I still remember the way it felt to run my fingers over the raised threads of the embroidery on the pillows of my childhood bed. The bright orange and yellow flowers had been sewn by hand by my mother who would later teach me how to embroider and sew in the first grade. I loved those pillows.
The embroidery used in this series pays homage to my Mom and her passing down this craft to me. The content of the work is based on my continued fascination with, what I refer to as, “wedding culture.” Illustrations are created based on wedding iconography such as engagement rings, cake toppers, and flowers and transferred and embroidered onto vintage pillowcases. I chose vintage pillowcases as my canvas because of their intimate relationships to strangers. Portions of the patterns on the pillowcases are also embroidered and incorporated into the composition.
Amy attended Kent State University where she earned her BA in Art Education in 2004. She has shown in various venues throughout the triangle over the past eight years. She has illustrated many coloring books including The ABCs of NC. She is currently working on her first children’s book about a Boston Terrier with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI, Melissa received her B.A. in Art & Design in 2004 from Grand Valley State University. Melissa R. Campbell’s artistic focus is the relationship between emotions and concepts. Most of her inspiration comes from personal experiences. Melissa’s work reflects the journey of her life through the emotion she conveys in each piece. She works mostly in oil, acrylic, charcoal and mixed media because it adds an experimental element to her work. Melissa has presented in numerous exhibitions in the Grand Rapids region. In 2004, Melissa’s piece, “Landscape by Calder”, became part of the Grand Valley State University Art Collection in Grand Rapids, MI. 
Her piece, “Tickled,” was featured in the July 2007 edition of Art Business News. She was a featured artist in the August 2007 edition of the Grand Rapids Times. In 2008, “Reflection” and “What Does the Future Hold?” became part of the Grand Valley State University Art Collection in Allendale, MI. In addition, “Contemplations of a Queen” and “Tickled” became part of the Spectrum Health Hospital Art Collection in Grand Rapids, MI in 2008. Her piece “Sheer Bliss” was selected as part of the 2009 Celebration of the Arts Festival which represents one of the largest annual juried shows in the country. 
She was also a participating artist in the 1st Annual International Art Prize Competition in Grand Rapids, MI in 2010 which represents the largest Art Prize in the world. Melissa is involved in the Haiku Middle Passage Commemorative Exhibit, a traveling artistic collaboration, inclusive of a poet, visual artists and composers. She currently lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband Philip. She is a member the Visual Art Exchange and RAW: Natural Born Artists organization. Melissa was a participating artist in the “RAW: Ensemble” art showcase in Raleigh, NC in 2012 and an exhibit coordinator and participating artist in the “WHO IS MRS ART?” art showcase in Raleigh, NC in 2013. Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, personal travel and Basketball.