Face UP! and Create

Why not get creative and make, paint or sew to raise awareness of facial palsy and/or to raise funds for Facial Palsy UK?

Handmade toys

In toy shops you will see teddy bears or children’s toys with symmetrical smiles but what about those children with unique smiles who want a toy just like them? Some of our talented fundraisers have created little characters using crochet with unique smiles and sold them for donations to Facial Palsy UK. It’s a great way to raise awareness and a fantastic friend for a child with facial palsy. Don’t forget that homemade toys should be CE certified to ensure they are safe for children to play with. There are lots of good websites explaining how to self-certify your toys.

Homemade jewelley

Do you love making homemade jewellery? Why not craft some handmade necklaces, earrings or bracelets to sell in aid of Facial Palsy UK? Or you could even host a class and show others how it’s done in return for a donation.

Paintings

Appropriation by Elizabeth Robinson of Botticelli's Venus with facial paralysis detailing the nerves in the face

Appropriation of Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’ portraying facial paralysis

Paintings are a great way to raise awareness of facial palsy and get people talking about the condition. People have been fascinated by the Mona Lisa painting for centuries and much has been said about her equivocal expression. Whether you just want to raise awareness or fundraise by selling prints of personal creations, we think it’s a great way to tell the world more about facial palsy.

Elizabeth Robinson from Sydney, Australia, who has been affected by Ramsay Hunt syndrome, appropriated this painting as she was coming to terms with the lasting impact of the virus. Elizabeth explains “It is based on Venus from Botticelli’s painting ‘The Birth of Venus’ who represents beauty. I was really sad when I painted it but there’s hope in it as the facial nerves are painted in gold. Based on the Japanese Kintsugi – where broken porcelain is repaired with gold. The repaired porcelain is seen as more beautiful as we all carry scars.”

Tell people about what you are doing

Don’t forget to tell people about what you are creating and do send more ideas in for this page. You can find us on social media @facialpalsyuk. Use the hashtag #FaceUP.

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