This Life Story quilt isn't one of my most popular pieces, and there could be several reasons for that, but it is what it is. The "poisonous plant" theme represents both the literal plants and the figurative whisper in the ear. The same model was employed to illustrate how we don't always gossip to others but sometimes create stories for ourselves to cope with uncomfortable emotions.

Detail, Poisonous Plant. Foxgloves: The plants contain toxic cardiac glycosides which can cause severe poisoning with nausea, headaches, skin irritation diarrhoea, perceptual disturbances and heart and kidney problems when consumed.

Detail, Poisonous Plant. This is monkshood or devils helmet, causes dizziness and vomiting. Fatal in large doses and toxins can be transferred through cuts as well as ingestion.

What's it about?

Gossip is unconstrained and often derogatory conversation about other people. It could involve betraying confidences, spreading sensitive information, as well as hurtful judgements and made up stories.

People who don’t feel good about themselves, feel better when they judge others negatively because it eases jealous feelings and somehow makes them feel superior.  Gossip can hurt those whose popularity, talents, or lifestyle are envied. It also makes the gossiper feel part of a group, albeit based on exclusion or maliciousness, and retribution can be derived from the disparaging remarks caused by anger and unhappiness. Gossip can rouse people's interest and the gossiper can be the short term centre of attention whilst divulging their poison.

Gossiping shows the insecurities and mean-spiritedness of the gossiper and they are not popular because they cannot be trusted. Spreading private information and negative judgments is painful to others and makes the gossiper look bad. Everyone feels like they’ve eaten a bad apple.

It’s a kind of bullying and many people never outgrow it, with behaviours getting more polished and subtle as they get older. Making someone feel alone, rejected and treating them as an outcast can be as vicious as a physical assault.

Men are equally guilty of it of course, but perhaps the heart of female psychological violence is to destroy other women’s relationships, because it's these very relationships that are so important to women; but maybe no more than an establishment of a pecking order.

Some more detail shots of the applique and stitching. Some of the applique took ages - I’d seek out an easier option these days such as cricut.

I still have this one and need to take some better photos. The only image I have of the whole is one under construction, and its been worked extensively since then improving the life painting and adding to the plants.