We are all intimately familiar with craft whether we know it or not. Craft weaves a material connection between us. Clothing, housing, pots, pans… we all know the gifts of craft. Craft practice and techniques were developed by using the material available to us in our environment. The tradition of using natural materials in craft pays mind to an ages-long collaboration between people and nature. This relationship is just one in a long line that ties us to the world. Craft, its connection to nature, and how it connects us inspires me to make my work. I use illustration, surface design, and quilting to create complex, layered depictions of animals and landscapes to subvert the usual conception of nature. Wood is used to frame and install the work. Woodworking and framing ground my pieces by making them more similar to common domestic objects. References to folk art and craft traditions further bring the work closer to home. These playful ambiguous objects create the opportunity to contemplate nature from a new perspective. I want to expand empathy and broaden the context in which we view our lives. We may be individuals but we play a part in a much grander scheme that ties us to everyone and everything around us. If we learn about nature, what can it teach us about each other?