My work is a reflection of my surroundings. My childhood was filled with time spent playing outside and camping with my family, which cultivated a reverence for the natural world and its importance in our lives. As an adult, I find myself spending less time outdoors, an experience that is essential to my well-being. So, when I do go out, I collect mementos to carry a piece of that experience with me.
The materials I choose attract me with the evidence of the wear and tear of time. These objects and materials are given a new life and purpose in my work. The choice to use wood as my primary material is not accidental. It is a renewable material resource, a form of recycling. The natural materials are themselves pieces of nature, for wearers to carry with them as a small connection to the outdoors. In an ever-changing lifestyle that seems to include fewer moments enjoying nature and more being bombarded by technology, making this work is a respite.