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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness

@germainehypher.bsky.social

1.1K followers 800 following 190 posts

🧵🧶✍🏻🎨📷🌱🐈‍⬛📚 Author of Crafting A Path Through Illness - exploring creativity while chronically ill. Available worldwide (the book, not me 😆). Disabled by M.E & fibromyalgia since childhood. Enabled by humour & creativity. www.germainehypher.weebly.com

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Jul 1

This was a lovely review to receive from another chronically ill author. Thank you Dr Wendy Bryant!

#Chronicillness #chronicpain #ME/CFS #mecfs #disability #creativity #crafts #art #craftiverse #CraftSky #bookreview #SelfHelp #CreativeSky

💙📚 🧶 🎨 ✍🏻 🎵 🪴 🧑🏼‍🍳 🪡

White words against a teal background say: book review. At the centre, in a white rectangle, is a picture of the book Crafting a Path Through Illness by Germaine Hypher. The review beside this image is as follows: "A fascinating guide to being creative in a life with chronic illness. The author acknowledges the significant challenges and proposes many practical and imaginative strategies. I was inspired by how she explored experiences of living with ongoing symptoms from many new perspectives, seeing her own ill health as a resource as much as a limitation." The review is by Dr Wendy Bryant, occupational therapist, chronic fatigue sufferer and author of Rest-Do Days.

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · 2d

It brings me such joy to read your appreciative words… and I’m hungry for more! Reviews are so helpful for potential readers so please do share any good thoughts you have about Crafting a Path Through Illness on the platform of your choice.😀
#chronicillness #chronicpain #me/cfs #craftsky #bookreview

The background is two tones of duck egg blue. Up the left hand side are the words: Reader Review.

The main image is of the cover of the book Crafting a Path Through Illness - exploring creativity while chronically ill by Germaine Hypher. Under this are 5 stars and the following text: If you would recommend this book, please leave a review (no matter how short) on Amazon, Goodreads, or the platform of your choice. Thank you!

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · 5d

Can you relate to this piece? The title, “Disconnect”, is both an expression of the feeling and a suggestion of a self-care action to take.

I’m sending love to all who feel the pain of disconnect.

#Chronicillness #invisibleillness #chronicpain #me/cfs #mecfs #drawing #art #blackandwhite

A black and white drawing of a person with a Picasso style face and more anatomically correct heart and stomach. The person is cut in half vertically in a jagged line, which cuts through their head, heart and stomach, with their two halves at slightly different heights. This divide is emphasised by the background being one half white and the other side black. Text on the image reads:
“When what you say is not what’s heard
And what they say seems quite absurd
But still you try to acquiesce
For them to blame you for the mess.”

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · 10d

“I'm not self-medicating with art supplies. The lady at the store wrote me prescription. Well, she called it a receipt. Whatever.”

Source unknown. If you know who I should credit, please put the details in a comment. Thank you.

#chronicillness #mecfs #me/cfs #chronicpain #art #arttherapy #funny

A white circle over a background of art supplies, including a ring-bound sketchbook, carries black text in a casual font that reads “I'm not self-medicating with art supplies.The lady at the store wrote me a prescription. Well, she called it a receipt. Whatever.”

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · 16d

I forgot to credit the source of the background photograph: Kevan Brewer, New Forest Images calendar.

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · 16d

I feel inclined to relate the process of my experimentation with painting and collaged composition to that of adapting to the fluctuations of chronic illness. See my final picture for my contemplations and appeal for your responses. #chronicillness #invisibleillness #mecfs #art #natureart #craftsky

A collage incorporating a background of a photographic image of forest with ferns and birch trees. Extra trunks and texture have been added via collage. The centre of the piece is dominated by a pink and purple hibiscus flower created from tissue paper and a torn up watercolour attempt at painting the flower. Along with this are water colour and soft pastel leaves with some elements from the background photo added. Torn up maps of forest area are also included. To the right hand side of the collage are torn pieces of text from vintage magazines. Put together, they read: When Tamed and Untamed Met … That is all the geography you need to know. What I have to tell … had one wrote on the scenery, but with the other I was trying to fit the places I saw to the stories I had heard … This story has, I am afraid, no particular point.

