Name: Henessy
Age: 21 years old
Country: Australia
Instagram: @forsirens.au
Etsy: forsirensAU
About the series
The Healing Craft Series features creators sharing their thoughts and feelings on crafting and healing through crafting.
“Making something beautiful using just my hands means I get the chance to be proud of myself. And I love that.”
Henessy, @forsirens.au
What kind of craft do you do and how long have you been doing it for?
I crochet and sometimes paint. I’ve been doing it for almost a year now. My crocheting journey started when I saw skeins of yarns at the opshop’s craft aisle. The $1 yarn was so soft and looking expensive so I bought it right away. Since then, I can’t be stopped buying yarns and making crochet wears out of it. My first piece was a matching set.
Painting to me is so therapeutic. I’m not a pro to this craft but I find a real comfort doing it. I do not paint as much as I crochet now. But I still make the time to grab my brushes and stroke my feelings away on the canvas. I have this one canvas that I alloted specially to my feelings. It has so many layers of paint, feelings (I might say) now. It’s very special to me.
What is your favourite place/time of day to craft and why?
I crochet anywhere in the house. Anywhere is fine as long as I have music in the background. But I find it so satisfying crocheting outside or better say in our backyard. Catching some sunlight, watching the bees, dandelions and flowers sway in the direction of the wind, hear the birds sing, the cars accelerating makes my mind at ease. It somehow makes me feel whole.
For painting, I love doing it in my room during the night when it’s quiet. The bed frame being my canvas stand. When I paint, I want the place to be only for myself. I like it when no one is watching me during the process. Painting in a dim, quiet spot encourages me to acknowledge, accept and at the same time, let go of all the unwanted thoughts & feelings that I have as of the moment.
I only finished one project and since then I’ve never finished a piece again. It’s always this one layer layered with a completely different layer.
What inspires you (in life & in crafting)?
To be honest, I don’t really know what truly inspires me. But one thing I’m sure about is, it’s my friends who believes in my capabilities, my family. And knowing that there is someone I don’t know supporting me keeps me going. These people means so much to me.
How has/is crafting helping you and your mental health?
Dealing with mental issues, crocheting to me has been a pain yet a salvation. Sometimes when I feel too much, I crochet non-stop which makes me feel numb and counting the stitches 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and so on makes me go dumb. I know that I can stop counting and take a rest from crocheting but I just can’t and it makes me go nuts. However, being numb and dumb from crocheting also helps me from not feeling too much. Crocheting helps me to dettach my self, my emotions, my thoughts to the real world. But life is demanding, right? And going back to the real world is a must. That being said, I find it really hard to go back to the real world.
Going on to the 100% positive side, my craft gives me comfort from worries, stress and sadness. I feel at ease whenever I crochet and paint. It also makes me happy whenever I get to see my finished piece coming all together and seeing other people trust me with my craft, be proud of my makes and other creators connecting with me gives me happy chills.
Making something beautiful using just my hands means I get the chance to be proud of myself. And I love that.
What is your advice to other creators (or newly started creators)?
We all have the capability to make beautiful things. We shouldn’t let it go to waste.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Just keep going. You’re not alone.
If ever you want to talk to someone, may it be craft or life, or someone to just listen to you about anything you wanted to say, I’m here. We’re here.
Please reach out.