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Stories of Childhood Wonder
June
30

Written by: journeyoncanvas

06/30/2025 2:29 PM

I explore stories of childhood wonder at Journey on Canvas. I see each piece of art as part of a larger path—one that winds through memory, imagination, and meaning. This sculpture is no exception. It began with a simple childhood feeling: the belief in fairies and angels. Like many kids, I once saw the world as magical. As an adult, I’ve come to realize that part of my creative journey is trying to reconnect with that sense of wonder—and invite others to do the same. To weave in stories of childhood wonder, this piece features delicate fairy-like figures circling a glowing orb. They’re suspended mid-dance, frozen in a moment that never ends. Set on a handmade, rotating lazy Susan, the sculpture is interactive—meant to be touched, spun, and explored from all angles. Each turn reveals a different view, inviting the viewer to experience the work as a living, shifting story. What makes this piece deeply personal is the material. The fairies and the orb were formed from vintage crochet doilies and linens that once belonged to my mother—items that decorated my childhood home. I stiffened them using textile medium, preserving their delicate patterns while shaping them into something new. With lighting added inside and around the form, the fibers glow warmly, linking memory and imagination in a quiet, powerful way, encouraging the viewer to remember stories of childhood wonder. Recently, this piece was featured in the Stories in Stitches exhibition at the Northville Art House, a show highlighting how fiber art can carry stories across time and space. That’s exactly what I hoped this piece would do—transform familiar, even forgotten, materials into something alive with both memory and light. It’s not just about fairies. It’s about the way we carry our stories, the way we return to them, and the way art can help us spin them forward into something new: all inspirations to recall and revisit our own stories of childhood wonder. Click here to read a book about the creative journey. Click here to learn more about the artist’s journey. https://youtu.be/AEOA9A-fASg
Sculpture of delicate fairies made from vintage crochet doilies circling a glowing orb, mounted on a rotating wooden lazy Susan; lit from within to evoke stories of childhood wonder and memory.
Fairies dance around a glowing orb, bringing stories of childhood wonder to life through light, movement, and memory.

Stories of Childhood Wonder

I explore stories of childhood wonder at Journey on Canvas. I see each piece of art as part of a larger path—one that winds through memory, imagination, and meaning. This sculpture is no exception. It began with a simple childhood feeling: the belief in fairies and angels. Like many kids, I once saw the world as magical. As an adult, I’ve come to realize that part of my creative journey is trying to reconnect with that sense of wonder—and invite others to do the same.

To weave in stories of childhood wonder, this piece features delicate fairy-like figures circling a glowing orb. They’re suspended mid-dance, frozen in a moment that never ends. Set on a handmade, rotating lazy Susan, the sculpture is interactive—meant to be touched, spun, and explored from all angles. Each turn reveals a different view, inviting the viewer to experience the work as a living, shifting story.

What makes this piece deeply personal is the material. The fairies and the orb were formed from vintage crochet doilies and linens that once belonged to my mother—items that decorated my childhood home. I stiffened them using textile medium, preserving their delicate patterns while shaping them into something new. With lighting added inside and around the form, the fibers glow warmly, linking memory and imagination in a quiet, powerful way, encouraging the viewer to remember stories of childhood wonder.

Recently, this piece was featured in the Stories in Stitches exhibition at the Northville Art House, a show highlighting how fiber art can carry stories across time and space. That’s exactly what I hoped this piece would do—transform familiar, even forgotten, materials into something alive with both memory and light.

It’s not just about fairies. It’s about the way we carry our stories, the way we return to them, and the way art can help us spin them forward into something new: all inspirations to recall and revisit our own stories of childhood wonder.

Click here to read a book about the creative journey.

Click here to learn more about the artist’s journey.

https://youtu.be/AEOA9A-fASg

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