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Endometriosis sufferer leads arts and crafts movement in Manchester

  • Student Ellie turns to art as a therapy to help cope with her endometriosis
  • Ellie’s Still Ill Ok, CH+ and F-Art Club projects aim to raise awareness for endometriosis and other long-term health conditions.

25-year-old Ellie, who was diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 16, brought to life the ‘Still Ill Ok’, ‘CH+’ sites along with the F-Art club as a way for her to distribute her art and bring awareness to endometriosis.

Having already undergone a cervical operation and six laparoscopies, Ellie is currently taking a break from her Masters studies at Salford University as she awaits yet another operation in January.

In the meantime Ellie, who has begun studying an online Masters in Psychology with the University of Liverpool, has decided to put her creative talents to work and set-up her two businesses, Still Ill Ok and CH+.

Ellie, the face behind Still Ill Ok and CH+
Ellie, the face behind Still Ill Ok and CH+

Art is something Ellie uses as a coping method for her endometriosis, which at times causes her immense pain and bad flare-ups, a type of therapy to distract her from the chronic condition.

Ellie said: “I have to distract myself, that’s why I do it all.”

 “I believe in art therapy massively – I always say try and turn times when you’re stuck into an opportunity to be creative.”

Still Ill Ok is a site where Ellie sells her art work, as well as using it to raise awareness for endometriosis.

Ellie explained: “The Still Ill stuff is just that art for me was a main thing of trying to keep myself sane, and not falling over the edge, and so I decided to just sell some of it and use it to raise awareness. – The premise of the Still Ill stuff is, ‘yes I’m still ill and that’s ok.”

Still Ill Ok artwork
A piece of art from Still Ill Ok

CH+ is an online pop-up shop selling the arts and crafts work for people in and around the area of Chorlton, as Ellie would explain.

“I set up this local thing called CH+ – which is an online shop selling art work and craft work of local creative people – CH+ is basically something for me to do that I’ve wanted to do for ages.”

When Endo Aware met Ellie she mentioned her next endeavour of setting up an arts for wellbeing group. This has now come to fruition and is called F-Art club.

Running on a weekly basis at the Dulcimer Bar, Chorlton on Sundays between 2-4pm, F-Art provides the opportunity for people with long-term health problems including those with endometriosis to get creative.

Here are the links to Ellie’s sites.

www.etsy.com/shop/stillillok

www.stillill.uk

Facebook: @stillillok

Instagram: @stillillok

Twitter: @stillillok

www.chplus.uk

Facebook: @chplusuk

Instagram: @chplusuk

Twitter: @chplus2