Artist: Catherine Chong
Year: 2019
Medium: Fabric collage

Co-created with: Sew Into it, Fashion Makerspace, Fashion Pulpit, Alzheimer's Disease Association New Horizon Centre (Jurong Point), Alzheimer's Disease Association New Horizon Centre (Bukit Batok), Montessori for Dementia Care, SAGE Counselling Centre, Be Kind SG, Mustard Tree, Holy Innocents' Primary School , Ai Tong School, Grace Orchard School, Singapore Cancer Society and Taman Jurong Active Ageing Sewing Circle. 

"Handmade Heartmade" features over 180 unique sensory mats, lovingly hand-sewn by the community for persons with dementia.  The colourful and interactive work of art were selected from over 700 mats contributed to the community sewing project facilitated by Singaporean artist, Catherine Chong over a span of 6 months. Participants from all walks of life, from sewing enthusiasts to students, staff, individuals and even seniors with dementia came together to create these masterpieces of love.

Made from an array of fabrics, textures and different sensorial objects, these sensory mats provide a stimulating and relaxing activity for persons with dementia and have been shown to help reduce agitation and restlessness. The mats are also suitable for persons with autism.

Each piece tells a story of personal experiences and inspiration, capturing the elaborate thought-processes behind from the choice of colours, to the fabric and materials suitable for persons with dementia. Motifs of nature and adorable characters, formed and embellished with everyday objects like shoe laces, buttons and strings were creatively stitched and transformed into attractive and fun works of art that encourages engagement. The heartfelt contributions from the participants were sewn into sensory blankets and presented to our patients with dementia in our hospitals and other organisations that can benefit from the sensory mats. 

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