Earlier this year I received an amazing commission from Northamptonshire Health Charity to create handcrafted memory leaves in brass to remember loved ones with a connection to Kettering General Hospital who have sadly passed away.
The memory leaves that made me fall in love with my craft again
Those of you who know me personally or follow me on social media would know that life has not been great in recent years. 2023 is a year I do not wish to remember at all! It took over two years to recover from the deep dark place I found myself in after my papa passed away. It took so much to remember who I am again.
There was a lot of life stuff to sort out… divorce, selling the only house I had known for 25 years, finding somewhere decent to live that would accept my darling dog, Manali. If it wasn’t for Manali, my friends, my amazing counsellor, and the doctor who actually heard me, I am not even sure I would still be here… yes, it was that bad!
Anyway… I digress… this was the time when I completely lost my creative side and struggled to craft anything. The ideas were there, but they never translated into anything meaningful. Then I lost Manali in January 2026. That’s when I thought of giving up. I almost did. Until I heard from Northamptonshire Health Charity in February 2026 about the memory leaf project they had discussed with me in mid-2025.
A meaningful art project that gave me the kick I needed…
Instead of feeling sorry for me, I was now thinking about the families, visitors, and staff at Kettering General Hospital who wanted dedicated messages on memory leaves to remember their loved ones.
I wanted to create something beautiful that became a permanent fixture at the hospital to remember those they have lost.
At some point I will make a leaf for my Papa and one for Manali and hang them in my home.
This is a staff-led initiative at the hospital. The tree was created by a local blacksmith, and I was approached to make the dedication leaves. The Memory Tree has been placed in the hospital’s atrium for everyone to see.
Memory leaves can be ordered here: https://northamptonshirehealthcharity.co.uk/memory-tree
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