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
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.
