Terpsichore the Muse of Dance - OOAK Beaded Full Figure Folk Art Doll

The Muse of Dance 

The Change of Seasons, the eruption of Spring, inspired me to create a series of Wisdom Keepers that reflect the Nine Muses. Terpsichore, the Muse of Dance, was the first that came to mind. She is often depicted seated with a lyre, accompanying the ballerinas with music. But, I don't think a Muse should be sitting on the sidelines.

Here I wanted her inspirational nature to be Dancing at the forefront. Her focused intent and quiet mind fully connected with the ecstasy of the Dance, where the soul is able to shut out all the background noise, this feeling of BEING the Dance is what I want portrayed. 

 

Creating the Muse of Dance

It was important to me when creating, that these nine muses be reflective of vibrant and empowered feminine beings, that they love themselves...their bodies...their talents...

Here, Terpsichore was sewn in a free form full figure body, using a rich burnt orange and magenta batik fabric Her sacred womb was embellished with a beaded spiral of Rhodochrosite gemstone beads. She holds a gorgeous smokey glass faceted bead that is symbolic for Her Sun and Her Moon.

***SOLD***

You can learn more about her here on my website
The Muse of Dance OOAK Folk Art Doll

OOAK Folk Art Doll in honor of Iris Apfel the Fashion Icon

I wanted to take a moment to share one of my recent OOAK Folk Art Dolls  that had sold almost immediately, and I hadn't had time to blog about her. But she definitely deserves some space on the blog, especially as she is one of my favorites. 

She was created to honor Iris Apfel, the beloved fashion icon.

The Creative Process of making Iris Apfel 

 I had such a great time creating her, choosing a multitude of fabrics that would be unique and reflective of Iris and her style. I'm thinking about creating another of her because that creative process was SO entirely fulfilling. 

Choosing gemstones and beads to create her bold statement jewelry pieces was one of the most detail oriented parts, by trying to imagine what Iris would choose. 

***SOLD***

OOAK Folk Art Doll Inspired by the Tehuantepec Marketplace

My love for Frida Kahlo recently led me to learn about a magical place in Mexico that was truly an inspiration. One afternoon I had been reading and found that Frida had adopted her colorful traditional dress and style from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. I started to look up information about the region and discovered that this place was not like any other within Mexico. 

Tehuantepec is known for its Marketplace, most especially because it is run and operated by the Women. The Women dominate the local markets and the regional economy. It is said that Juchi Ta'n de Zaragoza is the most impressive - rows and rows of stalls filled with jewelry, folk art, clothing, and local foods. While most of the men work in agriculture, the women are highly experienced vendors at Market. The women are afforded economic independence, which is out of the norm for the rest of the country. Here you find the indigenous Zapotec culture, which is said to be more advanced, in many ways, than Western culture. 

After reading as much as I could find about Tehuantepec, I was inspired to create one of my Wisdom Keepers in honor of the women who run the marketplace. 

 

***SOLD***

You can see more "At the Marketplace" on my website here OOAK Folk Art Doll At the Marketplace

Butterfly Blessings - OOAK Butterfly Folk Art Doll for Worrying and Releasing

"Butterfly Blessings" was designed not only to be an Art Doll, but also as a Comfort Doll for women. More specifically, a Comfort Doll for women who tend to worry. I created her so that she could be displayed virtually anywhere in the home, or on a wall, and be a reminder with her message that is painted Word Art on her muslin. She is also a perfect size, and softness, that she can be held during difficult moments or in moments of meditation. I know for myself the importance of continually reminding our spirit about releasing and relieving stress, because I am an Expert Worrier. 

Butterfly Blessings Message:

 "Don't hold on to those worries, dear one. Worries can multiply if you don't pay attention. Your Sacred Self was meant for holding LOVE, not worries. When you feel a worry fluttering around in your belly, visualize it as a Butterfly. Close your eyes and Ask for a Solution. Give that worry to the Butterfly, and allow it to Fly Away. These are your Butterfly Blessings." 

