Sapphire of the Sea - A Mermaid with Heart

She was always told that one person can indeed make a difference, and that belief has fueled her throughout her life. Sensitive to things around her, she has never allowed herself to feel as if there is never any hope. Each day she makes a difference in her world, inspired by the simple belief that she is here for a reason. 

Sapphire, a thirty-something young mermaid, is one of the most beautiful mermaids of the Sea, not only in her outward features but even more so by her big heart. The first word often used to describe her is "kind", which is hugely underrated. 

Sapphire of the Sea- a Mermaid Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

She spends her days quietly performing acts of kindness while sharing her smile and hugs. Over the last few months she has been helping her brothers and sisters in the sea, the turtles and the fish, who keep getting caught up in the fisherman's nets. Each morning, very early, she swims to where the fisherman leave their nets and carefully takes the whole net and swims back to her cove where she then helps release each one of them. Later she hides the net. 

Sapphire of the Sea by Jeanne Fry

The fisherman have been getting frustrated that they keep losing not only their fish bounty but their entire nets each day, and are contemplating moving on to another area (while Sapphire quietly chuckles). The fish and the turtles are ever grateful to Sapphire for her kindness, and they themselves help their sea community to pay it forward. 

Mermaid Art Doll by Jeanne Fry Art

Beaded Mermaid Tail 

Side View of Sapphire of the Sea

The Kind Heart of Sapphire of the Sea

Sapphire of the Sea is a Handmade Beaded Cloth and Clay Art Doll created by Jeanne Fry for adult collectors.
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The Story of Khloe the Seahorse Keeper - a Beaded Mermaid Folk Art Doll

When Khloe was born she was appointed a very special job by the Mermaid Council. She was chosen to be a Seahorse Keeper, which is a very esteemed and sacred duty. The seahorses are regarded highly by the Mer People, as magical beings of peace and love. Because of their small and delicate nature, a group of Mermaids are assigned to watch over them, as Keepers, a nanny of sorts. The Seahorse Keepers form a loving bond, watching over the seahorses throughout their life, protecting and keeping them out of harm's way. 

Khloe is one of the favorite Keepers, loved by ALL of the seahorses, for she has such a sweet and compassionate soul. When she speaks her voice sounds like a bird song, and she carries a sense of light with her wherever she goes. You will never see Khloe without a few of the seahorses holding on to her tail, traveling along with her throughout the day like little hitchhikers. 

Khloe takes her job seriously, and those who know her know that the Seahorse clan comes first in her life. And all the young Mer Men she dates are quickly told that if they are going to fall in love with her that they must love and respect the Seahorse family as well.

The Khloe Mermaid Art Doll is listed in my Indiemade shop here

Khloe Mermaid the Seahorse Keeper on Indiemade

Folk Art Doll Miniatures carry Bundles of Inspiration

For the past seven years I have created Folk Art Dolls that were created in a variety of themes from whimsical to cultural to spiritual. They have allowed me to explore endless possibilities in mediums, sometimes evolving from Gourd and Paper clay, all Clay sculpts, or Beaded Cloth and Clay. But one of my greatest joys in the creating, is expressing myself through my Art Doll Miniatures.

Beads, Cloth, and Clay to create an Art Doll Miniature

 Folk Art Doll Miniatures are known as Art Doll Ornaments, Ornies, Mini's, and Poppets. I call mine Wisdom Keeper Poppets, because they carry bundles of inspiration in each little Art Doll.

Mermaid Folk Art Dolls by Jeanne Fry

Each of these  Art Dolls are based from cloth and clay. I hand stitch each of them from batik, cotton, one of the many fabrics I have collected over time. Their faces are crafted from Art Doll Clay, and then hand painted with layers of acrylics and sealed with a satin or gloss finish.

Once I have stitched the body and attached the face, the possibilities are endless in how they evolve. I add hair using fleece, fibers, and silk mohair  from alpaca or sheep that has been hand dyed, or knitting yarns. Sometimes I even just bead their hair using seed beads.

Folk Art Doll Miniatures with hand dyed fleece locks for hair

Once she has formed, I begin embellishing with lots of different seed beads, glass beads, clay beads, and beaded trim. I attached small metal charms, ribbon, organza, paper flowers, dried botanical.....the list is endless. (This would account for the countless boxes, bins, and jars of embellishments that fill my studio)

For those that will be Ornaments, I sew a small leather loop on their back. Some have pin-backs so that they can be worn on a coat lapel, attached to a tote bag, or even to a curtain. Some of my Art Doll miniatures are designed to be Wall Hangers, with a loop on their back to hang on a picture hanger on a wall. This alleviates the need for shelf space that many of us have a shortage of.

Many of my collectors carry them in or attached to their purse of tote bag, others hand them in their car or on their office wall.

I tend to create my Art Dolls in themes...Inspirational, Empowering, and Whimsical. I make separate lines of Gnomes Dolls, Mermaid Dolls , and even Rabbit Art Dolls for Easter.

Gnome Folk Art Doll Miniatures

Rabbit Folk Art Doll Ornament

Trinity Goddess Folk Art Doll Wall Hanger

And of course I create Frida Kahlo Folk Art Dolls too, one of my favorite inspirations.

Frida Kahlo Folk Art Doll Ornament

Creating Folk Art Doll Miniatures or Ornies, are such a joy...to create a small piece of Art with large meaningful impact.

If you would like to see my current Folk Art Dolls you can find them in my Etsy and Indiemade shops here

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JeanneFryArt

http://jeannefryart.indiemade.com

Creating in the Solitude

The past week has been a more quiet and focused week by my choosing. With lots of things on my plate between Life and my Art, I needed to have some quiet time to straighten things out.

In those quiet moments, while contemplating Life on Life's terms...I spent time creating.

Some of the smaller works that were completed were some small Art Doll Ornaments and Wall Hangers.

Anita of the Oak Grove ~ Art Doll Wall Hanger

Anita was inspired by a sketch after spending time in the nearby woods. Imagining what kind of wee Fae you would find there, came the sketch of Anita. She's very shy and inhabits a patch of wild flowers sitting under a large Oak tree.

Jenny Blue Mermaid Art Doll Hanger by Jeanne Fry



Folk Art Guardian Angel Art Doll Ornament

She Loved Flowers so much...she BECAME one

Dragonfly Wisp Art Doll Pin

Clarissa Mermaid of the Nova Scotia Waters

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Atalya Mermaid Keeper of the Seahorses by Jeanne Fry

Atalya Mermaid ~ Keeper of the Seahorses by Jeanne Fry

Atalya Mermaid lives in a quiet cove of pristine blue waters. She is regarded as royalty, respected for her wisdom and compassion for life around her.

Atalya Mermaid Keeper of the Seahorses OOAK Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

When she was young she befriended the Seahorses, and learned quickly they needed help protecting themselves for they are so delicate and small in their vast ocean home.
Later she became known as the Keeper of the Seahorses, for her constant caring of these beautiful creatures.

Mermaid Gourd Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

Whenever you see her swimming (if she lets you spot her that is), you will find a whole gaggle of little Seahorses following after her, listening to her stories and playing games.

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