With the approach of my first wedding anniversary, the idea of relationships had also been floating around in my head. I kept coming back to the common analogy of passion equaling flames, and thus the two ideas began to meld into one project. While getting my thoughts on relationships, my marriage in particular, down for posterity in my journal, I ended up penning the poem that appears on the pages of the book.

The matches are woven together with 100% cotton fiber in red to represent the love that holds two people together. The matches are coated in matte medium to prevent soot marks, fading of the text and to protect the reader from slivers. The beads on the end were added to weight the book when hung and to hold it rolled up when in its canister. The colors were chosen to represent the passionate flame that results from striking that final match.

The book reads:
Their once intense flames had dwindled.
Smothered by routines, expectations,
And stresses of everyday life.

Their heat was endangered.
They needed to rekindle the flame.
Would the hot blaze reappear?

Perhaps so.
Perhaps not.

As long as the glow remains,
There is hope…
No matter how slight.

The desire to be consumed was there.
For both.

There was hope.

It was time to make an effort.

It was time to strike the match.

This piece is available for purchase from ArtByUs.