The Creation of Butterfly Blessings

"Butterfly Blessings" is an OOAK (original one of a kind) Art Doll that was entirely made from original painted muslin. Her face is an original painting on heavy muslin. Her body and butterfly headdress is free form sewn muslin and painted. A fabric medium was added to the Acrylics to protect the painting. Additional linen and fabric trims, along with a few glass beads and an applique were added for her embellishment. She is soft, beautiful, wise, and calming. 

***SOLD***

You can see more of her on my website here 

Butterfly Blessings OOAK Butterfly Folk Art Doll

Understanding the Wild Woman an Empowering Folk Art Doll

Understanding the Wild Woman

She doesn't have time to waste worrying about what others think about her. She doesn't read the Reviews. This life is her "One Woman Show". 

She is the Director, the Producer, and she Designs the stage. Each day is her performance art. 

There is no Playbill, it is all Improv. It is her truth, her hopes, and her dreams. 

 She decided to stop thinking small and to stop living small. The cookie cutter life is not for her. 

Her spirit is too large to live inside the box of "should", and once she had stepped out of it she found she was in the land of "could". 

She has learned to be more discerning about who gets to join her on her stage. There are those who will try to steal your lines, those who will try to upstage, and even those who will try to take control and make it their own. So some won't get a call back, and others may just be given a small tight role. After all, this IS her production. 

She doesn't much care about how many people show up. What she does care about is that each day she goes out there and gives it her all, follows her heart, speaks her truth, listens with sincerity, inhales love, and exhales joy. 

This is the Life and the Passion of the Wild Woman. 

This Wild Woman Art Doll is an Original Sculpt of Cloth and Clay, along with Purple Batiks and Beaded Felt. She was designed as a Wall Hanger and is ready to be displayed in any room. 

You can see more of her on my Website OR on Etsy here

The Agate Sunset and her Heart Wide Open - OOAK Art Doll Wall Hanging with Symbolic Story

She walks with her Heart Wide Open. It is the only way that her spirit is able to Live....authentically. She finds joy watching and engaging with the precious life all around her, be it plant, animal, or human. There are lessons to be learned from them all, aren't there?. Though honestly, as of late, it has brought sadness to her.
Watching how people have been treating one another, the judging, the tearing down, the turning of backs on one another, and the total disregard out of greed or fear.....all seems to be at such heightened levels. The grief exists whether she is on the receiving end or witnessing it happening to another. At times it feels like her heart couldn't hold one more ounce of sadness.

There have been many who have offered up unsolicited advice for her sadness....turn off the news...don't be an advocate...don't participate in social justice events...don't engage in politics...delete people from social media...delete people from your life...turn your back...turn the other cheek...let someone else help...keep your thoughts to yourself....bury your head in the sand....just worry about your own life...don't talk about the negative...grow a thicker skin...you're just looking at things wrong...Close Your Heart. ...
Sometimes all those things make her snort a half giggle. She thought how funny it is that as children we are raised to be thoughtful, kind, and giving human beings....yet when we are older we are told NOT to be.

She is not going to change who she is. She will continue to walk with her Heart Wide Open...to feel...to love...to cry...to laugh...to help...to give....to be fully Present for herself and others.  She will continue to let her heart lead the way.
And in those moments when things feel a little rocky, when the sadness comes, and when the world seems disappointing, she will protect herself Spiritually.
She will close her eyes and imagine herself standing within the Agate Sunset....where the wide open sky looks like a painter's brush has spread magnificent streaks of magenta and fiery orange, dusty rose and splatters of periwinkle blues. She will hold close those wondrous Agate gemstones, gifts from Mother Earth, as they cleanse away the stress and stimulate her life force, those tool bits of spiritual protection. She will come to this space every night and she will come here as often as need be...to remember who she is...to remember that we are all Perfectly Imperfect...and to continue having the Strength to Walk with her Heart Wide Open. 

