Improving Mental Well Being the Arty Way

Whether you feel you have any artistic talent or not, we were all born with the need to express ourselves in whatever form that may take. I believe that creative expression benefits our brains and our mental health, making us happier, healthier people. Read these 5 ways art makes a difference: 

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1. Stress Relief

Creating artwork provides a distraction that gives our brain a break from the norm. Activities like painting, sculpting and drawing are relaxing and rewarding – lowering stress levels and leaving us feeling mentally clearer and calmer.

We’ve all been in ‘the zone’ when we get totally immersed in a creative project? This focuses our mind and pushes aside all worries, we’re concentrating on the art and don’t have time to think about the bills, it acts like meditation.

2. Creative Thinking

Art enhances our problem-solving skills, encouraging creative thinking so that we come up with our own solutions. This alternative thinking also stimulates our brain to grow new neurons. We can use art to stimulate the brain, like exercises that use our senses in new and novel ways.

3. Boost Self-Esteem

We all proudly display our children’s artwork on the fridge and we should do the same for our own artwork too! The ‘happy hormone’ dopamine has been shown to stimulate the creation of new neurons and prepare our brain for learning. Craft hobbies like knitting, quilting, sewing, drawing, photography, sculpture, woodwork, gardening and even home DIY all increase our levels of dopamine, ward off depression and protect our brain from aging.

4. Quality of Life for Dementia Patients

I’m a firm believer that music and art can enhance cognitive abilities and memory for people with dementia. Dementia is not just about memory loss, patients also experience agitation, aggression, anxiety, depression and insomnia. When dementia patients are encouraged to create visual art, sing or make music, their pleasure is clear to see and it can improve their social behaviour and reduce their symptoms.

5. Chronic Health Conditions

Millions of people deal with chronic health conditions, along with the stress and anxiety that accompanies them. Studies have found that music and visual arts have a positive effect on chronic illnesses:

• It lets patients forget about their illness for a while, focussing on a positive experience
• It enables people to rediscover their identity from before their illness took over
• It gives sufferers a sense of achievement
• It helps people to express their feelings
• It reduces stress by lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol

So if you’re suffering from stress, anxiety or depression, there are many ways that art can help. Whether it’s picking up a colouring book in your lunch hour or joining a week-long sculpture retreat, you can express your emotions and overcome some of those negative feelings.

We'll meet again....

Well, what an amazing response we had from you all at the Birmingham NEC hobbycrafts show. It was so wonderful to share with everyone our love for Powertex!

The team at Powertex Uk hq worked like busy bees and did a grand job of filling packets, labeling, punching, stapling, organising and packing stock in between the normal day jobs. 

Tracey and Garry out did themselves again!! They had a long Wednesday set up, with a 7 am start and they didn't return home to 6.30 pm. But they certainly brought the blank canvas that was the stand to life. With a beautiful array of new products, samples and jaw dropping, stunning artwork.

The creative team were a buzz with excitement. It's so lovely for the tutors to get an opportunity to get together and put a face to the name you often speak with on social media. And gives them all the experience of a big show and to share there knowledge and passion too! 

We managed to catch up with some old faces and some brand new ones who had never seen Powertex before.

We had a good lark about with our neighbours, whom included the crew at Hochanda, Craig at Marbling 4 fun and the team at Totally beads to name but a few. Convinced some of them to go pink for Powertex pink sunday. And raised a bit of money for Cancer Research in the process.  Who says you can't have a bit of fun on the last day!

We crashed out yesterday and had an easy one. Traceys feet were broken, don't worry not literally, Garry had overdosed on sweeties and my ribs were aching from all the laughter. We always have a good crack at the shows and I think that's apparent from the atmosphere on the Powertex UK stand. 

We hope you all enjoyed yourselves. We definitely did! Until next time, we'll meet again. That's all folks. Toodles Anna xXx 

Powertex is Seriously Addictive

My name is Michele and I am a Powertex addict, I admit it.

I have something of the ‘freshly converted’ about me. The slightly wild look in my eyes, inane grin and random splashes of ivory and bronze on my person, coupled with every other sentence beginning with “you could Powertex that” possibly indicate complete obsession!

Take this beautiful picture of the sea and lighthouse – did anyone else think ‘Powertex’ before seeing the actual picture?

I’m having trouble establishing boundaries. I simply cannot believe anyone wouldn’t fall hopelessly in love with Powertex once they’ve discovered it and if I notice so much as a whisker of interest twitching in my direction, I pounce. Here’s an example;

I recently visited a quaint little drinking village with a fishing problem and whilst sampling the local delights and casually discussing all things Powertex, my friend happed to mention that the lady who just walked in to the pub café was known locally as ‘Crafty Kim’.

What?!

I was immediately up, ears pricked, fully alert, nose twitching like a bloodhound when a tray of sausage rolls go by. “You mean craft as in ‘making’?” I asked, just to be sure.

“As in she has ‘Can’t Remember A Flippin’ Thing’ moments, so she makes stuff” my friend confirmed.

After sniggering at this acronym for a moment, I knew I had to meet her. Normally (and by normally I mean in my pre-Powertex life) I would ask to be introduced but I am no longer operating within the boundary of normal. I accosted the unsuspecting Crafty Kim by swooping down on her with all the inhibitions of a zealot and regaled her with photos, stories and incoherent, excited babble about Powertex.

This was not my first time accosting strangers and it began to dawn on me that I may have a problem so I sought counsel from our guru Tracey at Tex Towers who sagely confirmed that yes, she does it too, then countered with “but Garry is worse!”