About Keep me in your pocket

Join artist Tina Francis for a gentle, shared experience of storytelling and making. Together, we’ll listen to one another’s stories while stitching names onto small handkerchiefs.

Your handkerchief is yours to keep, a personal piece to carry home, and perhaps continue adding to with your own stitched memories.

This event by Itzatna Arts forms part of the A Matter of Life and Death Festival by Brum YODO 2nd - 16th May 2026

Good to know:

No experience needed
Booking is recommended.
Location: Industrial Gallery.

About BrumYODO

BrumYODO (You Only Die Once) brings together a diverse network of creatives, care professionals, and local communities to encourage open conversations about death. They believe a “good death” is possible when people feel informed and empowered, and create safe, collaborative spaces and public events across Birmingham to help people better prepare for dying and loss.

Tina Francis

Tina Francis is a Birmingham‑based tapestry, needlepoint, and textile artist whose practice centres on stitch as a tool for connection, care, and storytelling. Working primarily with wool and canvas, her work explores themes of time, labour, belonging, and creative health, often drawing attention to the value of traditionally overlooked “home crafts” as powerful contemporary art forms.

Alongside her studio practice, Tina works extensively with communities and groups of all ages, creating large‑scale collaborative tapestry projects and leading participatory workshops. Her work frequently brings people together through shared making, using stitch as a gentle framework for conversation, reflection, and connection. She also runs Tina Francis Tapestry, producing stitch kits and patterns designed to encourage accessible creativity and mindful making.