A "Memoir in Stitches" Takes a Walk

an "Object & Memory" story

Go For It! Self Portrait, 2026 Photograph by Lyn Swett Miller

Hello Dear Readers!

Join me, for a walk…¹

…and bring an object that interests you…

Feet on Lava, 2026 Photograph by Lyn Swett Miller

and consider: In what ways might objects offer portals to elemental states of mind and being?²

For the past year, as part of Kinship Photography's “Elemental Year,” I’ve been exploring this and other questions.³

Dancing on Air, 2025 Photograph by Lyn Swett Miller

March - June, Air: How does the air within us and around us make us feel alive?

Morning Breeze, Seyon Photograph by Lyn Swett Miller

June - September, Fire: How can we feel fire’s ancient energy in the spirits of our possessions?

Spirit of a Bride, Swirling Photographs by Lyn Swett Miller

Water: How is water’s fluidity and spirit flowing from and through our material world?

Of The Elements Photograph by Lyn Swett Miller

Earth: How might our relationships to the objects in our lives invite us to explore what it means to be a living being on a moving planet?

Embroidered Wedding Dress in Snow Photographs by Lyn Swett Miller

Are the spirits of our objects inviting us in or asking us to move on?⁴

Fallen & Frozen; Winter Spirits, 2026 Photographs by Lyn Swett Miller

How can photography help us make sense of the energy embodied in our stuff?

Snowfly Photograph by Lyn Swett Miller

A consistent companion, she remains elusive.

Winter Layers Photograph by Lyn Swett Miller

Winter white layers, a blur.

Into the Woods Photographs by Lyn Swett Miller

Into the woods, a fairy tale.

Dress becomes portal.

Snow Fairies Photograph by Lyn Swett Miller

Go for it.

Take a walk with an object and see what happens.

Winter Blooms

With gratitude for you being you,

Lyn

Lilly: It’s Snowing Photograph by Lyn Swett Miller

Compost 260207 Photograph by Lyn Swett Miller

PS: If you’re in the Upper Connecticut River Valley (Vermont & New Hampshire), join me for this talk at AVA Gallery & Art Center on Thursday, February 26 at 6pm!

I’m finding that exploring my archive is like turning the compost - - it takes work and is a bit ‘smelly,’ but the aeration generates new life.

1. Walks are a thing in my family. Growing up, if all else failed, we’d take a walk to the ‘Big Oak,’ just across the street, into the woods, down a hill, to a large oak, near a swamp, with a rusted abandoned very old car. When we lived in Hanover, we’d go across a different street, up a hill, to the stately maple tree in the middle of a field.

Sometimes, though, there is no specific destination and the walk meanders…

2. I started hanging out with my wedding dress, creating this “memoir in stitches” as part of the #100dayproject 2025, when I began embroidering my female ancestor’s names around the hem (Embodied Fiber, February 2025)

3. As part of Kinship’s Elemental Year, I have participated in and facilitated a number of practice groups, all of which have explored the idea of Embodied Objects. In each group, we consider the kinds of questions in this post.

4. For the past 100 days, I’ve been participating in the #100DaysinPlace project facilitated by Jennifer Jewell & The Cultivating Place Foundation. My focus has been on embroidering more plants…leaves, birds, etc. It’s been slow…But the dress and I keep showing up for each other (Object Edit, October 2025)