Whenever my Nana put her decorations up, it was a big deal. The whole family would look forward to it and meeting up at her house became the event.
I’ve got vivid memories of me, my sister and my cousins in the 90s, in our faded denim, plaid shirts and scrunchies, turning up and settling in amongst the decorations, cuppa after cuppa on the couch.
The soul of our family, my Nana Coll, passed away in January 2025 and those treasured memories were brought back to life when my Mum gave me some of Nanas decorations as keepsakes for my own home.
Those little reminders of Christmases gone by got me thinking about Christmases in the future. How will our mini remember our home and decorations?
I love the idea of decorations becoming heirlooms, something you pack away year on year, only to bring out again with the same excitement. Something that holds memory and can be passed down through generations.
Inspired by my nostalgia trip, I started sketching.
I’m drawn to colour-filled homes, volume on volume, and quirky little details. The sketches quickly became a nod to my 90s scrunchie; full, gathered, and impossible to outgrow.
The Ruffle Circlet was born.
A circular textile piece made from forgotten fashion fabrics. Over 20 hours of layering silk-linen organza, carefully stitched into a soft, sculptural 3D form that makes me smile.
The chartreuse colour came from the stained glass windows in our rented, (overpriced), Sydney home. I love how the windows catch the light and bring everything around them to life.
The original plan was to pack the Circlet away after Christmas and bring it back out in 2026. But it never made it into a box.
It stayed, helping our everyday space to feel like an occasion and since then, I’ve been asked to create them for other homes too.
It turns out nostalgic textile sculptures are for life - not just for Christmas.