Unpacking Emotional Baggage

My Emotional Baggage Cart series is deeply personal—a reflection of the weight we all carry, shaped by identity, trauma, and resilience. These sculptures are built from materials like zip ties, paracord, and vintage fabrics, each carefully chosen to represent the layers of emotions we accumulate over time. They are more than just art; they’re vessels for holding the personal and collective experiences that shape us.

Each cart I create tells a story, woven with the threads of microaggressions, stereotypes, and societal expectations, but also resilience, survival, and healing. Using techniques like knotting, weaving, and wrapping, I work intuitively, letting the materials guide me. The tactile nature of this process mirrors the emotions I’m unpacking—it’s messy, complex, and deeply human.

Collaboration is a vital part of my process. I often invite others to share their stories and energy, weaving these collective experiences into the work. This communal element transforms each cart into something bigger than myself, sparking conversations about empathy, bias, and the invisible burdens we all carry.

When I transform a simple shopping cart into a layered, dynamic sculpture, I’m asking: How do we carry our emotional baggage? What are we ready to unpack? And how can art help us heal?

For me, creating these works is as much about the journey as the finished piece. My hope is that these carts inspire others to confront their own stories, find strength in their scars, and see beauty in the process of healing. After all, the things we carry—no matter how heavy—can become something transformative when we choose to face them with creativity and courage.

Emotional Baggage Cart Parade for Kids

Day 1: At The Miami Children’s Museum

What happens with a couple hundred pick out colored ribbons and pipe cleaners based on their “feelings” and tie them to little person shopping carts?

Day 2

Expressing our emotions took on new complexity when finding a clear spot to affix a ribbons onto the cart.

Tangled In Time


Tangled In Time
Theda Sandiford
64x24x8”
Commerical fishing net recovered from Ha’Penny Beach St Croix USVI, crochet Locs saved from previous hairstyles worn by the artist between 2019-2021
2024

This artwork reveals the unseen threads linking past, present, and future, woven with memory, magic, and spiritual protection. Crafted from a blue commercial fishing net washed ashore after a hurricane and crocheted with gray locs, this sacred net bridges the realms of the living and the dead.

Carrying ancestral memories, the net honors those lost in the Atlantic slave trade, paying tribute to the water graves of those who perished. Each knot and thread serves as a conduit, extending beyond the physical realm to embody renewal and release. This piece reminds us that the souls of the departed endure, shaping our collective consciousness.

January: Setting Intentions for a Creative Year

As the new year begins, I’m embracing the opportunity to focus on my creative practice and nurture meaningful projects here in the rainforest. This year feels like a chance to grow, not just as an artist but also as someone committed to honoring cultural heritage and community through my work.

I’ve started by grounding myself in clear intentions, aligning my daily routine with my long-term vision for Sky Garden STX. Each morning, I take time to reflect, write, and plan, ensuring that my efforts stay purposeful. Whether I’m in the studio, collaborating with others, or tending to the Provision Ground ruins, every action connects back to what I hope to achieve.

What helps me most is breaking down big ideas into small, actionable steps. For example, I’ve mapped out time to explore new techniques and complete works, while also dedicating space for developing my property to host artist residents and community workshops. By focusing on what I can do each day, I feel less overwhelmed and more connected to my goals.

This month, I’ve been reminded of the importance of patience and adaptability. Progress doesn’t always look the way we imagine, but it’s the consistency in showing up for our craft that makes the difference. For me, even small victories—a finished piece, a moment of inspiration, a new flower bud, or a thoughtful conversation—are worth celebrating.

As I move forward, I’m committed to taking intentional steps and letting the process unfold naturally, in it’s own time. I hope this inspires you to reflect on what’s meaningful to you this year and to take those first steps toward your own vision.

Emotional Baggage Cart: Unburden, Weave, Connect, Heal


Join me this weekend at the Miami Children’s Museum for in a dynamic, hands-on public art experience centered around my Emotional Baggage Cart series. Through an open dialogue, I will share the inspiration behind the project and explore the emotional weight we all carry.
Community members of all ages, are invited to weave directly onto a kid size shopping carts using a variety of provided materials—or bring personal objects to incorporate, making the piece uniquely meaningful. This collaborative process encourages reflection, healing, and connection, allowing participants to contribute to a collective artwork that symbolizes the shared journey of managing emotional burdens.
Together, we will transform individual stories into a powerful public sculpture, fostering community, empathy, and artistic expression.

Where: The Children’s Museum of Miami

Address: 980 MacArthur Cswy, Miami, FL 33132

When: 10:00am-6:00pm

Beaded Yellow Gal


Beaded Yellow Gal
Theda Sandiford
80x16x5”
Upcycled textiles knotted on braided rope, knotted with cotton string eyelash yarn, fringe and a string of antique bells.
2023

Beaded Yellow Gal transforms a childhood label into a vibrant narrative of self-definition. This work is made from upcycled linens, knotted into braided rope, intertwined with cotton string, eyelash yarn, cascading fringe, and adorned with a string of antique bells. Each element serves as both a reflection of personal history and a declaration of reclamation.

As a child, being called “yellow gal” was an imposed identity. This work channels those experiences into a masquerade costume of vivid color, movement, and sound. The antique bells echo the complex duality of celebration and weight, signaling liberation while reminding us of the chains of societal labels. The knots and textures speak to the intricate weave of identity, shaped by memory, context, and culture.

In transforming this identity into a carnival costume, I claim agency over a narrative once imposed on me. This piece becomes a symbol of transformation—a vibrant expression of joy and defiance that can be worn but, crucially, also taken off. It reminds us that the labels others place on us do not define who we are but can become threads in the larger tapestry of our self-created story.

Thank You: To My Unstoppable Network of Creative ChampionsThank You Enablers

Art is never a solo journey. It’s a collaboration—a tapestry of moments, materials, and connections woven together by the generosity and resourcefulness of so many. Today, I want to pause and extend my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who has played a part in keeping my art alive and thriving.

To the tireless hands and watchful eyes that have rescued abandoned shopping carts from dumpsters, gathered marine debris from beaches, and collected bottle caps, pull tabs, bread tabs, and corks—I see you. Your efforts do more than clean the planet; they infuse my art with purpose, grounded in your very essence.

To those who’ve rummaged through estate sales, dug deep into dumpsters, and thoughtfully passed along linens and other treasures—you don’t just fill my art supply bins; you ignite my imagination. Every item you’ve rescued carries a story, a potential waiting to be transformed into something extraordinary.

You are more than contributors; you are co-creators. Each time I knot, weave, or wrap these materials into new forms, I feel your dedication and your belief in the beauty of reinvention. Your efforts remind me that art isn’t just about the final piece—it’s about the community that makes it all possible.

Together, we are giving new life to what was once discarded. We are proving that beauty can emerge from the overlooked and forgotten. Thank you for being the stewards of this vision, for believing in the power of transformation, and for supporting me in ways that are both tangible and deeply meaningful.

Here’s to cleaning the planet, filling my bins, and keeping the creative spark alive. I couldn’t do this without you.

With love and immense gratitude, Theda