The View From Here - Celebrating Our Time Together

Everything changes and life is punctuated by beginnings and endings

We have had a wonderful two years working on the Grange Estate and at The Green Patch

The View From Here was funded by the HealthBelief which is a Community Interest Company committed to raising money to address health inequalities in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. 

51 Community Interest Companies raising money to address health inequalities across England, Scotland and Wales through The Health Lottery.

Through this funding we have been able to bring high quality arts / crafts workshops to members of the community in a deprived area of Kettering, We have strengthened our links with The Green Patch and have made public artworks that have brought life, colour and joy to this wonderful community growing space. 

Everyone felt proud and happy to see what they had achieved

We had a fantastic celebratory picnic and we know that project participants from the Grange have made a great connection with staff and volunteers at The Green Patch. Rick, Jenny, Michelle, Bekka and all the children will be visiting, volunteering and taking in community events at The Green Patch in the future which feels like a lovely legacy to leave, apart from all the artwork! 

Back To Books would like to thank Sue, Nigel, Kate, Becky, Lucy from the Groundworks team who have made us so welcome at The Green Patch, Rik and Jen who have been our stalwarts at Grange Place, Michelle who has been our Pied Piper bringing our participants from Kettering Buccleuch Academy, but most of all we would like to thank our artists Carole Miles and Phiona Richards who have made this project so special.

Although our funding comes to an end in mid 

August the relationships we have forged will continue 

and we will be actively looking for funding 

to continue delivering exciting community based projects. 

If you like our work you can make a donation 

towards future projects via our Local Giving Page

You can revisit all the seasons and activities we have travelled through here  

Potting On and Planting Out at The Green Patch

We've also been busy potting on and planting out at The Green Patch

Bessie's babes have been laying eggs

and rewarding themselves with a little fresh greenery!

More Mosiacs Underway

More mosaics for The Green Patch 

underway in 

and outside The Mollie

and at Grange Place

these were made by our Tuesday group

and are abstract landscapes of

the view from of the landscape as seen from The Green Patch

The View From Here - Triumph Trees

Sometimes we all need to give ourselves a high five, a pat on the back or a Hip Hip Hooray so Carole came up with a little up-cycling project to express those good thoughts! Old Christmas cards were cut into small labels

and we used a lovely stamp set

to stamp the plain side of our labels.

We each had a ceramic milk bottle

an assortment of twigs and 

an assortment of brightly coloured wools.

We made a series of finger loops around our twigs

and hung the labels from the twigs so they could

twirl and dance out words of encouragement!

You can see more of our trees here

If you live in the Avondale / Grange ward do join us again

for our next View From Here session 

17th April 3.15 - 5.15

The Resource Centre, 

9 Grange Place, Kettering. 

NN16 0NT

The sessions are free.

The View From Here - Changes at The Green Patch

It was finally time to say goodbye to 

the old cabin at The green Patch

There were quite a few hectic days

with volunteers working tirelessly

to clear away the debris

leaving a space for the new cabin,

In spite of the disruption

planting was still taking place!

For more of March see here

Threads and Chatter - Character Squares

Our lovely artist Phiona Richards decided that our next Threads and Chatter project would be a three session event. She thought it would be great fun if everyone designed and made a square character soft toy.

We wrote words to describe our characters

then drew our designs, 

using fabric crayons on paper, 

inspired by our words.

 Everyone drew very different patterns and 

Phiona took them away to be 

ironed onto the calico. 

We can't wait to see how they turn out!

As an added bonus Phiona taught us how to fold a square Flexigon

here is a lovely video tutorial if you would like to try it yourself!

Did you know that flexigons can help you with your maths?

You can download and print out a ready designed one here

Our group thought they also made good square masks!

If you live in the Avondale / Grange ward do join us again 

Tuesday 9th of February

The Resource Centre, 

9 Grange Place, Kettering. 

NN16 0NT

Phiona will be running her inventive, creative 

session between 3.30 and 5.00pm

Sessions and refreshments are family friendly, fun and free!

Threads And Chatter Returns!

Sign up on our event page

Time to Celebrate!

Sue, and Vicky invited us to 

The Green Patch Volunteers Christmas lunch

where the most amazing feast was laid out for

all to enjoy!

Later we made paper plate Christmas Wreaths

enjoyed more fabulous food

Santa Nigel arrived to give out our lovely gifts

twice in one week!

What's in the bag?

Time to feast and be jolly!

Sue and the volunteers had made the polytunnel

a grotto fit for santas elves!

who were busy more wreaths

and Flush Me Not angels

there was a bit of pizza making

with healthy toppings

and just a bit of cheese!

Whilst waiting Sue had organised

fun and games.

Here are more presents - these we made for Vicky's group.

Jamie tucks into his hand made pizza.

Look - some very cute reindeer!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas

So far The View from Here has been

fabulous, we've met and made , sewn and grown,

felt part of our local and wider communities.

We can't wait to see you again in the New Year!