Make Memories provides creative workshops  & handmade products to promote & maintain positive mental health for all, young to old.


My name is Leona Gallen, I live in Strabane at the foothill of the Sperrins in a beautiful rural location, wild and untouched, it has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A perfect place for creative inspiration!


From as far back as I can remember I was coming armed with a tub of glue and plan in my head to create. Torturing my mother for all the empty washing up bottles and cardboard boxes to make my next masterpiece.

The love for designing and creating never really left me, but I had stopped making and creating for fun when adult life took over, and especially having a job where I was designing all day, it just didn't appeal as a hobby anymore.

A combination of events led me to finding my way back to art again and I realised this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my career and for my own mental health. In the words of Mark Twain:

'Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.'


The Benefits of Art For Positive Mental Health

Why take part in arts & crafts?

Typically, when we were children we were encouraged to be creative,

why should that change when we are adults. Real life is stressful, we need to take some 'me time' to self-care and look after our mental health.


Whether you're a first-time artist, or an expert, there are endless benefits to continually pursuing your inner artist. Creativity shouldn't just be for professional artists or those with free time, creativity is for everyone, but more importantly, it's essential!

Some people feel that in order to consider yourself a real artist, you have to create something magnificent such as a sculpture or painting.  Others believe that you either are born with artistic talent or you’re not. However, every one of us is born with the ability to express ourselves. Art is a wonderful way to achieve this, especially in terms of our mental health. You don’t have to produce a masterpiece, it’s all about the experience and process of making which helps promote positive mental health on the brain.


Here are just some of the mental health benefits of art.

Art Relieves Stress
Taking part in an art activity provides a distraction that will give your brain a much needed break from all of your usual ways of thinking, helping to focus on one thing.
Art Helps To Encourage Creative Thinking
Art doesn’t require a correct answer, you come up with your own type of solution and further stimulate your brain with this type of creative thinking. This is a great way to inspire creative thinking in children and adults alike.

Art Helps To Boost Self-Esteem and Offer a Sense of Accomplishment
Displaying a child’s artwork can boost their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment, doing the same with your own artwork can create the same type of effect, no matter what our age!
Art Encourages Brain Activity
Whenever you engage in any kind of a new activity, your brain begins working to

 create connections between all of your different brain cells. In terms of creating art, this helps to stimulate all sorts of connections between various portions of your brain, it’s like exercise for your mind. Art has been shown to enhance factors such as memory

and cognitive abilities, especially in those who suffer from cognitive decline

in conditions such as dementia.


WORKSHOPS

Doodle with Drinks is a sip and paint experience, all about unleashing your inner artist, drink in one hand brushes in another. An ideal team building experience, hen party activity, big birthday celebration or just making memories with your friends for a few hours of 'me time'.


  • Complimentary drink on arrival (non alcoholic options are also available)
  • Bring your own bottle and nibbles to help you create! (If tea/coffee is your thing I can supply endless cups!)
  • Complete a masterpiece in two hours to take home with you


No experience necessary, full written instruction given and guidance through the session. Each workshop has a specific image, everyone paints from the same sample, but everyone will have their own unique creation! 


£25 per person, £10 deposit required to secure your place on booking


Venue: 2nd floor of Cutting Edge Hair Salon, 43 Bowling Green Strabane


(Prices will vary if there are any additions to the standard experience, options can be discussed)


Sunflowers

Saturday 20th April

730pm - 930pm


Dreamcatcher

Saturday 4th May

7.30pm - 9.30pm


Pink Butterfly

Saturday 1st June

7.30pm - 9.30pm


MAKE MEMORIES ART CLUB


For anyone aged 11 year old upwards, we meet in The Painted Pig, Dock Street Strabane. £5 per session all materials are provided each with with a snack and drink included.


At the age of 11, most kids are transitioning to secondary school making new friends and experiencing new challenges. Some can cope well with this, others may find it more difficult to adjust. Not all children like or are good at sports, dance or drama, which are the popular clubs in the Strabane area, so I decided to start an art club for those that have an artistic talent and need an outlet.


Hobbies allow children to tap into their inner passions and talents while allowing them to understand all that they enjoy and are good at. This helps them build confidence and self-esteem, apart from giving their mind and body the much-needed stimulation.


Children who regularly spend some of their time nurturing their talents and actually doing what they love, are more fulfilled and grateful towards life than those who are extremely hardwired with just education and learning from books. Hobbies for kids not only develop their motor and brain functions rapidly, but they also help in building healthier personalities. 


Hobbies are also great for acquiring social skills. As your child explores their interests, they will meet new people with similar interests and hobbies and they can expand their social circle and skills by just interacting with them. 


This terms dates:

Saturday April 13th 11am - 1pm

Saturday April 27th 11am - 1pm


Saturday May 11th 11am - 1pm

Saturday May 25th 11am - 1pm


Saturday June 8th 11am - 1pm

Saturday June 22nd 11am - 1pm


Further terms pending on funding


Make & Mingle is a series of workshops, one morning session one evening session each month.  We'll cover different art techniques each month over a cuppa and have a chat.


The main purpose of this group is to give people the opportunity to try a new skill, meet new people and find confidence in themselves again. COVID changed a lot of peoples lives and routines. Other factors such as an illness, recovery, parenthood or moving to a new area has meant a lot of people are feeling alone and would love a chance to socialise in a relaxed setting, with no pressure or judgement about coming by yourself.


No experience necessary, there will be guidance through the session. Pre-booking required and a fee of £5 at the session to cover materials and refreshments


Venue: 2nd floor of Cutting Edge Hair Salon, 43 Bowling Green Strabane


(Check the FB page for up to date monthly dates and topics )


PRODUCTS

Some of the Make Memories range... 

Sometimes you need to practice what you preach! Trying to follow my own advice to maintain positive mental health, behind the scenes I design, create and experiment. I use this as a self-care technique, it's important to stay aware of your own mental health, especially in today's crazy times! I mainly work in wood burning and quilling.


I create items to help with self care and personalised gifts, I try to make each commission unique, so no two people will ever own the same piece of art. If you have an idea just get in touch to discuss.


LOCATION

Make Memories is based in Strabane, Co. Tyrone

(Specific venues are stated in workshop details)

GET IN TOUCH

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