Artist: Leonie Brennan
Design: Tina Hardy Nelson
Artist: Pam Jones
Design: Pam Jones
Artist: Bev Jones
Design: Bev Jones
Artist: Leonie Brennan
Design: Tina Hardy Nelson
Memory Box Program
The Memory Box Artist Program began in the US in 1998 as a volunteer effort to provide keepsake boxes for families of infants who pass away. A Memory Box is given to the parents of the child so that they don’t leave the hospital without some representation of the child’s life. The box is a place to store cherished memories such as wristbands, footprints, certificates and the like.
It didn’t take long for the Program to come to Australia. All of the Memory Boxes are provided to the participating hospitals free of charge. Each box is lovingly created by volunteer painters who donate their time, their talents and all of the materials. The boxes are seen as a way for the artists to express their creativity while providing comfort to families in their time of need.
The FDAA & its members have supported the program for many years by:
- conducting Memory Box Painting Days,
- providing suitable MDF boxes for members to paint free of charge ($10 refundable deposit),
- delivering Memory Boxes to local hospitals, and
- promoting the Helen Ovens Perpetual Trophy biannually.
Getting Involved
You can get involved with the program by joining a Memory Box Painting Day or by painting your own box at home and in your own time.
You can find more information about the program at the links below:
Australian Memory Boxes Program
Tole Friends Memory Box Program
Paper Mache Boxes as recommended by the Australian Memory Box Program are available for purchase online at Lefty's Online Store:
Contact Details
Memory Boxes are available for $10 deposit from the memory box contact listed below at our General Meetings.
Email: memorybox@fdaa.org.au
| Person | Phone Number |
| Regine Thompson | (02) 9918 4431 |
Memory Box Painting Days
In order to maintain a supply of Memory Boxes regular painting days are held. Members are welcome to organise a day themselves or be part of a painting day when gazetted, to paint a Memory Box themselves or to just background a box, every little bit helps. A great day for getting to know other FDAA members and enjoy some great conversation whilst painting for a worthwhile cause.
Individually Organising Your Day
- Gather some painting friends, make a day of it and bring a plate for lunch
- Select your choice of pattern - Maternity units in NSW recommend more adult patterns avoiding depictions of angels, babies or birds with chicks or eggs
- The FDAA provides suitable wooden boxes for a $10 refundable deposit (on return of painted box to a meeting or a Committee member)
- Add that special touch to your memory box by including a verse
- There are patterns and applicable verses to include in your painting from the Tole Friends Free Memory Box Patterns website.
FDAA Organised Days
A regular painting day is held for the purpose of maintaining an adequate supply of Memory Boxes. Members & friends are welcome to join this informal group to paint a Memory Box or to just background a box, every little bit helps. Plenty of jobs for non-painting friend. A great day for getting to know other FDAA members & friends, learn new techniques and enjoy some great conversation whilst painting for a worthwhile cause.
Time & Date
Last MONDAY of each month (excluding January & December)
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Venue
St Ives Community Church Hall
32 Horace Street
St Ives NSW 2075
Contact
Regine Thompson
Phone: (02) 9918 4431
All paints are provided
- Bring your own lunch and brushes.
- Wooden boxes ($10 refundable deposit) are available from Regine & also our general meetings.
- Paints & spray varnish are provided.
- Select your choice of pattern from a coloured catalogue or supply your own.
- Add that special touch to your memory box by including a verse.
- There are patterns and applicable verses to include in your painting from the Tole Friends Free Memory Box Patterns website.
Downloads - Free Memory Box Patterns
The below patterns are from our biannual Helen Ovens Perpetual Trophy. They would be a good starting place for any first time memory box painter.
Copyright © 2010 The Folk and Decorative Artists’ Association of Australia, Inc.
The FDAA website is designed and maintained by Nick Brennan Design
The FDAA Website has been tested with and is compatible with:
Safari 4+ for Windows & Mac | Firefox 3.5+ for Windows & Mac | Internet Explorer 8+ for Windows
