Pick up a kit to create your own gratitude keepsake. Click here to download the Take & Make Instruction Sheet. Each kit contains an Instruction Sheet. Please email clf@prattlibrary.org or call 410-396-0984 to reserve your kit. Kits available while supplies last.

To hold in your mind and heart a person you love and for whom you are grateful, and to let your relationship with them and your memories of them guide you into making a beautiful small art piece — a keepsake — for them to have.  If they are no longer residing on the planet, the keepsake can be gifted to others who love them or it can be kept by you.

To relax into your creative self, to focus in on beauty or humor or joy; on memory, and relationships that sustain you — a powerful antidote for stress and anxiety.

This experience combines art and ritual, as I guide participants through a series of activities to choose and share people in our lives for whom we’re grateful. This could be an elder shut in or a grand child, a friend, family member or spouse.  We will honor and celebrate them by creating keepsakes for them:  adorning messages of hope and appreciation, making collages or communiques in the form of letters or small booklets or other creations that speak to their importance in your life, and are meant to be snail mailed to them.  We will focus on writing and a variety of simple visual art techniques for communicating, embellishing and conveying our messages and envelopes in this poignant time of COVID-19. Sumptuous papers, colors, pens and other fun supplies will be provided in an art kit and can be combined with participants’ special photos, quotes, memories, etc.  Together we’ll celebrate and hone the fine art of Gratitude.

Cinder Hypki is a community artist, educator and nonprofit consultant with thirty years of experience guiding people through change and challenge, crisis and opportunity. Drawing on multiple artistic media, deep listening skills and facilitation techniques, Cinder designs experiences that encourage individual and group creativity to move toward health, well-being and strengthening relationships. She explores the power of the creative force for community and individual change and healing, and has designed rituals for mourning, celebration and transformation.