Black text on a white background reads:

What could we tear up and rearrange with curiosity rather than giving up on entirely? (The hibiscus flower was intended as a lone painting but went wrong so I decided to see if it would prefer to be torn up and rearranged.)
What would we do well to remove altogether?
(Half the picture?) What might we try adding? (I ended up adding a whole extra shade of olive green to the flower leaves that improved the overall cohesion of the collage.) What feels right initially but perhaps doesn't work well overall?
(There were many incarnations of this piece over slowly paced days and weeks.)
What (and here's where YOU come in) can those around us contribute? I'm keen to hear which (if any) versions of this piece of art experimentation work for you? Do you prefer it reduced to just the half with the flower? Or the half that has no flower? Or do you like the whole piece left intact? And how have you considered similar questions in navigating chronic illness?
I'm curious, so please let me know your thoughts and responses!

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · 18d

The Power - a poem by Cath Jevon, housebound with M.E. but expressing her inner power.

#chronicillness #chronicpain #mecfs #me/cfs #poetry #nature #art #innerpower #creativity #spooniecommunity #creativewriting

Over a pale background of an aerial view of coloured fields is a poem by Cath Jevon:

The Power
When untethered from routines in a body that can't keep up our spirits rise free to vision the world we want to live.
We see a patchwork field of memories, dreams, wishes
with a river of life-force flowing through.
Feeding the soul landscape
with the inspiring joy of our talents.
Like tributaries, our tides find each other, pulsing in recognition increasing our capacities expanding our possibilities
collective momentum rolling wild and free, as we commune with clouds
and circle with stars
Exploring the realms of imagination
dancing, laughing, revelling in our creative strength.
This how we uphold ourselves.
This is how we serve each other.
This is how we change the world.
This is the power of art.

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · 22d

‘One Red Leaf at a Time: an international art project’ is still receiving submissions to raise hopeful awareness. This pic is my offering.

🎨 🧶 📷 ✍🏻 🪡
“Strength for today, hope for tomorrow – one leaf at a time.” Dr Jo Greer 🍁
theredtreeandme.substack.com

#mecfs #ME/CFS #chronicillness #CraftSky

A red autumn leaf has been stitched to textured, torn-edged cream paper with cross stitches up the centre of the leaf using variegated brown sari silk thread. The same thread has been used to sew a running stitch spiral extending out from the leaf stem.

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · 26d

“Beautiful, sensitive book. I'm just blown away. So much deeper than a craft book" Miriam Grace, chronically ill psychotherapist & host of Women of Steel podcast.

320 pages. Tips, hacks, activities, inspiration, solidarity & more.
#chronicillness #chronicpain #me/cfs #mecfs 💙 📚 🧶 🪡 🎨 ✍🏻 🎵 #craftsky

The right of the image shows the front cover of the book Crafting a Path Through Illness lined to a white board. To the left of this there black text on an image of torn white paper reads: 'Beautiful, sensitive book. I'm just blown away. So much deeper than a craft book." Text above the quote says that it is from Miriam Grace, chronically ill psychotherapist and host of Women of Steel podcast,

Black text on an image of a white square of paper pinned and taped to a blurred background reads:

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Are you looking for ways to live well and feel fulfilled amidst ongoing symptoms?

Author and artist Germaine Hypher draws on her own long-term experience of illness, chronic fatique and creative pursuits to quide you along your path. Offering ways to achieve meaning and purpose, she also shows how living with the experiences and perspectives of ill health can have a valuable impact on creative output.

320 pages of tips, accessibility hacks, activities, inspiration, and solidarity.

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Sep 9

Thank you! ☺️

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Sep 9

Thank you very much! I was very excited to achieve the effect I was aiming for!

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Sep 9

3rd attempt at painting in the style of Dufy. I really like this one! Next to try a composition of my own that doesn’t have an existing painting as its guide. Time spent: 1.5 hrs split into 4 sessions over 2 days with lots of pacing in between.
#painting #flowers #art #mecfs #me/cfs #chronicillness

A watercolour painting of a jug of yellow and pale orange flowers. The style is very loose and impressionistic with outlines and details in dark grey that don’t fully coincide with where the patches of colour are.

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Sep 6

1st attempts at painting in the style of Dufy - a bit hit & miss but cropping down to parts I like makes me happier with my efforts. A reminder to focus on the pleasurable & the glimmers of hope among the imperfect brushstrokes of a chronically ill life.
🌸 🎨 🌼
#mecfs #chronicillness #art #flowers

Detail of a watercolour, gouache and pastel painting, of a bouquet of orange, white and yellow flowers with green foliage in a green bottle. The style is loose and impressionistic with some dark blue outlines. The inspiration for the painting was one of Raoul Dufy’s paintings.

