Little Leather Hearts

I have used the heart shape in my work forever. I am absolutely not what you would call a ‘romantic’ but my heart has led me through life. Love does seem to be the highest calling. Pure unconditional love given and received. When I lost my sister and became a parent to her daughter I had my heart broken and opened at the same time. And when I found my self struggling with a depression that seemed incurable it felt like my heart was just as sick as my mind. My prayer out of the darkness included the wish to see beauty with my heart again.

Years ago I stitched many of these little leather heart pins. All colors of leather that I could find. The same little edging stitch around that same little shape. I call it the Life of Riley heart because I drew the template with my own hand. No other person’s heart rendition felt right or I just like to make things my own even if they have been around forever. We know, us artists who will never give up on the heart. When I found this leather heart of mine, my freshly healed heart thought of all the women that wore these hearts (some still do) and how love and friendship can be stitched together through time and circumstance. Struggling to rekindle my creative spirit I am returning with new eyes to the work that has shaped my expression as an artist, and with a new freedom to create what serves my heart.