Junk Gypsy:
“From what she wears to how she lives, a Junk Gypsy is a cultural crossroads of styles and eras. She’s a little bit rock ‘n’ roll, a little bit country, a little bit Elizabethan poet. She’s farmgirl, cowgirl, and wandering gypsy. She’s velvet, fringe, and sparkles. Junk Gypsy rule number one: everything goes. If you love it, figure out how to work it in. Freedom, adventure, love.”

I was not aware there was a name for me until I read the above from an article in MaryJanesFarm magazine about The Junk Gypsies, Amie, Jolie & Janie Sikes. I could not have said it better so I quoted the article.

Art is in my heart and soul. I need to make art to feel fulfilled. I hope my artistic expressions communicate bliss and when worn the wearer is conveying their innermost self.

Everything has the ability to inspire me. I see something done one way and then I alter it to reflect my vision. I spend a fair amount of time “filling the well,” and getting inspiration from what I see and experience. I often visualize something different than the actual images I see. What I imagine/visualize is what I create.

After the stage of getting inspired, I gather what I want to use. Gathering is so much fun! My pieces are composed of vintage, salvaged, and sometimes new, fabric, threads, and found objects. I then lay out the elements and make notes on the order of the steps I need to take to make my creation. Most often, what I initially picture, changes during the process . . . and that’s additional fun!

I then create like a mad scientist in her laboratory! My daily life falls by the wayside while I transform these elements into their new life.

I collage by means of hand-stitching, machine stitching, stitching with wire, attaching with rivets, and using glue when necessary. I like to mix fabric, paper, metals and text all in one. This mix of the different media is what gives my pieces their texture. I crave texture! I love juxtaposing entities that aren’t generally found together. I adore every yummy layer upon every yummy layer!

For years, I have salvaged shabby and tattered castoffs. Today, I repurpose these elements into edgy, chic, and trendy items.

My work has been published in the book, Altered Board Book Basics & Beyond and the Stampington publications of Art Doll Quarterly and Digital Studio.