Textile artist Julianne Lafferty creates her Wall Spirits through a process of tender hand stitching, each figure crafted with patience, care and a deep respect for the materials she works with. Made from Victorian bodice lace, mattress tacking, silk, wire, merino, tulle and found twigs, these forms carry quiet histories within them, their layers holding traces of many lives and hands.
Lafferty’s connection to fibre and thread runs back to childhood. Taught to stitch and craft by her nana at the age of four, she grew up with the belief that thread holds memory, story and lineage. This sensibility continues to guide her practice. The recurring red cross that appears throughout her work reflects her interest in the symbolism of red thread across many cultures, where it is often associated with protection, connection and fate. Recently, she discovered a bundle of old Lafferty name labels in her nana’s sewing box, the same labels she once learned to sew onto her school uniform, ordered during trips to CC Wards, where they would shop for haberdashery supplies together. These small memories sit quietly behind the work, informing the tenderness with which each figure is made.
Faceless by intention, the Wall Spirits invite their owners to decide who or what these beings might represent. This openness allows the work to shift gently between meanings, offering space for personal stories and private symbolism. Though without features, each Spirit holds its own quiet personality, emerging through posture, material choice and the subtle quirks of hand stitching.
Both fragile and strong, ethereal and grounded, the Wall Spirits serve as silent keepers for the spaces they inhabit. They stand as gentle guardians, carrying with them the threads of memory, care and the enduring craft traditions passed down through generations.
Textile artist Julianne Lafferty creates her Wall Spirits through a process of tender hand stitching, each figure crafted with patience, care and a deep respect for the materials she works with. Made from Victorian bodice lace, mattress tacking, silk, wire, merino, tulle and found twigs, these forms carry quiet histories within them, their layers holding traces of many lives and hands.
Lafferty’s connection to fibre and thread runs back to childhood. Taught to stitch and craft by her nana at the age of four, she grew up with the belief that thread holds memory, story and lineage. This sensibility continues to guide her practice. The recurring red cross that appears throughout her work reflects her interest in the symbolism of red thread across many cultures, where it is often associated with protection, connection and fate. Recently, she discovered a bundle of old Lafferty name labels in her nana’s sewing box, the same labels she once learned to sew onto her school uniform, ordered during trips to CC Wards, where they would shop for haberdashery supplies together. These small memories sit quietly behind the work, informing the tenderness with which each figure is made.
Faceless by intention, the Wall Spirits invite their owners to decide who or what these beings might represent. This openness allows the work to shift gently between meanings, offering space for personal stories and private symbolism. Though without features, each Spirit holds its own quiet personality, emerging through posture, material choice and the subtle quirks of hand stitching.
Both fragile and strong, ethereal and grounded, the Wall Spirits serve as silent keepers for the spaces they inhabit. They stand as gentle guardians, carrying with them the threads of memory, care and the enduring craft traditions passed down through generations.
Textile artist Julianne Lafferty creates her Wall Spirits through a process of tender hand stitching, each figure crafted with patience, care and a deep respect for the materials she works with. Made from Victorian bodice lace, mattress tacking, silk, wire, merino, tulle and found twigs, these forms carry quiet histories within them, their layers holding traces of many lives and hands.
Lafferty’s connection to fibre and thread runs back to childhood. Taught to stitch and craft by her nana at the age of four, she grew up with the belief that thread holds memory, story and lineage. This sensibility continues to guide her practice. The recurring red cross that appears throughout her work reflects her interest in the symbolism of red thread across many cultures, where it is often associated with protection, connection and fate. Recently, she discovered a bundle of old Lafferty name labels in her nana’s sewing box, the same labels she once learned to sew onto her school uniform, ordered during trips to CC Wards, where they would shop for haberdashery supplies together. These small memories sit quietly behind the work, informing the tenderness with which each figure is made.
Faceless by intention, the Wall Spirits invite their owners to decide who or what these beings might represent. This openness allows the work to shift gently between meanings, offering space for personal stories and private symbolism. Though without features, each Spirit holds its own quiet personality, emerging through posture, material choice and the subtle quirks of hand stitching.
Both fragile and strong, ethereal and grounded, the Wall Spirits serve as silent keepers for the spaces they inhabit. They stand as gentle guardians, carrying with them the threads of memory, care and the enduring craft traditions passed down through generations.
Wall Spirit
$290.00
Wall Spirit
$290.00
Wall Spirit
$290.00
Wall Spirit
$290.00
Wall Spirit
$290.00
Wall Spirit
$290.00
Wall Spirit
$290.00
Wall Spirit
$290.00
Wall Spirit
$290.00