Mandalas for Marinke

As you have probably noticed, I regularly post to my blog on Tuesday. Hearing the news today that Marinke, aka Wink, succumbed to suicide last Friday, I feel compelled to post today in the hopes that reading this will underscore the great support from the crochet community that we all know and understand.

Wink was featured in Kathryn's book, Crochet Saved My Life, which I reviewed in 2012. Depression was a long and difficult battle for Wink and her creative endeavors greatly comforted her and motivated her to reach out to other crafters through her blog, A Creative Being. This time unfortunately, being creative and reaching out was not enough. For those of us who so believe in the healthful benefits of crochet and crafting, this is devastating. Seeing her blog which is brightly colored and happy-looking is so sad and ironic when the realization sinks in that she was suffering deeply.

My contribution crocheted from Wink's pattern: Spoke Mandala

Crocheting one of Marinke's beautiful free mandala patterns and contributing it to Kathryn Vercillo's community art memorial will be both comforting and beneficial for any of us who wish to participate. Awareness that depression is both an invasive and difficult condition is so important. That understanding can lead to prevention so that tradgedy's like the family of Marinke are going through today will not happen again! Kathryn has generously put together an avenue to help all of us through the grieving process as well as to honor the legacy of Marinke. Thank you, Kathryn!

I know first-hand how healing it can be to reach out and step out of our self-centeredness now and again. On my Ravelry page, Cro-Kween Designs, we honored and memorialized one of the Courtesans who died suddenly. Thanks to my wonderful Moderator, Twisted1, and several other volunteers, a very successful group effort contributed generously to a cause dear to our departed loved one's heart.