They are collectively known as ‘Troi a throi, a throi fel hyn.’ The starling in flight is ‘Drudwy Branwen’, ‘Branwen’s Starlings’ and the carousel is ‘Ceffylau Mair’, ‘Mary’s Horses’.

 

Materials used: Fabric, embroidery threads, pipe cleaners, long grain rice, toy stuffing, magnetic snap fastenings, webbing strap, sectional hula hoop, orthodontic stainless-steel wire, brass wire, sterling silver wire.

 

Each of the individually crafted birds and horses can be removed and worn as a brooch.

 

I wanted to create the feeling of joy in childhood spinning, to make yourself feel dizzy by rolling down a hill, or going really fast on the roundabout.

 

Branwen's starlings stayed as the original idea of still images of a bird in flight but the horses decided they wanted to be carousel horses rather than stills of a running horse.

 

My work is intuitive and each piece dictates what it will become by the material chosen, then which pattern is freehand embroidered. Some pieces are calm and ordered while others have less form, and some are completely haphazard.

 

Because I have comorbid mental health conditions, I am never quite sure where my work will go, but however chaotic my stitches and fabric choices, the act of slow making and stitching helps me to reach a state of flow and mindfulness that helps me distract myself from my near constant negative thoughts. I think this is why I like to make weird oversized playthings; they're a distraction and take the focus off me.