02 Sep Meet the Founder of Craftivist Collective by Rin Hamburgh
Interviewed
Find out more about the inspirational lady behind Craftivism Collective, the fabulous Sarah Corbett….
Can you sum yourself up in five words? Hopeful, craft-lover, perfectionist, introvert, daydreamer
What is your earliest memory? I remember my first day at nursery: I was wearing homemade dungarees – made by my mum – which I loved. But then I noticed everyone else was wearing dresses and ringlets in their hair, and had to be taken home because I was crying so much!
What was your day job before you left to run Craftivist Collective full time? My professional background is working for large international development charities in campaigning and public engagement. For the last six years I’ve been fortunate enough to work for Christian Aid, on a DFID (Department for International Development) project called Platform2, and most recently for Oxfam GB as Community & Activism Manger for London & South East England.
How did you get into crafting? I did a bit of craft at school in textile classes, and used to make bags and fabric paint designs on T-shirts for friends as presents, but I wasn’t a hardcore craft-lover until a few years ago. I was traveling around the UK a lot with my job in 2008 and missed painting and using my hands to be creative, so I picked up a cross-stitch kit that I could do whilst travelling and got hooked!
What inspires you? Films that show the creativity of us human beings as well as are complexities, and leave you wanting to help the world fulfill it’s potential to be a wonderful place for everyone and everything. Magazines that are beautifully designed with fab photographs and in-depth interviews with interesting people. And art and craft that cause an emotion in me, regardless of whether I love or hate it.
Who are your heroes? Anyone who serves others by seeing injustices and working hard to be part of the solution, using a tough mind and a tender heart. My role model is an amazing woman called Ann, from my home town of Everton in Liverpool (the fourth most deprived area in UK), who continues to work really hard in our community to make it a better place to live. She does everything from tackling anti-social behaviour and setting up play schemes to lobbying for better housing and running a community cafe. Other awesome people: my parents, Martin Luther King, Ghandi, Rosa Parks, Miranda July, Michel Gondry, Saamdu Chetri, and Paul van Zyl…the list could go on!
What’s your ideal way to unwind? Going to the cinema and getting lost in the film, reading a good magazine with a cup of tea in my hand, or stitching a craftivism piece (it’s true, I promise!).
What does craftivism mean to you personally? I’m happy to say that I no longer feel like a burnt-out activist who is upset that I might have to give up fighting for a better world. Craftivism has made activism sustainable for me; it has allowed me to thread activism through everything I do and I really feel like I’ll always be a craftivist. Craftivism has allowed me to stop and think deeply about issues before I act on them, and given me time to reflect on how I can be my best self and be the change that I wish to see in the world. It has also created opportunities to meet with really interesting people, get to know their stories and what they dream the world could look like, and to feel part of a group of lovely, like-minded people. The benefits of craftivism make it a valid form of activism both personally and politically, and I believe that it can be a permanent part of the activism tool kit. I hope you do too.
***
Craftivist Collective is a social enterprise that relies on your support! If you enjoyed this blog post, please comment or share.
Do visit our shop too, where all profits support the work of Craftivist Collective. You can also donate via Paypal.
If you would like to write a guest post for the Craftivist Collective blog, email us at hello@craftivist-collective.com
Catherine Jones
Posted at 09:14h, 02 SeptemberReally enjoyed reading this- so glad there are lots of us who believe the world can be made better by little actions
Craftivist Collective
Posted at 14:48h, 02 SeptemberLet’s keep going even in the face of cynicism!:)
Illustrator Rachel Finegan captures one of our workshop in her sketches. See the results... | Craftivist Collective
Posted at 17:18h, 22 January[…] the window; “Let’s Stitch”, rallying people to sew. I was greeted by Barley (the owner), and Sarah Corbett, who was leading the sold out Craftivism workshop that […]
My Craftivism by craftivist Emma-Fleur Grof | Craftivist Collective
Posted at 12:49h, 27 January[…] is combined with craft. In November I attended a three day Craftivism Bootcamp in Arbroath with Sarah which not only gave me a sound introduction to Craftivism but it also helped me to develop a deeper […]
Kevät
Posted at 11:40h, 10 FebruaryWhoa, you’re really inspiring.
Craftivist Collective
Posted at 02:28h, 22 February*Blushing* Thanks so much Kevat 🙂 – I hope it inspires you to get involved in craftivism and other ways of challenging injustices and helping to improve the world 🙂 Keep in touch!
Individu-Owl cross stitch | scribblesandshakespeare
Posted at 20:58h, 18 February[…] crafts have seen a huge revival, and that includes the practice of cross stitch. After interviewing Sarah Corbett of the Craftivist Collective a year ago (sadly the interview never made it into the magazine I was […]
We are doing a Glasgow Craftivism workshop for 10 people. Come! :) | Craftivist Collective
Posted at 15:12h, 26 February[…] by Founder of Craftivist Collective Sarah Corbett you will learn the classic skill of embroidery whilst also learning how to be a change-maker & […]
Join this Forest Hill craftivism talk & workshop and become a Craftivist in South London! | Craftivist Collective
Posted at 12:09h, 12 March[…] by Founder of Craftivist Collective Sarah Corbett you will learn the classic skill of embroidery whilst also learning how to be a change-maker & […]
Craftivist Footprint workshop in Kreuzberg, Berlin | Craftivist Collective
Posted at 13:17h, 04 May[…] by Founder of Craftivist Collective Sarah Corbett you will learn the classic skill of embroidery whilst also learning how to be a change-maker & […]
"I am proud to have the footprint as my first fully completed Craftivist project..." blogs Jessica Ball | Craftivist Collective
Posted at 00:11h, 12 May[…] first encounter with Sarah and her mixture of activism and craft was at an ‘I’m A Piece’ workshop in London in November […]
Sharing Spirit « Selvedge
Posted at 17:00h, 13 December[…] of marches, signing protests and working on campaigns for large charities, experienced activist Sarah Corbett had begun to doubt the effects of some conventional activism and sadly didn’t feel that she […]