Reflections from a Mindful Crafting Workshop

This past weekend, I hosted a mindful crafting workshop in collaboration with Skyline Serenity Yoga Frankfurt. It was one of those lovely summer days in the mid-70s, with sunshine, a gentle breeze, and the kind of weather that makes you want to spend the whole day outdoors.  Bringing people together to slow down, create, and connect in such a beautiful setting felt especially meaningful.

We began the afternoon with a yoga class led by Div, where the theme of the session was space. She opened with the question: ‘What does space mean for you?’ It was the perfect theme for the day. Soft Welcome was started to create a space where people can feel connection while being creative – a space to show up as they are, meet new people, and enjoy making something with their hands without pressure or expectations.

For me, space means taking space for myself and making sure I let my voice be heard. It means creating room in my life for the things that help me feel grounded and present. One way I do this is through selfcare and arts and crafts. Taking the time to slow down, be present in the space I’m in, and enjoying the simple moments is what space means for me. What does space mean for you?

Throughout the yoga session, this theme was woven into everything we did, such as the intentions we set, the movements we practiced, and even the location itself. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and a lovely breeze reminded us to stay connected to the present moment. Being outside made it easy to notice the small details around us and to appreciate the space we were sharing together. It felt like the perfect way to begin a day centered around creativity, connection, and making room for ourselves.

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Following the yoga session, we got right into the crafting. Soft Welcome provided DIY starter kits for making your own bookmark. Each kit included pre-cut bookmark paper, stickers, glue sticks, writing utensils, and decorative paper. There were also plenty of extra materials for guests to choose from, including stamps, markers, ribbon, beads, and other embellishments. It was wonderful to see everyone spread out across the grass on their yoga mats, exploring the different materials and deciding how they wanted to personalize their bookmarks.

One thing I found particularly interesting was observing the different ways people approached the activity. Some people naturally slowed down, carefully selecting materials and focusing fully on the creative process. Others finished their bookmarks very quickly, almost as if it were a competition. Whenever I noticed this, I gently reminded them to slow down and be present. This time was dedicated to themselves, a chance to take a break from the constant need to be productive and simply enjoy creating something with their hands.

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As the crafting session continued, conversations started flowing naturally between one another. Some shared stories about books they loved, while others exchanged ideas and inspiration for their bookmarks. There was no pressure to create something perfect. The goal was simply to enjoy the process and be present in the moment.

Overall, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Several people mentioned that the activity made them feel like children again, spending an afternoon doing arts and crafts without any expectations attached to it. Hearing that made me smile because I think reconnecting with your inner child from time to time is so important. I grew up doing arts and crafts with my mom, so spending the afternoon creating felt especially nostalgic. It was a special memory to revisit and recreate in a new way.

As adults, it can be easy to lose that sense of playfulness. We often feel pressure to always be working toward a goal or checking something off our to-do list. Events like this remind me why I started Soft Welcome in the first place—to create spaces where people can slow down, connect, and enjoy being creative together. Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to Skyline Serenity Yoga Frankfurt for collaborating on such a special afternoon. I’m already looking forward to the next one.

A few favourite moments from the afternoon are captured in our Instagram recap below.