The Continuation of Love
Values That Live in Every Stitch
Written by Kerri
What my family gave me wasn't just technique—it was a way of seeing the world. Their approach to creating taught me:
Empathy: Seeing the world as bigger than yourself and believing that your struggles are not unique—that you don't have a monopoly on challenge—is critical to my creative practice. This perspective, learned through watching my family navigate their own difficulties with grace, infuses every piece I create. When I work with donated textiles, I honor not just the fabric's history, but the stories of struggle and resilience woven into every thread.
Reflection: Consistent reflection on why we do what we do and how it supports us, or doesn't, is also critical to my ability to make. This practice, modeled by my family's thoughtful approach to life, has allowed me to find new ways of approaching creativity. Before every project, I pause and ask: What am I trying to say? What needs healing? What story wants to be told?
Perseverance: I am nothing if not perseverant. I have made so many mistakes while creating—too many to count. But that hasn't stopped me. Creation is not perfection, and perfection is unabashedly unattainable. Just get your hands and mind dirty trying to create. This resilience, this willingness to begin again, was perhaps the greatest gift my family gave me.
These weren't lessons delivered with fanfare, but rather values woven into daily life, demonstrated through consistent action rather than grand speeches.
Living Legacy in My Work Today
Today, when I transform upcycled textiles into something new, I feel my family's influence in every decision. The way I touch, feel, and examine the textiles before making mirrors their thoughtful reflection. When I choose to challenge myself with a new technique, I'm honoring their belief that growth and learning come through challenge, failure, and trying again.
I look forward to my time in the studio and discovering new techniques—it makes me feel even closer to my family that I have lost. In these quiet moments of creation, I am not alone. Dad's patience guides my hands, Laurie's creativity sparks my imagination, Zach's humor lightens difficult moments, and Kevin's determination pushes me through challenges.
The Continuation of Love
Grief researchers, such as Dennis Klass, have revolutionized our understanding of loss, shifting the focus from "letting go" to maintaining "continuing bonds" with those we've lost (Klass et al., 1996). My work at Laurie Jean's Studio isn't about replacing what was lost—it's about continuing the conversation Dad, Laurie, Zach, and Kevin started, answering their love with action, their teaching with practice.
Every piece I create carries forward something they gave me. In the circular economy of love and learning, nothing is ever truly lost—it's all transformed, repurposed, given new life with purpose stitched into every seam.
What making traditions were passed down in your family? I'd love to hear about the hands that taught you—share your story in the comments below.
Resources:
Klass, D., Silverman, P. R., & Nickman, S. L. (Eds.). (1996). Continuing bonds: New understandings of grief. Taylor & Francis.
