We have a wonderful participatory Arts initiative coming up for #Bealtaine Festival 2026—a Nationwide festival celebrating creativity as we age.
THE MEMORY KEEP: A Life with many Chapters... Woven in Fabric and Thread 🧵✨
This project, '𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩', combines textile art, storytelling, and preserving precious memories into a beautiful, tactile legacy.
Stories are held—and evoked—in the very fabric of our lives. A scrap of vintage lace or a sliver of satin may recall your wedding day, a button worn on a jacket kept from a first job or a ribbon from a child’s gift to you, a father's tie, a mother's scarf —these items are the 'anchors' that keep the significant memories of a lifetime close at hand.
But wouldn't it be great if we found a way of preserving remnants of these fabrics, buttons, ribbons and keepsakes, and kept them all together in one place and built a story?
Together at the Hub, we want to learn and share how to create a 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸; how to stitch a tapestry of memories that will evoke and store the significant chapters of a lifetime close at hand.
At the heart of this project is Mending Matters—a sustainable ethos of upcycling where we repurpose found materials to help capture and honour the life chapters we hold most dear.
Artist Sheila Wood and I have put our creative heads together to develop a plan of action to bring this to life for the Bealtaine Festival.
To kick-start this initiative, we are launching a Pilot Programme and inviting Hub Makers to become our first '𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬'. By repurposing found materials and personal remnants, we will create something new and vital from the old. You don’t need to be a "master tailor"—if you love to create, upcycle, or simply have a story you want to preserve for the future, we would love to have you join us.
We’re starting gently with a small group of makers to 'test the threads' of this project before we open it up further. We will be demonstrating some simple, organic ways to build these fabric memory books, layering chapters into something truly special.
Once we have developed a rhythm of creating these fabric memory books, we will invite the general community to join us and demonstrate the techniques learnt. Together, through co-creation, we will build a blueprint for a sensory tactile memory book to ensure that even as memories begin to fade, our most significant chapters and precious keepsakes remain touchable, vibrant, offer us comfort, and are always within reach.
This is more than a crafting project; it is a Social Prescription—a way to connect, create, and care for our collective history. By preserving our memories in a sustainable, sensory way, we are fostering wellbeing and social connection, which is at the very heart of the Bealtaine Festival's mission to celebrate creativity as we age. ❤️
We will exhibit the output of 'The Memory Keep' Arts initiative in early May to celebrate Bealtaine Festival, details to be finalised.
To start the ball rolling, Maker Sheila Wood has created an amazing sample page for 'The Memory Keep' project—this textile caricature of me in the Hub, deep in the planning stages of Bealtaine Festival 2026! (Thank you Sheila!❤)
While Sheila brings her own signature artistic detail, we want to remind everyone that there is no 'right' way to stitch a story. Whether your style is simple and minimalist or layered and detailed, every page in 'The Memory Keep' will be a unique and precious reflection of the hands that made it.
This sample is just the first spark; we can't wait to see how your own hands bring your life chapters to life through thread.
Stay Tuned.
THE MEMORY KEEP: A Life with many Chapters... Woven in Fabric and Thread 🧵✨
This project, '𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩', combines textile art, storytelling, and preserving precious memories into a beautiful, tactile legacy.
Stories are held—and evoked—in the very fabric of our lives. A scrap of vintage lace or a sliver of satin may recall your wedding day, a button worn on a jacket kept from a first job or a ribbon from a child’s gift to you, a father's tie, a mother's scarf —these items are the 'anchors' that keep the significant memories of a lifetime close at hand.
But wouldn't it be great if we found a way of preserving remnants of these fabrics, buttons, ribbons and keepsakes, and kept them all together in one place and built a story?
Together at the Hub, we want to learn and share how to create a 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸; how to stitch a tapestry of memories that will evoke and store the significant chapters of a lifetime close at hand.