Detail of a watercolour, gouache and pastel painting, of a bouquet of blue, purple and pink flowers. The style is loose and impressionistic with dark outlines in slightly different places from the filled in colour. The inspiration for the painting was one of Raoul Dufy’s paintings.

Detail of a watercolour, gouache and pastel painting, of a bouquet of blue, purple and red flowers. The style is loose and impressionistic. The inspiration for the painting was one of Raoul Dufy’s paintings.

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Sep 4

You are invited to join the latest Pillow Writers’ Salon on Thursday, September 18th at 11am PT/2pm ET/7pm UK. Register: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
This live Salon will feature readings of comic & serious, stories, essays and poems.

#chronicillness #chronicpain #mecfs #me/cfs #poetry #writing

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Pillow Writers Salon 2025. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

Join #MEAction for our exciting Pillow Writers’ Salon on Thursday, September 18th at 11am PT/2pm ET/7pm UK. This live Salon will feature readings by the authors of both comic and serious, stories, e...

us06web.zoom.us

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Sep 2

Thank you!

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Sep 2

Pastel interpretation of pine bark in sunlight. Inspiration was a photo taken through zoom lens from where I lay. The photo was out of focus but I just wanted a reference for when able to use my soft pastels to recreate the essence of the tree trunk in the golden light.

#art #chronicillness #MECFS

A pastel drawing of a portion of pine tree bark in sunlight. The colours are layers of oranges, greys and browns, with some of the bark ridges defined in darker browns and russets.

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Aug 27

welldoing.org/article/4-wa...

4 Ways to Craft Comfort When Living with Chronic Illness

Poet and author Germaine Hypher, who has lived with chronic illness for decades, shares the importance of craft and creativity for self-care

welldoing.org

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Aug 23

4 months since I’d left our home, 6 years since sleeping in the forest just 10 minutes away from us, but here’s evidence that I lay beside big-trunked trees again! Check out the crafty creations decorating our Wendy House on Wheels…

#ME/CFS #mecfs #chronicillness #chronicpain #CreativeSky 🌳🏕️🌲 🚐 🧶

A white woman with short red hair and a green leaf tattoo on her arm is lying, smiling happily on a dark green bed with a knitted blue and green blanket. The bed is in a vintage campervan in a forest. It is decorated with a dream catcher, a woven eye of god, a collection of bottle caps and mandala throw covering the ceiling. The colours are all greens, blues and orange, giving a bohemian 70’s vibe.

The inside of a 1975 Dodge camper van is filled with a dark green bed with a knitted blue and green blanket and green/blue tie-dye patchwork cushions. There is a collection of bottle caps over the back doors and mandala throw covering the ceiling. The colours are all greens, blues and orange, giving a bohemian 70’s vibe.

A daydream catcher made from recycled multicolour sari silk yarn, predominantly orange and blues, hangs in a green vintage camper van by a pair of windows that show a view into open grass and forest.

A bald, white man with a broad smile is leaning into the open door of a camper van and resting good arms on the bed. The view behind him of leafy green trees and grass in a sunlit woodland. Above him hangs a blue and green woven eye of god, also known as a Brigid’s Eye.

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Aug 16

Some recycled sari silk yarn and double-sided sticky tape transformed my bog standard Specsavers glasses case. What practical items and disability aids have you made more aesthetically pleasurable to use?

#craftsky #fiberart #spirals #chronicillness 👓 🧶 #me/cfs

A pair of red-framed reading glasses with tortoise-shell patterned arms sits folded up next to a navy blue box-style rectangular glasses case. The top of the case is decorated with continuously joined spirals made by coiling yarn around and sticking it in place. The yarn changes colour, moving between a very pale blue to a sage green and is slightly shiny and very fibrous, being created from strands of recycled sari silk threads.

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Aug 13

Monique is editor of Living ME - a website and lifestyle magazine, full of humour, for the chronically ill. Her full review of Crafting a Path Through Illness can be read on the US Amazon site.

