Rachel Larlee and Angela Pitts, Patience, mixed media and embroidery hoops, set of three, largest is 25in. wide., $1,500
This is a collaboration with fellow textile artist Angela Pitts, inspired by tree rings as a metaphor for our past lives. Over several months, we each worked on an embroidery hoop before exchanging them, never knowing what the other had added.

At times, fabric was cut and later repaired by the other. Layers of dye and paint built upon each stitch, reflecting the fluid nature of memory and transformation. As we immersed ourselves in this meditative, prayerful process, the lines and details took on a life of their own. Gold paint and shimmering sequins became symbols of hope—glimmers of light in even the darkest moments. In many ways the process of creating these hoops was ‘Letting in the Light’ on the memory of the past as we sat and stitched.

Artist Statement
My work weaves together nature, memory, and transformation, exploring the intersection of place, process, and emotion. It reflects the complexities of feeling and the ongoing journey toward wholeness and self-acceptance.

Through mixed media, I work in layers—fluid paint, meditative stitched details, and found materials—each element coming together to tell a quiet, tactile story. My process is deeply intuitive; I rarely know how a piece will unfold, allowing the materials to guide me.

At the heart of my practice is a desire to create space for contemplation—for the viewer to pause, reflect, and discover their own meaning within the work.