from
family is very hard, especially during winter months where I usually get
depressed. I find myself more active doing my crafts during winter
months, and most recently during this pandemic. I can say that my
crochet and knitting saved me from falling into deeper depression during
all the years and winters that I had in my life in Canada.
I have my fiancée now and I don’t feel so alone like before.
He is very supportive of my craft, but with this pandemic the fear of the sickness and the financial burden that is taking us, I am more and more active in my craft,
and I use it as an escape from all the stress and to avoid from falling into
depression again. It’s really keeping me sane at this moment.
What is your advice to other creators (or newly started creators)?
Join the maker community, share your creations, support other makers,
chat with as many as you can, watch lives to learn what others are
sharing, many times you can totally relate to them and also learn a thing
or two from them.
Crafting is so meditative and healing, it’s the best
medicine for the soul.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Being open and vulnerable is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign that
you are human!