Undertaking an adoption roots journey reminded me powerfully of where I belong and who I belong with. I embroidered the Rogers and Roper ‘coat of arms’ to celebrate the relationship of Jon and myself. I copied and adapted traditional English coats of arms. The ‘motto’ is in Latin and is amoris et sanguis; love and blood. On the shield are some of things that we love and that bind us; alcohol, music, fish and books. The three fish also symbolise the three delightful girls Jon brought to the relationship, hence the blood. The magpie is an extrovert, he sings loudly and makes his presence known. He’s also the symbol of Jon’s beloved football club. The kiwi, on the other hand, is a brown flightless bird, rare and shy—but magnificent because of her strangeness.
