Jodie Flowers amazing upcycled flowers
You know when you accidentally stumble across someone’s artwork and you feel absolutely inspired and excited??
I felt like that when I met artist Jodie Flowers – Jodie lives in New Orleans, Louisiana – and upcycles old sheets and hoarded and collected plastic bags into some of the most unique and creative soft sculpture designs imaginable.
It’s amazing to see Jodie’s work in progress and so refreshing to see what she can do with materials destined for landfill – we do like a zero waste craft it has to be said. The flowers pictured here, which she lovingly makes by hand – are stuffed with up to eight plastic bags each.
Now – here in the UK we are about to have a General Election, and in a nutshell, without being TOO political in what started out as an article about upcycling, crafting, and artistic talent… We are lucky enough to have the NHS here in the UK – the National Health Service – and if you live here in the UK, and need a double hip replacement, as a very young Jodie Flowers does over in the USA – you may have to wait a little while, but eventually, you will be able to see a surgeon here in the UK, and have the support of amazing doctors, nurses and support staff – and all of that is a service which is provided free of charge, the patient is not means-tested – we pay indirectly for this service through our taxes – it’s a system that works (could be better with more financial support from the government, or increasing our taxes, but hang on, I’m coming to that…).
In the USA where Jodie lives, financial assistance for medical treatment is means-tested – and if patients are not accepted to receive Medicaid – the patient has to find a way to pay for her treatment herself, – and has no options for financial support – without going into too much detail, I can sense the panic in Jodie’s social media posts – and I hope she doesn’t mind me saying this, go buy her work! We need to support fellow artists who find themselves unexpectedly in financial difficulty!
And here in the UK – We surely all want to maintain our free, universal healthcare system? The NHS here in the UK, is indeed in crisis – Last week, 22,937 people waited more than four hours in A&E before seeing a doctor. Read more here, and think about how you will vote on the 8th June. Under our current Conservative government, hospital trusts are being asked to find “efficiency savings” of £22billion. That’s a scary figure… 
Enough of that – back to upcycled alligators – wouldn’t this be an adorable decoration for a kid’s bedroom wall? Some of Jodie’s larger creations like the alligators and dogs, are stuffed with up to 75 plastic carrier bags.
These works of are are all made from upcycled sheet and tablecloths found at Goodwill charity or thrift stores, sewn into fun designs, stuffed with plastic bags, gessoed, handpainted and embellished with crystals and ribbons.
Jodie also makes AMAZING ceramics too – so go check out her work, and if you like it – support Jodie here on Etsy at: www.jodieflowers.etsy.com, Follow her on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/jodiejoflowers and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/jodieflowersartist
Father’s Day – the ethical and eco way
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