In October 2025, I shared on my sewing Instagram account @Frommystudio, that I had painted my handmade dressmaking mannequin in preparation for my first solo art exhibition. My artwork for the exhibition is about celebrating and taking ownership of my changing body. Soon after, @SewOver50 (one of my favourite IG accounts with over 56K followers) reposted it and started a conversation around the concept of our aging bodies. The 100+ responses were fabulous and heartfelt and I’ve included a few of them here to share with you. I was overwhelmed by the generousity of the comments and the shared reflections we had about our bodies.
Repost from @sewover50
Ageing isn't a flaw to fix - it's life in progress.
The problem isn't ageing - it's judgement, stereotyping & exclusion. We're here to normalise ageing by making it visible, valued, and celebrated.
Bodies change - and that's part of our life's story.
Thanks to Tanja @FromMyStudio for allowing us to share her artwork and reflections.
We'd love your thoughts comment below so please join in the conversation with a #SewOverAgeism #AgeingwithoutBarriers #WonderfullyMe
SD
Repost from @Frommystudio
I might have given one of my handmade sewing mannequins a makeover!
She's going to be part of my art exhibition at @lakehousearts next year as are some of these other paintings.
My exhibition will examine how I've embraced my changing and aging body.
Sewing has given me a wonderful perspective and appreciation of my body over the past 40 or so years.
Self-drafting your clothes gives you a particular appreciation of the subtle changes in your body. When I started sewing as a teen I was tall and lean. Now a 60 year old, I'm still tall but way more curvaceous. I'm so much more confident and comfortable in my skin now than I was then or at any other time in my life.
Never too old.
State of mind.
Age nothing but a number.
Aging is the greatest. You give less f##ks!
"The act of looking into a mirror is really about the courage it takes to look at yourself and really face yourself" Louise Bougeois
Some of the comments:
Charlottepb42
Such beautiful paintings, they really represent strength to me. Having the opportunity to see aging women as a source of power and wisdom can only benefit all society. Fantastic work.
Sewmuchtodesign
It’s so important for us to be able to celebrate our bodies as we age. They are trophies that mark our journey through life. The scars, wrinkles and soft bits are who we are – beautiful, courageous and strong. Love your artwork
Kathryns9296
Getting older shouldn’t mean disappearing from society’s eye! It seems that veering from an idealised image brings a form of “cancelling”!! Only people who ‘defy’ ageing are lauded… Acceptance, by ourselves and others, is the way to improve this. And fabulous accounts like @sewover50to celebrate our uniqueness.
inthewtch
What beautiful work. A celebration. | 100% agree that age is not something to fix. Bearing witness to our own aging alongside that of parents brings complexity and reflection. I try to strengthen the structure and patch it and darn it if required. Just like my mended garments I feel there is a soft nobility in my soft decay but I also get in touch with not wanting to 'go gently' but to roar away from youth and it's ephemeral concerns.
the_seams_i_sew
| love your art, Tanja, and am looking forward to visiting your exhibition next year! I, too, feel so much more comfortable and confident in my body than I did back in my teens/20s and I think that it's largely sewing my own clothes that I have to thank for that!
judithrosalind
I'm in love with this work by Tanja... and her words. Lucky not to have grown up in a time when there was such pressure from media to strive for the 'perfect' body .... and then to enjoy this fabulous community where we celebrate our own unique bodies.. adorned in our creativity .
.
nancy.birtwhistle
Ageing is a privilege
Blakandblanca
Can’t even list all of the reasons I love this earthlings art and ideals… she is so great!
harping_mad
Tanja's work is amazing and I totally agree. Wouldn't it be fab if our daughters reached our ages and didn't feel like they had to 'fix' themselves? Well done Tanja.
lori.sews.somuch
Yess! Love love the artwork!! I believe we get more interesting as we age! Each wrinkle, each frown, every tired face and body are built upon the realities of our quickly moving calendar of life.
cutoneonthefold
I really love this post! Such beautiful artwork. We are not elderly- we are the elders- full of wisdom and experience (and lower metabolism).
sueleighatkins
Fabulous words in this post. This really speaks to me. As I get older, I'm learning to see my body differently - not as something to fix, but something to thank. These sketches capture that feeling so perfectly. The scars, the wrinkles and the wobbly bits is who we are. We were never designed to be perfect, with pouting lips and breasts and perfectly groomed brows. This feels so honest and empowering. I'm finally learning to embrace my body as it is, not as it was - and seeing work like this makes that journey a little easier. What an artist!
anakiequilter
I absolutely love this ... we need to embrace our aging bodies ... every wrinkle tells a story
Peteydoggysmam
I found when I was 50 I felt as if I disappeared…now 7 years later I feel I made myself disappear… Its so hard to come back, but like a lot of women I’m trying to…Artwork is beautiful x
Laineemakes
Absolutely love this