My Family Portrait Series, begun in 2007, was a direct result from learning about Victorian hair wreaths. These intricate framed parlor pieces were made from family members’ hair wrapped tightly around thin wires, which were shaped into flowers and leaves and attached to a horseshoe armature. Similar to me, the Victorians were attempting to capture a moment in time, or create a memorial to a loved one. With a nod to this era, which is part of my own family tree, I felt I had to do my own take on them. My methods involved clunky bundles and balls, with compositions inspired by Victorian patterns. I enclosed them in antique frames in hopes to strengthen the historical context, combining the old with the new.