I have been producing a variety of decorative home goods under the moniker of Why Girls Go Astray for over twenty years. In 2008 I decided to concentate on a single craft: the practice of 18th- and 19th-century decoupage.

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My interest in decoupage extends back to a childhood fascination with collage and assemblage art techniques. The Dada and Fluxus art movements made an indelible impression upon me, particularly the multiples produced by those artists.

 

I specialize in "decoupage under glass,”​—a variation of the ”Potichomania“ process (“potiche” meaning oriental vase and “manie” referring to mania). This technique began in mid-19th century England, and refers to the 1860s fad of decorating clear glass vases with cut-out prints. I take great pride in carefully replicating centuries-old traditional techniques and skills in our products.

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I strive to create products that strike a balance between usefulness and aesthetic beauty. Central to the Why Girls‘ mission is my long-time love for taking a decorative craft and updating it to appeal to a broader audience.

        

Side-note: The name of my company is derived from a specific primary source I came across while doing research. The article I was read posited the hypothesis that if “girls were allowed to access education, they would surely go astray." The irony that I was reading this while pursing my PhD was not lost on me, and I thought: “Oh, I'm going to take this sexist statement, flip the meaning, and use it for the name of my feminist business.” So I did.

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