Within the development of my Graduate work, my primary intention is to support one’s mental health and to open up the conversation surrounding it. The aim is to help people deal with personal issues or trauma, spreading love and awareness with every stitch. This has been aided by my own personal struggles and by using drawings created by my younger sister, Sophie during a time of domestic violence within our home. 

 When my parents separated, my mother found new love. However, her new partner was not the man she knew in the beginning. My siblings and I knew we had to grow up fast in order to protect each other and work as a team to get out of it. My sister’s playschool drawings were innocently depicting what was happening behind closed doors. When we finally escaped from that nightmare home, we rebuilt our lives from nothing to the loving home we have today. While still in playschool, Sophie retook the drawing exercise, and it depicted a completely different home. One full of colour and positivity and this is the drawing I worked from as it truly represents to me over-coming one’s personal issues and trauma 

 I aim to encourage people to talk about their mental health by voicing their grievances in a way they see fit. The Love Should Not Hurt Collection is a symbol much like a badge stating the individual person is open to conversation surrounding their mental health.