{As an aside, how perfect that at the end of writing this little bit about the Agate Sunset, I made myself a cup of Honey Lavender Yogi Tea....and the sweet message on the tea tag said "Your great happiness is based on the warmth of your heart" } 
( I shall never change :)

This darling, Heart Wide Open, is an Original Sculpted Folk Art Doll Wall Hanging, Appalachian Art by Jeanne Fry. A printed copy of her story here accompanies her. You can find her on my website here OOAK Folk Art Doll Cloth and Clay with Agate Gemstones

Dragonfly Folk Art Doll - Lady Dragonfly and the Winds of Change

She finally understood, after all this time, the best way to maneuver within the Winds of Change. In fact, she learned the difference between moving against them and moving within them. In the past when those winds would blow in, confronting her in the face and pushing her backwards, she would defiantly push back. She struggled with the winds, each time upset that they were shoving her away from her chosen path. Each time she would seemingly be further and further away from the destination.

One day when her defenses were down,and frankly she was just too tired for the fight, she allowed the winds to embrace her. She didn't struggle against them. She floated within the breeze, still in control of herself but now guided. 

She let go of her fears and trusted in the change of course, later finding that the destination was truly in a much better place than she could have imagined.
She learned that we do have a sense of control - in manifesting - where and what we want to be, but we don't always have control on how we get there. She now understands that believing in her self, and that she is a part of something bigger, can help pave the way so that the course is not as difficult as she might have surmised.

This is the inspiration behind "Lady Dragonfly and the Winds of Change", a contemporary folk art doll by Jeanne Fry which can be found here

Lady Dragonfly Art Doll

The Pumpkin Queen - Royalty from the Pumpkin Patch

Be careful while out walking through the pumpkin patches, my friends, for Fall is here and the Pumpkin Queen is hurrying about in a very busy state. She must make sure that everything goes as planned, so so busy with all these holidays. It's not just Halloween that keeps her on the go, but Fall itself, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas. She is in charge of an entire Season and that's a lot of pressure on anyone. 

Thank goodness that the gnomes and faeries are here to help her, but still....she works from sun up and late into the night. Every leaf has to be just the right fabulous color and every pumpkin has to be plump and ripe. 

She is a kind queen, but at the same time - there will be no slacking off ! The humans rely on her to bring them this highly loved time of year. They have expectations and she will not let them down. 

When she walks down the rows of the pumpkin patches, inspecting each one, the squirrels and the birds all stand to attention for her. Two cardinals hold onto the train of her dress, filled with fall leaves that have latched on along the way. 

She won't have a rest until before Christmas, when olde Kris Kringle will take over duty. 

So be very mindful when out on those chilly afternoon walks, you just never know where she might be. You will know when she is nearby if you see Mother and Father Cardinal. If you see the cardinal couple, it usually means that the Pumpkin Queen is hiding out of sight, nearby. 

The Pumpkin Queen Folk Art Doll is listed in my Etsy Shop. She was created for adult collectors and not for children. She is designed as a Wall Hanger for easy display. 

The Pumpkin Queen Folk Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

Maia of the Seven Sisters a Celestial Wisdom Keeper Art Doll

Maia came to me in a dream, not just once... but many times. She had lots of stories to tell me, stories of her world and stories of her life. 

Maia is the eldest of the Seven Sisters, or the Pleiades. The Pleiades are an open cluster in the constellation of Taurus, comprised of approximately 500 stars and measures 12 light years in diameter. The Nine brightest starts of the Pleiades are named after the Seven Sisters and their parents, Atlas and Pleione. 

Maia spoke softly, like I would imagine how an angel would speak, and told me about her parents.. Her father's name was Atlas, a Titan, who's job was to hold up the Sky. Her mother was an Oceanid lovingly called Pleione. She was the Protectress of Sailing. One day Pleione and her daughters had a chance meeting with the well known hunter, Orion. Orion became obsessed, and soon the Seven Sisters and Pleione became the object of his pursuit. 

Day in and Day out, Orion pursued them all over the Earth. He pursued them until Zeus intervened. Zeus transformed the sisters and Pleione into doves and placed them in the heavens and it is here that they remain. 

Maia, being the oldest of the sisters, is the most nurturing. She loves to be a guide, shining as brightly as possible for all to see. She encourages travelers to have courage on their journey and to trust their instincts.  She whispers "Follow your own Star" softly, asking you to trust your star...the one that resides inside your heart. 

The next time you are looking up at the stars, see if you can find Maia. You will know when you see her, her star shine will let you know. 

I created Maia, as one of my Wisdom Keeper Art Dolls. She is a cloth and clay Folk Art Doll, bringing the stories from the sky to life. 