#chronicillness #chronicpain #me/cfs #mecfs #craftsky #creativesky 💙 📚

A book review for Germaine Hypher’s Crafting a Path Through Illness features on a cream background. The review is by Monique Susanna Simón, Founder of The Healing Craft (TM), Creative Director & Founding Editor of Living ME Magazine. A small photo of her face shows that she is a black woman wearing fashionable glasses and a sassy smile. The review reads:
"A masterwork... a beacon for crafters, artists, and anyone navigating life with illness. This book is like a treasure chest.
Germaine Hypher combines storytelling. psychology, practical toolkits, and community resources into one rare and luminous, well organized guide.
Open any page, and you'll find insight, inspiration, and community."

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Aug 10

This HAN (Home Artificial Nutrition) Week, Sarah Bailey shares her creative use of the detritus generated by the artificial feeding that keeps her alive. ♻️ Click on each photo to read what waste items were used.

#chronicillness #invisibleillness #mecfs #me/cfs #craftsky #art #recycling #environment

Sarah, a white woman with short dark hair, glasses and a big smile is holding a replica birthday cake with candles all created from blue and white dressing trays, flush tops, line cap seals, sterile dressing towel, feed bag, syringe plunges and feed bag caps, and cardboard packaging. The only added item is tin foil. Bunting in the background is made from feed bag and sterile gloves flimsy plastics.

HAN WEEK 2025 is spelled out using black, green, blue and white line protector caps, syringe plunges, flush caps and feed bag caps. The background is the turquoise cover from a dressing pack.

A stylised leaf is depicted using bright green, jade green and transparent line protector caps, feed bag caps and giving set caps. The background is a pale turquoise cover from a dressing pack.

White text on a red and green background reads:

Welcome to HAN Week 2025!
Dedicated to raising awareness about essential nutritional treatments; parenteral and enteral feeding and oral supplements

PINNT
A SUPPORT GROUP FOR PEOPLE RECEIVING ARTIFICIAL NUTRITION

Home Artificial Nutrition 2025 Awareness Week 4-10 August 2025

Stay tuned for the results of the survey we conducted during HAN Week 2024: exploring the waste generated from being on home nutritional support, both clinical and non-clinical waste as well as necessary and unnecessary waste.

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Aug 8

View the photos, drawings, writing, music & videos submitted for the 5th Severe ME Artists Project in honour of Severe ME Day here:
www.meartistsproject.com/severe-me-ar...

#MEAction also acknowledges those unable to create art due to illness.

#Chronicillness #invisibleillness #mecfs #ME/CFS

Severe ME Artists Project 2025

#MEAction is excited to present this year's Severe ME Artists project in recognition of Severe ME Awareness Day!

www.meartistsproject.com

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Aug 5

Help make Shaun-inspired blanket squares to be stitched together to create blankets for unhoused individuals across London and beyond, as part of Craft Forward's Blankets for the World initiative.

Free patterns and full info at www.shaunthesheep.com/can-ewe-knit...

#knitting #fiberarts #craftsky

Can Ewe Knit It? | Shaun the Sheep

Join the flock and grab your knitting needles or crochet hook and help make cosy, Shaun-inspired blanket squares for People in Need.

www.shaunthesheep.com

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Aug 2

I was invited to take part in an ‘Expert Interview’ for Talk Health. If you fancy watching the resulting half hour on YouTube, here’s the link. 😃

#chronicillness #chronicpain #me/cfs #mecfs #creativity #creativesky #craftsky #selfcare #selfhelp 💙📚 🧶 🪡 🎨 ✍🏻

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv_i...

Living creatively through chronic illness | Germaine Hypher

YouTube video by talkhealthmedia

m.youtube.com

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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Jul 29

Kiki Crow-Cat opened the door of my haberdashery cabinet, turfed out the contents and made herself a bed. Has she taken finding comfort in creativity a little too far or do we applaud her take on the concept? 😸

#cats #chronicillness #craftsky #creativesky

A photo of a sage green cabinet with creative supplies on the shelf and its door open. Surrounding and spilling out of the open door is a mess of fabric, wadding and other haberdashery supplies. Nestled half in and half out of the cabinet, amidst all the white textiles is a small black cat, looking up at the camera.

Close up photo of an open cabinet. Surrounding and spilling out of the open door is a mess of fabric, wadding and other haberdashery supplies. Nestled half in and half out of the cabinet, amidst all the white textiles is a small black cat, looking up at the camera.

Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · Jul 28

Thank you very much - I appreciate your time in submitting a review. 😊 I won’t know how sales are going until I get the first sales update from my publisher in a couple of months.