At the heart of this project is Mending Matters—a sustainable ethos of upcycling where we repurpose found materials to help capture and honour the life chapters we hold most dear.
Artist Sheila Wood and I have put our creative heads together to develop a plan of action to bring this to life for the Bealtaine Festival.
To kick-start this initiative, we are launching a Pilot Programme and inviting Hub Makers to become our first '𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬'. By repurposing found materials and personal remnants, we will create something new and vital from the old. You don’t need to be a "master tailor"—if you love to create, upcycle, or simply have a story you want to preserve for the future, we would love to have you join us.
We’re starting gently with a small group of makers to 'test the threads' of this project before we open it up further. We will be demonstrating some simple, organic ways to build these fabric memory books, layering chapters into something truly special.
Once we have developed a rhythm of creating these fabric memory books, we will invite the general community to join us and demonstrate the techniques learnt. Together, through co-creation, we will build a blueprint for a sensory tactile memory book to ensure that even as memories begin to fade, our most significant chapters and precious keepsakes remain touchable, vibrant, offer us comfort, and are always within reach.
This is more than a crafting project; it is a Social Prescription—a way to connect, create, and care for our collective history. By preserving our memories in a sustainable, sensory way, we are fostering wellbeing and social connection, which is at the very heart of the Bealtaine Festival's mission to celebrate creativity as we age. ❤️
We will exhibit the output of 'The Memory Keep' Arts initiative in early May to celebrate Bealtaine Festival, details to be finalised.
To start the ball rolling, Maker Sheila Wood has created an amazing sample page for 'The Memory Keep' project—this textile caricature of me in the Hub, deep in the planning stages of Bealtaine Festival 2026! (Thank you Sheila!❤)
While Sheila brings her own signature artistic detail, we want to remind everyone that there is no 'right' way to stitch a story. Whether your style is simple and minimalist or layered and detailed, every page in 'The Memory Keep' will be a unique and precious reflection of the hands that made it.
This sample is just the first spark; we can't wait to see how your own hands bring your life chapters to life through thread.
Stay Tuned.
Bealtaine is an Age & Opportunity Arts initiative, funded by the Arts Council and the HSE.
The festival programme is supported by the Tipperary County Council Arts Office
Narrative Sensory Fabric Memory Book by Sheila Wood...work-in-progress
Linda in the Tudor Artisan Hub, planning our next project!
Ruby posing outside the Tudor Artisan Hub
Digger, cosy by the fire
Mu eating birthday cake
The Escape Artist Dusky
Daisy - 1965-1977
Weasel - Living on the Edge
'Licking the Bowl' Spike and Molly (not finished yet).
Behind the Scenes work-in-progress
The Memory Keep Fabric Scrapbook project - #BealtaineFestival 2026
The Tudor Artisan Hub is masterfully coming to life, weaving threads and upcycling fabric
by maker Sheila Wood...
Dog One 'Digger'
by Artist Sheila Wood - February 2026
Dog Two by Artist Sheila Wood, March 2026 -
Tipper, Digger and Bramble keeping an eye on Mum's Birthday Cake!
Dog 3 - Dusky, the escape artist by Sheila Wood
Dog 4 - Daisy, 1965-1977 by Sheila Wood.
This art piece was started in a Wet and Dry Needle-Felting Workshop under the tutelage of Lizanne Martin - Maker of Lizanne Craft & Design.
Dog 5 - Living on the Edge - Meet Weasel, he had a habit of climbing onto the ridge of the roof, the better to bark at anyone or thing who deserved it! He went via the tree, probably following the cat.
Memory Art Project by Sheila Wood
Dog 6 - Spike and Molly, ready to lick the bowl!
By Sheila Wood
Linda - Memory Page 1
Finding my own rhythm....#The Memory Keep Fabric Scrapbook project - #Bealtaine Festival 2026
My Family Home
Linda - Memory Page 2
Abstract River Suir Blueway, ...finding my style!
