Rooted This pattern is a reflection on how so many people (myself included) became fixated on growing things. We started off well and with enthusiasm but we are not natural gardeners and killed many of the plants by accident. By showing the roots I’m trying to express the fragility we all felt at the time about our lives, the safety of our loved ones and the growing awareness of the natural world that lockdown gifted us.

Shared Spaces Finding space for everyone at home was another common theme, especially the kitchen or dining table. People found a range of ways to keep busy if furloughed, especially through creativity. Juggling home schooling and home working was difficult for many. Zoom conversations became vital to many who lived alone as did beloved pets.

Caught Short Many people panic bought supplies - especially pasta and toilet roll which meant it was harder for others to get some. I enjoyed the playfulness of making patterns from boring everyday items.

Bubbled I liked the idea of people being in literal bubbles, sometimes even separated within the same household. The bubbles are coloured amber to relate to the gemstone where insects are often caught in the resin and fossilised. We were all trapped in our homes for a strange period in time and I think for most of us that will be the residual memory of this time.

Drowning The stories that people told me were heart breaking and wide ranging. It was quite hard to express individual people’s unhappy stories but together they felt like a flood that was overwhelming and had to be endured. I hope that the present and future feels brighter now and manageable for these people. In my own family we were coping with dementia.

TV Terror At least half of the responses I read in the questionnaire that I put together talked about the anxiety that the news on the TV, radio and internet was causing and how many people had to turn off the relentless figures on infection and death just to manage their own mental health. We were flooded with statistics and pessimistic outlooks but choosing to limit our exposure became a common coping mechanism. This piece also refers to the backlash expressed by many to the levels of government control.

Lockdown Felt Green One of the questions asked what colours lockdown felt like. I was surprised and intrigued at how many people responded with green and wondered if this was a reflection of how rural we are compared to other areas of the country. Responses to environment were overwhelmingly positive which contrasted starkly with the experiences of some people.

Protection The motif of the rowan tree is repeated throughout Blackwell. In British folklore it is a symbol of protection. One of the most basic things that people missed was touch – holding the hand of a loved one. I wanted to somehow express this longing and the fact we didn’t to protect each other.

Pavement Party “We had a few lockdown birthdays. For one, my daughter's best friend arrived in our street, in the most glorious outfit, with a Barbie and some chalk. The girls danced up and down the street, and drew wonderful pictures all over the road. It was a beautiful experience, not only for us, but for the several elderly neighbours who came to stand at their windows and watch the glee in their little faces and bodies.”

Zoom School During the second lockdown I worked as an art teacher. The school I was working for didn’t use live lessons but I heard stories from colleagues in other schools. Even though I taught via email I felt the anxiety of the students and so many found it hard to keep up with the school work on their own. It has never been so important to be kind as a teacher.

Home Cooking “New foods, baking and trying new dishes together.” “With more time spare I cooked more from scratch and realised we didn’t need ‘convenience’ food quite so much.” “Healthy foods - we got bored of takeaways pretty quickly.” “I really got into cooking lots of foods from scratch.”

Peacock Battle I had to include this peacock story because of the beautiful frieze at Blackwell: “The day we opened up the gates to discover a stranger peacock across the road. He came straight over and in, followed by his farmer owner, obviously trying to catch him. Our very young peacock at once engaged him in battle, ending up on the tin roof of the cottage. Turned out neither bird had much stamina, and both came down to ground exhausted. At this point the farmer chased his bird down into the trees and managed to catch him and stash him in his vehicle. Whereupon our bedraggled bird burst into a triumphant blast of victory shrieks - and once the farmer had left, I am sorry to say that partner joined in the celebrations!”

Glitching Trees This pattern most reflects my own feelings during lockdown. We would try to go to nature for comfort and respite from the house but the very real terror we felt towards being outside and meeting strangers was intense. It was very difficult to relax and stop the anxious thoughts at first although now we have become more accustomed to the risks.

Rainbows and Teddies “Our village came together through Lockdown - we started a WhatsApp support group and also a weekly Zoom quiz as well as a Teddy bear trail. So despite all the sadness & anxiety, some good comes from the bad.” “The glorious landscape of Rickerby Park. We walked for miles through the grasses and alongside the water, just loving the colours. My daughter still calls it Colourful Land.” “The beautiful weather brought the rainbows back - we walked miles on rainbow hunts round the city.”

Wild Swimming “During lockdown I went swimming in the River Derwent and my friend and I were joined by a family of ducks. Mum, dad and 4 fluffy little fur balls paddling like mad with their little paws to keep up with their parents. They came really close, not seeing us as a threat, it was equally a privilege and amusing to see them.”

Mandatory Masks The range of emotional responses in the questionnaire was surprising. All of these come directly from what people wrote. I chose these blue paper masks for this pattern because I live near the hospital in Carlisle and the streets were full of discarded ones. Behind the masks it was difficult to read the emotions of others and know how they were feeling.

Sofa Outside As a teacher this story made me laugh out loud and seemed the best way to share how the Covid experience has been for teenagers. “The only way I could get the teenagers outside was to move the sofa and the television into the garden.”

Cumbrian Vista This is the first pattern I created for the Commission. I was inspired by the drive down to Blackwell from Carlisle and how the landscape varies yet flows together. The different windows show both the urban and rural aspects of Cumbria and express the different experiences that location gave to Cumbrians.

weathering the storm

Rosie Galloway-Smith