Who We Are
Where Mindfulness Meets Craftsmanship
At the Mindful Crafters Institute, we believe that working with your hands is not just a pastime — it is a pathway to presence, resilience, and renewal. Craft connects body, mind, and spirit, offering calm in the midst of stress and beauty in the midst of chaos.
MCI is a community of makers, educators, and wellness professionals united by one vision: to explore and share the healing power of craft and creativity. Here, timeless skills meet modern mindfulness, creating a space where creativity becomes a practice of connection — to ourselves, to each other, and to the world around us.
A little bit about
Kelly first discovered the healing power of making in 1991, when she taught a group of women recovering from stroke to braid rugs. What began as a simple craft lesson became the seed for a lifelong mission: exploring how creativity and the body support one another in recovery, resilience, and growth.
Since then, she has woven together expertise in arts and crafts, education, and mind-body medicine. Kelly is the author of craft books, has been a longtime high school art and German teacher, a seasoned yoga teacher (C-IAYT), certified MBSR instructor, and art therapist. As a licensed naturopath in Germany, she specializes in movement therapy for neurological and cognitive issues.
Her work brings together the threads of creativity, mindfulness, and healing into a practice that helps people reconnect with themselves through their hands, body, and mind.
A little bit about
Deborah Bedford-Strohm brings a rare blend of soul, artistry, and psychological depth to the Mindful Crafters Institute. A Jungian psychotherapist and certified Sandplay facilitator, she has spent decades guiding people into the rich landscapes of dreams, symbols, and the collective unconscious.
Now based on a family farm in the Mecklenburg Lake District, Deborah tends sheep and transforms their wool with a reverence for nature’s cycles. She shears, cleans, spins, and dyes the fibers using plants grown in her own garden — from wildflowers to homegrown indigo — creating textiles that are as alive with meaning as they are with beauty.
Born in New England and raised between there and Brittany, Deborah has made Germany her home. At MCI, she shares her knowledge of design, dreamwork, and symbolic art, inviting others to discover how craft can connect us to deeper layers of self and soul.
A little bit about
Erin is the free spirit of MCI — a true artist with an MFA and a gift for turning fiber into joy. Her work bursts with fiesta colors, playful textures, and shapes that radiate delight, reflecting her belief that art should brighten both our lives and our landscapes.
Her creative journey has taken her across the globe — from living in the Galápagos Islands to heading a punchneedle retreat center in Ecuador — always weaving art, humor, and community wherever she goes. Now based in South Carolina, Erin shares her expertise in punchneedle sculpting and potholder loom weaving, two crafts she transforms into vibrant expressions of color and form.
With her wit, warmth, and love of teaching, Erin creates spaces where learning feels lighthearted and inspiring. She invites others to embrace creativity not just as a skill, but as a way to make the world more joyful, one loop and stitch at a time.
A little bit about
Heidi is an early childhood educator from Belgium with the spirit of an old soul and the heart of a child. She delights in the world of tiny humans — their boundless curiosity, their raw honesty, and the way their creativity flows unfiltered. For Heidi, these qualities are not only precious to nurture in children but also a reminder for adults of what it means to live authentically.
At MCI, she brings her deep understanding of human nature, fine motor skills, and the learning process into her craft. A passionate crocheter and punchneedler, Heidi’s designs radiate joy, playfulness, and care. Her work and her teaching are guided by mindfulness and a profound respect for the simple, direct energy that children bring into the world.
A little bit about
Gwen is a master knitter and retired physical education teacher from Yorkshire whose wry humor and steady presence light up every room she enters. A devoted gardener and lifelong learner, she came to mindfulness later in life and has become living proof that it’s never too late to begin — and to grow.
Teaching is at the heart of Gwen’s life. She continues to share her craft in villages across Yorkshire, where she brings her own blend of mindfulness, patience, and gentle encouragement to every class. Her students value not only her technical mastery but also the way she makes learning feel human, hopeful, and deeply connected.
MCI is such a cool place to be and we want the world to know it
We have dedicated years to building a training just for teachers like you!
Maybe you have thought of working more creativity into your movement and meditation classes. We can help you expand your teaching practice in exciting and impactful ways.
MCI teachers are dedicated, friendly, open, supportive and very, very fun to be around.
We can always make time to chat and answer your questions. Just set up a zoom call with the teacher of your choice. Drop a quick eMail to hello@mindfulcrafters.com and we will be in touch.