We were thrilled to receive the following blog post from audience member Helen Mollart, who has written about her experience at A Restorative by Sheila Ghelani as part of The Big Feast 2025.

Did you have some words or photos you’d like us to share from The Big Feast or another Appetite event? Do you have some feedback? Or would you like to get involved as a Community Decision-Maker and help us create more magical moments like A Restorative at future events? Get in touch with us at askus@appetite.org.uk – we’d love to hear from you!

A Restorative Afternoon in Stoke-on-Trent

by Helen Mollart

Yesterday I went to my Menopause artwork meeting, we convened in a semi derelict Victorian Church in Hanley (Bethesda Chapel, currently being saved and renovated) and the vestry was set out like Alice’s tea party with fancy china, flowers and hot drinks on a large dining room table. The event was termed ‘A Restorative’ and was part of a city wide BH weekend event called ‘Appetite big feast’.

A lovely lady called Sheila Ghelani introduced the activity and explained what we would be doing. The aim was to make an effective sleep pillow to take home. Our group of 7 ladies was joined by other people and everyone was friendly and engaging. There was a eclectic of people and ages at the table, including a young man and a boy with his mum.

Around the room were placed glass containers with scoops, each one having a handwritten label identifying the contents, which ranged from soil, feathers and sand, to camomile, lavender and rice. The labels reminded me again of Alice in Wonderland, ‘eat me’, ‘drink me’ labelling cake and potion.

We all chose different dried aromatic herbs to sew into a small fragrant sleep pillow. The table layout included posters which listed each ingredient and it’s significance. Every herb has a significance or efficacy to aid restorative sleep. I chose lavender (for insomnia), cloves (for recalling dreams), bay leaves (for wisdom), dandelion seeds (for hope) and hibiscus (to calm inflamed nerves), all mixed in with dried rice.

Once chosen, the dried ingredients were spooned into glass beakers then poured through a rice-paper funnel into a small cream fabric bag. One beaker full of rice, and half a beaker of other chosen ingredients (around 5 or 6 ) was recommended as a good mixture. The fragrances were intoxicating, especially cinnamon and cloves which to me signify Christmas (as I was born on Christmas Day).

The bags needed to be sewn closed and as our group like handicrafts that was no problem. Needles, pincushion, thread and stork scissors were provided. If anyone else needed help, Sheila was on hand. Once closed, the cream bags were folded into a fabric outer pillow covering, constructed like a simple cushion cover, in a lovely blue pattern, pre sewn and labelled by Sheila and the team, a lovely touch.

Then we were invited to move into the main body of the church, where fabric beanbags with throws and woolly hot water bottles were provided. It wasn’t that cold inside the church but it made us feel comfortable and cherished. We each settled down with the sleep pillow over eyes or placed on upper chest. The aroma from my sleep pillow once it warmed up next to my skin, plus the hot water bottle on my legs made me feel serene and relaxed.

To accompany this feeling, I Am Fya (sound artist Anthea Clarke) was on hand in person to create wonderful soundscapes using live voice and loops of recordings including birdsong, bell sounds, and running water. I found this part of the activity a totally immersive experience and could have listened for longer. When I opened my eyes, high above me I saw the decorative ceiling plasterwork/pargetting which has been restored, a fitting conclusion to a Restorative afternoon.

Copyright Helen Mollart August 2025

A printed list of herbs, flowers, and natural ingredients and their uses is surrounded by a black picture frame. Examples include: 'Mugwort for lucid dreams', 'Peppermint for headaches', and 'Pillow feathers for drifting off'.

An assortment of stoppered glass jars sit on a dep red cloth with a burgundy pattern. White printed labels hang from a couple of the necks with black block capital print. One is for dandelion seed and another contains found feather. A printed list in a black picture frame stands in the background and two small wooden apothecary scoops lie amongst the jars.

Mismatched teapots and milk jugs stand on a dark red cloth with a burgundy pattern. A white luggage label lies on the cloth with the words ' brewed Yorkshire tea' in black block capitals printed on it in a hodgepodge fashion.

A white teacup on a saucer with a green and gold ornate pattern is empty except for a used tea bag whose string with a dark red and gold tab hanging over the side. Scattered about the table is a miscellany of craft items including scraps of fabric, spools of cotton and pencils, alongside a standing black picture frame with a printed list inside and a green glass vase with leafy stems.

A beautiful stained-glass chapel window shows the Madonna and child standing on clouds surrounded by cherubs and green curtains with heavy golden tassels. On the bottom is written: "To the glory of God and in loving memory of Fannie Nuttall. Born 22 December 1855. Passed into the fuller lice 22 December 1919. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. This window was presented to Bethesda Church by her children as a token of affectionate remembrance of a most devoted mother."

The cover of a book called The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images' has an image of a hand carved from flat wood or stone standing upright against a gradient background from dark red at the bottom to black at the top.

A brown paper bag has 'A Restorative' printed on it in small block capitals. lying across the bag is a piece of plain muslin cloth with '180 rice/wheat. 20-40 herbs' also printed in capital letters.

A blue rectangular pouch of blue, starry fabric and a label that reader 'by Sheila Ghelani' sits on a wooden table alongside a brown paper bag with a list of ingredients handwritten on it. The ingredients include flowers such as rose and hibiscus, and other natural elements such as sea salt, found feathers and pulses, along with quantities.

Large glass jars of variously coloured ingredients with brown paper luggage tags tied around the necks are arranged along the bottom of a wood-panelled wall.

Find out more about the artists on this page

A Restorative was created by Sheila Ghelani.

Soundscape by I Am Fya.

Image carousel photographs by audience member Chris Reader.

Other photos by Jenny Harper and Malcolm Hart.

There have been so many wonderful artists at The Big Feast over the years. You can see videos of 11 years of excellent outdoor arts on the Big Feast project page or our YouTube channel.