This is the first artistic wall hanging I made. I didn't even see the elephant in it at first. 

 

This is the first one; the one that helped me discover and restructure my methods and applications. It is so beautiful, but I could never sell it because the structural flaws are too great. I could fix them, but I think it is perfect how it is.

I also value how it represents the significance of my journey while highlighting the steps of my journey. I built this before I knew how to work with bias tape, the best batting options, and before I worked out the best way to hang them the most effectively. All of these factors, and more, make it a piece I could never sell, and it is displayed in a special space.

The evolution began by forcing myself to follow my creative instincts. I liked the finished project--and it's an elephant? Mind officially blown. That tied the bow on my elephant obsession, and knew it had to be part of the bigger picture. I love that elephants keep showing up.

A collection of memories.

 

My son gave me a necklace for my birthday, a beautifully colorful elephant, just days before a massive transition in my relationship with his father, my now ex-husband. I put it on immediately and thanked my son with a hug and a kiss, tears of gratitude streaming down my face (and I somehow didn't connect crying over a gift might mean I'm a sensitive person?). 

Little did I know that in a week's time, everything about my life would be different. 

I still love it today.

 

He often commented on how he liked seeing me wearing it, and I played with the necklace constantly, sliding it back and forth on the chain and running my fingernail over the enameled colors on the trunk. I couldn't quite understand it then, but it sparked something in me that would grow much larger. This was about the same time I began sketching quilt ideas in my journal. 

One day, a simple, seemingly meaningless scribble—and I knew there was just something about it. I grew a sudden desire to create a fabric version. I knew it was about to get interesting.

Sketching while writing is by far my most effective coping method.

 

I followed through; pieced it, assembled it, quilted it, finished it, and displayed it. Everything about how this wall hanging came together was wonderful and fulfilling. It took me a few days of rotating it and rehanging it to see the elephant's profile, but once I did, I couldn't unsee it.

Then suddenly, I connected the trauma to the elephant, the journey, the creativity, and the therapy all at the same time, and it became one of the most profound moments of my life. In the end, it became an expression of my life, my journey, and my experiences.

I am sharing my experience by offering services to help others thrive beyond abuse and trauma. 

I keep the elephant pendant safe, attached to the quilt that it inspired. 

 

In hindsight, it was easy to see that the impact of the elephant necklace, because it was the beginning of when everything started changing. Elephants are now a big part of my life, and I've received positive feedback about how special others find them. 

It's expands and evolves daily; stuffed elephants, embroidery, a new business name, ornaments, and more.

The stuffed elephants are among my favorite things I make. I designed the pattern to have a unique string tail and big, floppy ears. I love everything about the elephants! I make bears, too, but I think I prefer the elephants.

Plush and designed with intention, featuring large floppy ears and a coordinated string tail. 

 

The significant of 33 connects to my spirituality, and numerology can be used to identify our path and purpose in this lifetime. One of my numbers is 33, and combining that with my passion for elephants helped when I decided to approach my business plan from a different perspective.

I designed this logo to bring the two elements together.

 

Working through our trauma is one of the best gifts we can offer ourselves.

Trauma therapy lowers the volume of the impact of traumatic events in our lives, and often we are able to mute it completely. Artistic expression helps facilitate this process, and I always keep my drawing supplies nearby to feed my creative inspiration. Exploring a traumatic childhood and abusive adult relationships meant a complicated journey of uncovering and processing the pain. 

It's difficult to understand unless you've experienced an abusive situation yourself. If you have, you know the pain. 

Thanks for reading my story! :)