Quiet Hearts Project Invites Cornwall Residents to Take Part in HushFest

Could Your Handmade Heart Be Part of This 1,000 Piece Display?

People across Cornwall are being invited to take part in a shared creative display by making a handmade textile heart for a new installation coming to HushFest this summer.

The project, Quiet Hearts: A Portrait of Our Inner Worlds, aims to bring together 1,000 individually made hearts. The installation will form part of HushFest, Cornwall’s first festival of quietness, which opens on Saturday 4th July 2026.

HushFest is supported by FEAST, a programme that brings communities together through shared creative experiences across Cornwall.

A Project Growing Across Cornwall

Quiet Hearts is led by Quiet Connections CIC and has been developing through weekly Meet Ups as well as contributions made at home.

Each heart is created in a person’s own time, using materials such as wool, felt, crochet or fabric. There is no set pattern, and no experience is required.

The idea has grown naturally from Quiet Connections Meet Ups, where people are encouraged to take part at their own pace, without pressure.

Hayley Stanton, founder of Quiet Connections, said:

“For those of us who are quieter, our fullest selves often remain below the surface because the world does not always provide the safety or space for them to emerge. Quiet Hearts is inspired by the moments at our Meet Ups where people feel comfortable enough to be themselves in a place where quieter ways of being are seen as deeply valuable. There’s more colour, more creativity, more expression than some people might expect. Each heart is made in someone’s own unique way. Together, they are a beautiful reflection of the depth and richness that we see within our community.”

How It All Started

The project began with an idea from Sue Rowe, a quieteer from Camborne, who started making heart-shaped pom poms during Meet Ups and invited others to join in.

Sue Rowe said:

“I am overwhelmed and amazed at how my seed of an idea has grown and evolved. Becoming part of Quiet Connections has opened something in me beyond crafting. The creativity that existed in me before seems to have been amplified and now has much deeper meaning. It has been truly joyous!”

So far, around 300 hearts have already been created by people attending Meet Ups in Camborne, Redruth, Liskeard, Falmouth, Helston, Wadebridge, Penzance and Truro. Many participants have used scraps of materials they already had at home.

How To Take Part

People can join in however feels comfortable, whether that is attending a small gathering or making a heart quietly at home.

A Quiet Heart-Makers Gathering hosted by Sue will take place at Create Contemporary Crafts Hub, Donald Thomas Centre, Chapel Street, Camborne, TR14 8EF, on Saturday 23rd May 2026 from 11am to 1pm.

The session is free to attend. Simple heart-making kits, yarn and guidance for those wanting to try crochet will be available. People are also welcome to bring their own materials.

For those taking part from home, completed hearts can be posted in. Submissions are open until Friday 5th June 2026.

Participants can choose their own materials, colours and style, with each heart becoming part of the wider installation.

Further details, including simple crochet patterns and how to join a gathering, are available on the Quiet Connections website: quietconnections.co.uk/quiet-hearts

About HushFest

HushFest is Cornwall’s festival of quietness, taking place across Cornwall throughout July 2026. It brings together exhibitions, workshops, performances and gatherings that focus on reflection, creativity and gentle connection. The festival opens on Saturday 4th July 2026 with a performance at St Cubert Church.

About Quiet Connections

Quiet Connections is a Community Interest Company based in Cornwall, founded in 2017. It runs weekly Meet Ups for people who identify as introverted, shy, highly sensitive, or experiencing social anxiety, creating calm spaces where people can connect at their own pace.

For more information, visit: quietconnections.co.uk/hushfest/