Arts & Crafts for Healing

After I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1993, I longed to draw, paint, and do ceramics, make something with my hands.
I started going to art school after I was unable to work full-time. Whenever I was creating, I did not think about cancer, and I noticed I was enjoying the time I spent there.
I believe that art and making crafts helped me heal.

I got a new job at Erewhen Natural Foods Market as a Macrobiotic Consultant, working full time, teaching weekly cooking demos and cooking classes every month, and traveling to cook in many different countries. I forgot about arts and crafts.

I had a near-death car crash in 2001.
I was in a coma for three days. Miraclerasly, I came back to live again.
Doctors told me I would not walk anymore. I was bedridden for one year; I learned to put my body to transfer from the bed to a wheelchair.
I started to write and draw again in my wheelchair.
I also started to learn Sashiko (Japanese embroidery), which helped me stay grounded and create something.
Sashiko helped me when the world was going through a pandemic in 2020 ~ 2023.
I stitched every day and tried to walk with my dogs after the dog walker stopped coming.
It took 20 years, but I started to walk without the cane I used for many years.

I love teaching and sharing my practice; my new workshop on Sashiko (Japanese embroidery) is helping many people to slow stitch life.
Check out my class/workshop event pages.
https://sanaesuzuki.com/classesworkshops/

I am grateful to find something to help me heal, so I hope you find something for yourself.