Thank You Hands, 2023

Mini Quilt - Calico, Bandana, Felt, Beads and Embroidery Thread, 28cm x 28cm

I spent the two months focussing on a commission but it was quite a stressful process in which I overworked my hands. I wanted to create something small, sweet and simple to celebrate my precious hands so I designed an individual quilt block (3 x 3 squares), using red bandanas and calico. I was inspired by my friend Kate and my mama to incorporate some glass beads into my art, this time to represent a sparkly glowing light surrounding my hands. It was nice for my brain to make something from start to finish with no stress, just a pretty straight forward process and testing what I have learnt about quilting and patchwork over the past year. My hands were always my favourite feature, and then in 2017 they started cramping and aching and giving me pain doing daily tasks so my love dwindled into resentment and fear. I wanted to take this moment to simply say “thank you” to my hands, something I think all people should take time to appreciate. When your body works how you want it to, it is truly a blessing and gratitude should be felt.