My Life Story is Unfolding- Stitched Wire Flower


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It struck me the other day that my life story is unfolding, revealing the answers to those big questions we all wonder about as children. “What will I be when I grow up? Who will I marry? Will I have kids? Where will I live? And the biggie- will I look like my Barbie doll?” I know the answers. I’ve found the love of my life, I have a 5 year old boy, we live in Minnesota, and I’m both artist and author.  I do not look anything like my Barbie doll but I’m pretty ok with that. I ended up looking like a 5’4” grown up version of my 8 year old self- go figure ;). So like a flower, my life story is unfolding. I can begin to see why I was created to be the person I am. Why I have the talents I have (and lack others). Why I need to create. Why I think and see the way that I do.

To create this piece I decided to take my journal writing from 2d to 3d. So it takes on the form of the flower actually unfolding. Besides writing my thoughts directly on the fabric I also stamped text, letter by letter, using both acrylic letter stamps and stamps that I hand carved. I layered all of these in a patchwork style and added some embroidery for effect. To give the writing form I sculpted a wire flower of 16-gauge steel wire. The fabric was hand stitched to the wire frame with embroidery floss petal by petal. The flower is unfolding, opening and revealing its story. Combining the 2D (fabric) and 3D (wire armature) is an idea that came to me several years ago and has been a HUGE source of inspiration for me ever since. It seemed appropriate to use this combination and this technique that mean so much to me to create this highly personal piece.

It measures: 7  1/2" h. x 7  1/4" w. x 4  1/2" d.

 

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10 thoughts on “My Life Story is Unfolding- Stitched Wire Flower

  1. So, I have large wile spools on my Christmas list…. with directions to go to the hardware store not craft store… I don’t think my family gets it but I am sure you all do!!! 

  2. So, I have large wile spools on my Christmas list…. with directions to go to the hardware store not craft store… I don’t think my family gets it but I am sure you all do!!! 

  3. Hi Shannon! I SO get it. There’s nothing like having 3-5 spools of wire sitting at home all ready to play! Tell’em it’s usually with rebar in the lumber section if they go to Home Depot. We found some at Lowe’s but it was wrapped around PVC pipe which made it kinky. I’d love to see what you do- if you wouldn’t mind. I’m on fb and have a blog too. Have a merry wired Christmas!

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