Pockets Full of Positivity

Hand-drawn floral design with smiling pink and purple flowers, bees, green stems, and the message “Smile and be the world will smile with you.”

Working with Care Home Services across the Shetland Isles, Christina Inkster invited Service Users to participate in her Culture Collective project: ‘Pockets Full of Positivity’.

From her role as a Community Social Care Worker - and from her experience of working during the COVID-19 pandemic as a frontline worker - Christina curated the project tailored to support the service and the community, providing social and creative opportunities to: older people, people living with additional support needs, mental health conditions and dementia.

Handkerchiefs of Belief

During relaxed social group sessions, Christina supported participants to consider, design and construct a message of life advice from the life experienced, decorated with motifs and appliqué of their choosing.

The handwriting and drawings of each participant were delicately traced upon each handkerchief with accuracy to maintain their authentic artistic expression.

Below are some examples of participants work:

Hand-painted white graduation cap with a red heart and compass design reading “FOLLOW your HEART,” decorated with buttons and tassels
Person painting a red heart compass design reading “FOLLOW YOUR HEART” on fabric in an embroidery hoop.

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who wished to share life advice from spoken reflections upon their experience of making big life decisions.

Their life advice is:

“Follow your heart.”

Hand-drawn colorful music-themed poster with musical notes and the message, “Sing the songs that your heart speaks".
Hands painting a handkerchief with bright colours, creative activity with musical notes and lyrics on a wooden table.

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who lives with communication barriers and uses expression of song to communicate.

Their life advice is:

“Sing the songs that your heart speaks.”

Colorful beaded friendship bracelet with tassels arranged around a heart on a decorated cloth, symbolizing love and friendship.
Hand holding a black-and-orange marker as they draw a rainbow.

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who wished to share life advice from spoken reflections upon their experience of working as a Nurse and raising a family.

Their life advice is:

“Make the most out of what you have got.”

Close-up of hands threading a black cord through a colorful bead during a craft project
Hand-drawn green Shetland Crofthouse illustration on a decorated fabric banner reading “Many Hands Make Light Work.”
Person drawing with green markers and pencils on a wooden table.

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who wished to share life advice from spoken reflections upon their memories of growing up within a blended family on a working croft.

Their life advice is:

“Many hands make light work.”

Older adult wearing a teal shirt and gray sweater sorting colorful beads on a tabletop activity board.
White embroidered tablecloth with colorful fish and swan designs arranged around the center and feather motifs along the border.
Hand coloring fish illustrations on fabric stretched in an embroidery hoop.

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person living with a visual impairment who wished to share imagery from reflections upon their childhood of living by the edge of a loch full of trout, frequented upon by generations of swan.

Hand-painted white shirt featuring colorful lettering that says “Make time for the things that bring you joy” with decorative shapes and symbols.

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who wished to share life advice from spoken reflections upon their memories of providing full time care for a family member.

Their life advice is:

“Make time for the things that bring you joy.”

Hand-painted white fabric with colorful abstract shapes and the message “Stay calm and be the glue that keeps everything held together.”

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who wished to share life advice from spoken reflections upon their experience as a Headteacher.

Their life advise is:

“Stay calm and be the glue that keeps everything held together.”

Colorful illustrated jester surrounded by balloons, tools, and bunting, with text reading “Have fun! (Don’t take life seriously)”.

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who wished to share life advice from spoken reflections upon their memories of working as a “handy man” in between jobs throughout their life.

Their life advice is:

“Have fun! (Don’t take life seriously). Jack of all trades (master of none but better than master of one).”

Hand-drawn colorful house with a rainbow, flowers, soccer-ball stepping stones, and the message “Family is very important; you can’t do without them.”

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who wished to share life advice from spoken reflections upon their memories of working growing up in the family home they still live in today.

Their life advice is:

“Family is very important. You can’t do without them.”

Hand-drawn awareness poster featuring a butterfly, a glass of water labeled “HELP,” and the message “EVERYBODY NEEDS HELP FROM TIME TO TIME.”

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who wished to share life advice from spoken reflections upon their experience of independence, developing and living with health conditions and growing older.

Their life advice is:

“Everybody needs help from time to time.”

Hand-painted white artwork featuring colorful stars, hot air balloons, footprints, and winding paths with the message “It’s your journey… follow your path…”

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by two people - two friends - who were supporting each other with grief following the recent death of one of their life partners.

Their life advice is:

“It’s your journey… Follow your path…”

Hand-drawn colorful poster on white fabric reading "TAKE PEOPLE AS THEY COME" with crayon borders and arrows

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who wished to share life advice from spoken reflections upon their experience of community living.

Their life advice is:

“Take people as they come.”

Hand-drawn balance scale with hearts, labeled “Look after everyone” and “Take care of yourself,” symbolizing compassion and self-care.

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who wished to share life advice from spoken reflections upon their experience of the balancing act of self care and taking care of others.

Their life advice is:

“Look after everyone. Take care of yourself.”

Hand-drawn treasure map with a pirate ship, green islands, compass rose, and the words “Take Risks” and “persevere.”

This Handkerchief of Belief was made by a person who wished to share life advice from spoken reflections upon their experience of dreams, ambition and drive.

Their life advice is:

“Take risks… And persevere....”

Project Reflections

The project took pace during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All of the Care Home Services in Shetland were invited to participate in the project. 

Unfortunately due to ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns, restrictions and impacts on services throughout the duration of the project, Christina Inkster was only able to co-create with 3 of the Care Homes.

Some participants have sadly since died and are greatly missed.

The following are some of the unfinished Handkerchiefs of Belief:

Black-and-white coloring page featuring a patchwork quilt and the message “Work things through and keep going.”
Black-and-white coloring page of a treehouse surrounded by leafy branches with inspirational words including “family,” “love,” and “dreams.”
Hand-drawn sunny countryside scene with a cottage, trees, flowers, clouds, and the message “Look on the sunny side.”
Black-and-white floral coloring page featuring three sunflowers, leafy branches, and the inspirational phrase “There’s only one you in the whole world.”
Black-and-white illustration of flowers, a watering can, and potted plant with text about gardening and nurturing your soul.
Hand-drawn illustration of an open book with a heart, pencils, smaller books, and a sign reading “Listen, think, be kind, love.”

The project intended to culminate with the creation of a large-scale interactive and collaborative artwork, with each participants Handkerchief of Belief belonging to its own ‘Pocket of Positivity’.

Touring the Care Homes of Shetland before being exhibited in a public space, the artwork was to serve as a vessel of communication during COVID-19, sharing the voices and identities of the most isolated people with the public.

Seamless pattern of colourful hand-drawn pockets with handkerchiefs in rows.

Artist’s illustration of the intended project outcome.

Funded by Scottish Government emergency COVID-19 funds through Creative Scotland, Culture Collective is a pilot programme which will establish a network of creative practitioners, organisations and communities, working together to create a positive difference locally and nationally in response to COVID-19.