Linda - Memory Page 1
Abbeyside Beach, really getting in to this now...
Linda Memory Page 4,
Clonea Beach with Ruby inspired by artwork by Tony Oakey - 'Shelter from the Storm
Experimenting with Wet and Needle Felting
The inspiration - 'Shelter from the Storm - by Tony Oakey'
Linda Memory Page 5 - 'Boston Roof Decks 1998'
Felt-Maker Liz Martin - Lizanne Craft and Design has started her first Narrative Sensory Memory Page...
Liz is going to create a series capturing the gardens in the homes she grew up in, in London and Ireland.
Memory Page 1 - by artist Debra Collins
'An afternoon, Cahir Apple Farm'
Artist Kathleen Farrell, Memory Page 1, work-in-progress
Artist Mia Carney - capturing the 2026 Aurora Borealis in Kilcash, Co. Tipperary
This art piece was started in a Wet and Dry Needle-Felting Workshop under the tutelage of Lizanne Martin - Maker of Lizanne Craft & Design.
Wool, Water, Soap, a Needle & Wondering Minds: Memories in Motion to-day in the Hub - Monday 16th March
Our Bealtaine Festival project 'The Memory Keep' is continuing to find its creative feet. We are on a learning curve at the moment, working closely with our wonderful Makers to figure out a blueprint for this Memory project it's all about the trial, the error, and the 'getting stuck in'... together!
This afternoon, artist Liz Martin (Maker of Lizanne Craft & Design sat down with three of our fantastic Makers -Mia, Sheila, and Kathleen along with moi to work through the quiet magic of creating a felting canvas for a deeply personal memory. It was lovely to see the transition from raw materials into something meaningful... and still a work in progress.
We started with wet felting raw sheep's wool from Co. Clare, warm soapy water, and a lot of 'elbow grease' to bond the fibres into a solid base. Once that foundation was there, we started adding colour from a fabulous selection of wool provided by Liz. With this wool, we started planning our design, building layers and blending beautiful colours.
Once that foundation was set, and after more elbow grease 'knitting' of wool fibres (a total workout!), we moved to the dry needle felting phase. This is where the memories really started to take shape. Using barbed needles, we began 'drawing' with wool directly into the felt.
Through this process, at least for me, it feels like we are essentially weaving and recording personal history together into a Fabric Sensory Scrapbook. Recording a memory in such a rustic, tactile way gives you the license to build the memory as you go. It’s a simple way to bring those memories to the surface and, honestly, to guide them in a way that just brings the most happiness.
Every roll of the wool, every layout of the fabric, and every stitch of the needle is helping us refine this blueprint for creative aging
After the workshop today Liz armed us with felting supplies to help us further work on our Memory page at home...
Thank you so much Liz for a fantastic workshop, loved it! Looking forward to finishing my piece at home....
Thank you Mia, Sheila and Kathleen for taking this journey with us! It was a wonderful creative and social engaging afternoon... Thank you for staying tuned...
Bealtaine is an Age & Opportunity Arts initiative, funded by the Arts Council and the HSE. The festival programme is supported by the Tipperary County Council - Tipperary Arts Office
Wet-Felting workshop 2 with Liz Martin, Lizanne Craft and Design - March 23, 2026
Artist Tony Oakey, The Milky Way
Organising Fabric Colour Palette! March 9th, 2026 - great suggestion by Shiela!
The Memory Keep - Maker gathering 9th March 2026, Hub Gallery - Sheila, Liz, Kathleen, Debra and Linda
We were invited to share our project at the Dementia Awareness event hosted by the Carrick-on-Suir Lions Club in association with Alzheimer's Society of Ireland. Brilliant reaction!
Maker Gathering, Hub galleries 2nd March 2026
Maker Gathering Feb 16, 2026
Here are some ideas to get you started, use needle and thread by hand, machine, if you prefer glue is ok too, draw/paint if you wish, decoupage...make it yours! (Images below generated by ai)
