Projects
Creativity, community & conversation
Seeing an idea take shape as a project develops is always exciting! From proposals to plans and then effective delivery, understanding what people want and why is the starting point. How is where Mae Kandoo flourishes! Bringing community groups together, raising awareness of a cause, preparing for community events , developing new skills…whatever the brief is, Mae Kandoo draws upon a wealth of different craft skills to deliver engaging workshops. Using reclaimed materials encourages people to be imaginative, resourceful and to consider how household waste is disposed. Mae Kandoo’s projects foster creativity, community and conversation.
If you want a CREATIVE SOLUTION to delivering a project or want to BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER for some creative fun! you can contact Mae Kandoo here.
Workshops with Future Matters group for Theatre Temoin's production ‘Flood’
“It’s 2030, the world’s oceans have become volatile, dangerous and unable to sustain life. 3 strangers meet on the high seas. A storm is coming…”
“Being invited to work with environmental Artist Jane Stewart was inspiring. Over a period of 7 weeks we workshopped with a local group bought together by Future Matters. Our brief was to deliver a series of creative workshops in response to Theatre Temoin's production ‘Flood’. Building relationships with the group was instrumental to fostering their creativity. The outcomes were remarkable; not only the range of creative skills developed, but also the sharing of stories and growth in confidence for those who took part. Heartfelt, humorous weekly sessions that were a brilliant example of the positive impact that the creative arts can have on people who have been marginalised through social stigma.”
— Vikki (trading as Mae Kandoo), ‘Flood’ workshops, July-Sept 2022
Platinum Jubilee Project
Working in partnership with Brightlingsea Museum
Funded as part of ‘Let's Create’ by Arts Council England with thanks to National Lottery players.
April &May 2022
SLOW SEWING KITS
Supporting Winterfest to banish winter blues & boost physical & mental wellbeing
All Saints Church - Minstrel Gallery Balcony
CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL
DECEMBER 2021
SEW-A-THON Saturday 16th October 2021
On Saturday 16th October, I had the pleasure of working with 13 volunteers who came along to cut out, stitch and iron star patchwork blocks for a quilt being made for Project Linus UK.
The aim of the Sew-a-thon was to make a quilt in a day! An ambitious idea!! Thanks so much to the ladies who came along. Your time, enthusiasm and perseverance was hugely appreciated.
Another day will be set aside to complete the quilt…as soon as a suitable venue and dates align!
Sew your own Hush a Bye
A wellbeing project for BRIGHTLINGSEA WINTERFEST February 2021
Mae Kandoo donated some Hush a Bye Sew Your Own kits for Brightlingsea WinterFest. Giving people the opportunity to create their own unique Hush a Bye, each kit contained everything needed to sew a lavender filled cutie! Sewing by hand has long been proven to support wellbeing because thoughts that have pre-occupied the mind are put aside as you focus on the task in hand. A stitch at a time brings mindfulness! WinterFest aims to ‘chase the gloomy from Winter!’ by providing opportunities for people to engage in all sorts of events at a difficult time of year. As well as raising awareness about Mental Health, WinterFest raises funds for MIND and for grants to local families experiencing financial hardship. Due to the pandemic, the festival was a virtual event. 14 Hush-a-bye kits were delivered across the community and it was a pleasure to be able to provide people with a hands on activity for the festival!
OUR COMMUNITY OUR HEROES
Community Outreach project for Jaywick Martello Tower
Reflecting on Lockdown: Participants were asked to pay tribute to their lockdown hero by making and decorating stars and writing a message for their superstar! Also, abstract style Selfie’s that reflected thoughts and feelings during the lockdown. Both made from materials found within the home. Exhibited at the Jaywick Martello Tower 26th October - 2nd November.
August - October 2020
TIDES OF TENDRING
National Lottery Heritage Project at Jaywick Martello Tower.
The aim of the project overall was to raise awareness and educate the community about the risks of flooding in the area. I ran drop in family friendly craft workshops over 3 weekends creating flowers from plastic bottles, making windmills for a beach garden and sewing souvenir pennants celebrating local heritage. On the fourth weekend, I created a a striking installation using clusters of the plastic flowers attached to surplus net that hung over 11 metres from the top of the tower!
August 2019
CARNIVAL PARADE COSTUMES
Sponsored by George Yard Shopping Centre & Braintree Carnival Association.
Responding to a brief to provide work experience for Fashion & Design students at Braintree College, Colchester Institute. I devised and delivered a two day course in line with the Braintree carnival theme ‘I Love London’. Students were taken through the process of transforming design ideas to Notting Hill worthy street parade costumes on an almost zero budget! Constructing willow frame backpacks, decorated using reclaimed materials. Some of the results included Big Ben, the London Eye, a Black Taxi and red, white and blue styled uniforms.
June 2016