I've heard so many people say 'wow, this year's gone by so quickly'.
But for me, 2012 has felt like the longest year ever. The never ending year that went on and on with increasing levels of work and deadlines to meet. It's had it's fair share of highs and lows, moments I would like to forget and ones that I will remember for the rest of my life. Cliched as it may sound, the London 2012 Olympics was one of the most exciting times I've ever lived through. I feel so lucky that I saw it all happen in my local area and made the most of it by experiencing as much as I could; from the arts and entertainment of the London 2012 Festival to witnessing Olympic history: being there for the 1st ever women's boxing match.
I don't have any expectations of 2013 and no 'resolution' has captured my mind (yet?). I'm starting the year, with an open mind, open to ideas, opportunities, new friends, unexpected experiences, visiting different places. Perhaps I'll fulfill one of my ambitions. Perhaps I won't. Fingers crossed I'll achieve more than one. Happy New Year x These images were taken at The Southbank Centre over the summer at an installation called Rainbow Park by Polish sculptor Adam Kalonowski and appeared as part of their Festival of the World season.
The tale starts with jam. Tomato jam. Yes that's jam not chutney! Fruity, reddish orangey jam which if you weren't told, could be mistaken as strawberry...or perhaps even orange marmalade without the peel.
Sweet...like strawberries
There is nothing British about the recipe, it's Kenyan and it's a jam that a lady called Christine sells in Kenya, in order to survive, even though she's retired and should be putting her feet up. Instead she's constantly working in order to survive and look after children who've lost their parents to HIV and Aids. So why was her tomato jam recipe (which I can vouch for is utterly delicious!), being served up at Spitalfields City Farm on a Sunday afternoon? Because Christine and her jam is the inspiration behind a new campaign by Oxfam and the Craftivists Collective.
Craftivist volunteer
Grow is one of Oxfam's campaigns the aim of which is to ensure that everyone in the world has enough to eat...and to put an end to the fact that 1 in 7 people go to sleep hungry while elsewhere 80% of food is wasted...inequality as it's very worst. The Craftivists use craft as a form of activism to raise awareness of issues. Founder Sarah Corbett met Christine when she was in Kenya and was so touched by her tale that she looked for a way to share it. Now five years on, Craftivists have joined forced with Oxfam to get people to think about the world's food system and to consider the role small scale farmers can play in helping food production in developing countries. It's a complex issue and ambitious project but one that is essential.
Farm yard crafters
Over 50 people joined the launch of the campaign, held at Spitalfields City Farm on what was a very lovely sunny afternoon. The practical side of the campaign encourages people to make their own tomato jam using Christine's recipe and to give it to someone who is in a position to make a change such as MPs. Messages are hand-stitched onto the jam jar covers to get them to think and act.
Jar amnesty
So first up, all attendees took a jam jar which had been collected over the past few weeks.
Every jar came with lovely fabric
Inside each jar was everything a person needed to get started, fabric to stitch on, a band to hold it in place, a label and a needle.
Me reading up on the campaign
Before the afternoon got underway we were asked to read the leaflets about the campaign to get a better understanding of the issues.
This video is worth a watch to get a really good understanding of what I have been trying to explain (but they do it better!). It features Sarah from Craftivists talking about the campaign and how the jam and the stitching came together:
(Defo give this video a watch - if not now, bookmark it and watch when you can).
The craftivist crew
As a group we discussed what we thought of Christine's story which forces you to actually shape an opinion. Otherwise you can read something, find it interesting and forget about it. When you're asked to explain your reaction to what you've read you're more likely to take it seriously.
Equally important therefore is what message you stitch on your jam jar lid and who you give it to. These were some of Craftivist's suggestions.
And new comers to the stitch like Natalie from Ohdearism.
As well as jam, there was some live jammin' which added a fine soundtrack to the stitching.
A film crew were also there to record the campaign launch.
Craftivist Sarah invited lots of members of the craft community to take part so it was a fantastic opportunity to also meet some of the other crafty peeps I've encountered via twittersphere, such as Chloe from The Merry Bobbins, pictured here with Sarah.
And here's me with my finished jam! Now to sterilise the jar and fill it with homemade tomato jam. The message I stitched on mine was something that is very personal to me:
Live a simple life so others can simply life.
There is such an emphasis on 'excess' in our culture especially in the west: we're obsessed with having it all - the job, a house, car, social life, latest fashions and technologies and even the finest foods. While billions of people will never have any of the things I've just listed. It is very sad and I wish people would take that issue more seriously as a first step to eradicating this inequality.
I've long admired Sarah and Craftivists and I learn't today that as much as I love crafting for pleasure, when you craft for a cause, it's much more satisfying.
The event was my second alfresco crafting activity in a month and my second crafting activity this year based on a city farm.
I couldn't therefore not mention my two fave things about this particular location. Such as it has an empty phonebox for the sheep to play in...
And houses crime fighting pigs! Brilliant!
To find out more about Craftivists and their current campaign visit their website. You can get involved with the project where ever you are in the world.
So I’ve decided
to publish extracts from my diaries. I started keeping a dairy at the age of 7 but it became more regular between the ages of 11 to 21
when I wrote most days. Then I took a break and started keeping one again a couple of years ago. When I first began
I thought I would die if anyone ever read them and I wasn’t sure if I would ever be ready to share them publicly, but lately I’ve been feeling a bit sad
that this person I once was, is now hidden away and forgotten about inside various
notebooks. I’m not going to publish them completely, just random passages. I’m
also not yet sure if I’ll explain or contextualise them by saying who I’m talking
about, I’ll have to see what happens. Not naming any names either. It's not fair on them So for now:
Extract 1: 26th December 1992 (aged 12)
Quarter to 12
I hate the whole
world. I hate my life. I hate my school. I hate my family. I hate my teachers.
I hate the stupid girls in my class. I hate myself.
3’o’clock pm
Stuff what I said
earlier on today…I just attempted to cut my fringe. It turned out such a
disaster. It’s all different lengths. So I have to wear a stupid Alice Band in
my hair now. G went mad when I told her. She was shouting at me for ages.
I just stood there crying. I think that’s about it for now. Bye.
I don't have any expectations of 2013 and no 'resolution' has captured my mind (yet?). 
