Isolation has forced me to create new memories out of things from my past. A teapot from my neighborhood thrift store, shapes that I've cut from paper for previous work, a fan that my best friends and I hung in our dorm back in college, and a pom pom from one of my favorite earrings. Each object and background in my collage kit have come from a personal moment in my life. This new lifestyle of isolation has given me the chance to pause and reminisce on those times.

 

My friends often joke that I'm too nostalgic for my own good but I like to think that my nostalgia has been a guide for me during this time alone. These objects remind me that there are still future memories to be made and even though that concept often seems far away, it's going to happen. And when it does, you can find me collecting along the way.

 

We recommend printing these pages out so you can use good old-fashioned scissors and glue to do some arts and crafts. When you're done, send a photo or a scan of your artwork to hello@nearnessproject.com. Happy collaging!