Maia is listed in my Etsy shop here
Maia Seven Sisters Art Doll on Etsy

Traditions in Her Americana Kitchen - Folk Art Doll

She was taught that the heart of a home is it's kitchen, and has spent her life nurturing her kitchen as her creative space...her community space...her family space...and her traditions space. She grew up in a town in upstate New York that many years ago had been a beacon for immigrants because there was work available. There was a cigar factory and a shoe factory. As more and more people came, more companies came to make their home there. GE and IBM later became the standard of sustenance for most of those families, and the men would work there until they retired.

The town was a rich blend of culture: German, Italian, Czechoslovakian, Polish, and Irish families made this community. They appreciated their neighbors and learned from each other while continuing to carry their family traditions with pride in this wonderful new country. 

She remembered as a young girl passing neighbors homes that had hand written signs in the windows, letting people know that had certain traditional foods for sale from their kitchens; pierogies, baklava, sausages, sauces, breads, and desserts. It was plentiful handmade and local foods.  

She learned to cook from her mother and the neighborhood mothers, and by the time she graduated school she had quite an impressive recipe collection and every kitchen utensil she would need.

Those memories have been kept alive in her Americana kitchen, filled with food, laughter, love and pride. 

SOLD

Grace on a Sacred Morning - A Folk Art Doll that Holds the Serenity

I have always been very particular about how I begin my mornings, knowing that for me it sets the tone for my day. I need them to be filled with ease. I am definitely not one of those people who are filled with energy, shower, exercise, and quickly begin on projects or run out the door into the world. I start me day slowly, almost pampering my every movement. I hate harsh overhead lights and avoid their offensiveness at all costs. I open my blinds at a slant and let the natural light spill its glow while I fix some tea and wind a wrap around my shoulders. I use this time to Listen, to sit on the porch and hear the breeze and the birds, to cuddle with fur-babies, and let my intuition guide me to where I will focus my energy. My mornings are slow, thoughtful, and sacred. 

While I can't always begin all of my mornings like this, I sure try to have the majority of them in this way. It's complete kindness to my body and soul.

I created "Grace" to be the expression of what a Sacred Morning feels like.

She is listed in my Etsy shop here

 Sacred Morning Folk Art Doll on Etsy

Breathe, when you don't know what else to do, Breathe

Breathe..

when you have tried everything and you don't know what else to do...

Breathe

when you are exasperated and your Spirit is weary...

Breathe

when every ounce of your body is filled with fear....

Breathe

when anger is rushing through you

Breathe

when sadness overcomes you and the tears seem like they will never stop

Breathe

when you are anxious for movement within the stagnant

Breathe

when you are indecisive

when you are contemplative

when you question yourself

Breathe

For this moment shall pass

And the next moment will be different

Allow things to be simple

In that the only thing that matters

Is our Hearbeat and the Breath.

One day, one hour, one minute, one moment at a time

Until you are breathing in

Happiness.

"Breathe", a Handmade Cloth and Clay Folk Art Doll was created to accompany my poem. She serves as a reminder to honor each moment.

She is listed in my Indiemade Shop here

"Breathe" Folk Art Doll

A Miniature Beaded Folk Art Doll named Aster - a perfect Wedding Gift for a New Bride

June is known for weddings, and while my artwork does not necessarily focus on weddings, I definitely create symbolic art that often focuses on Love and creating the world we wish to live in. Recently while I was in the process of creating some miniature folk art dolls, my Wisdom Keepers, the word "Aster" popped into my head. When researching the Aster flower, I learned that it is symbolic for luck in love. I knew then that this particular little Wisdom Keeper would be a perfect wedding gift for a new bride, symbolic for luck in love. 

She carries a sweet energy, optimistic and happy, and also can reflect the giving of something "blue", as those colors run throughout her beadwork and fabric. 

She comes with a small art doll tag that tells of her symbolism and is placed inside a white and silver organza gift bag before she is wrapped.

Aster, the Miniature Beaded Folk Art Doll, is listed in my Etsy shop here

Aster a Miniature Beaded Folk Art Doll by Jeanne Fry