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

Heart of the Sage Woman - OOAK Art Doll

Sage Woman, your spirit was sculpted from some of the most powerful energies in the Universe. There are no cookie cutters, no instruction manuals,  for the making of a goddess. 

You are a part of a glorious Tribe of Sisters that is as diverse as the layers of your soul. Stand tall in your Knowing. Stand tall in your Connection to the Source. And Stand tall walking your path on this Earth. 

Let your Voice reach through the winds. You worked hard to realize it. Let your Creativity flow. You have much to share. Let your Compassion weave the web. There are many who need it.

You are a Healing woman,

a Peacemaking woman, 

a Warrior woman, 

an Inventive woman, 

a Compassionate woman,

a Sage woman. 

Never step into the shadows and dim your light because of the discomfort of others. 

Stand tall in the face of the Sun and the glow of the Moon and Radiate your immense Beauty. 

You, Sage Woman, are divine. 

"Heart of the Sage Woman" is an OOAK (original one of a kind) Art Doll, created from Cloth, Clay, Gemstones, and Fierce Love.

SOLD

Love Lessons from the One who knows you Best - Self

We spend so much of our time focused and working on our Relationships with those around us,  that we often neglect the most important relationship, the one we have with our Self, our Inner Being. Before you know it we begin to neglect how we take care of ourselves, giving more and more to Others and less and less to Self.
There is great value in Self Care and Self Love. It nurtures the creation of healthy boundaries, helps us make more balanced decisions, maintains an inner balance, boosts our self esteem, and models to those around us the value in treating people with love and respect.

We need to ask ourselves.....
Do we spend quality time with Self? Do we take ourselves out on dates doing things that we truly enjoy?
Do we stop and ask Self how our day was, a check-in of sorts? Do we listen attentively to how we feel and honor those feelings?
Do we prevent the all-popular Negative Self Talk?
We often will be cheerleaders for those we care about.... Are we a cheerleader for our own Inner Being? Do we give ourselves pep talks and encouragement?
Do we keep promises and commitments with our Self?
Are we Honest with our Self?

These are just a few things to stay aware of, all basically reminding us that we need to make ourselves a priority and that our needs are important. If we don't value and respect our Inner Being, how can we expect others to?

Replacing our Negative Self Talk with Empowering Affirmations is a wonderful self care practice.
I created "Love Lessons" to serve as a visual reminder of using Affirmations each day.

I am Worthy * I am Loved * I am Beautiful * I live in a Loving Abundant Harmonious World * Hope * Love * Smile * Brave * Dream

"Love Lessons" is an OOAK (original one of a kind) Contemporary Folk Art Doll, created from Clay and Batik, designed as a Wall Hanger.

SOLD

Grandmother's Wisdom a Miniature Folk Art Spirit Doll

"Grandmother's Wisdom" is a Miniature Folk Art Spirit Doll, created to honor the blessing of a grandmother's wise words and loving comfort. This spirit doll serves as a special connection , a reminder to seek that quiet kindness.

This particular Grandmother is a wisdom keeper of Encouragement. She is supportive of one's journey and continually inspires one to "Follow your Passion". She knows that if we love what we do, we can be successful in all ways. When we are able to seek out and live our passion, we are able to live the highest degree of our Authenticity. This Grandmother is the ultimate cheerleader for your Happiness.

SOLD

Goddess of Authenticity a Miniature Folk Art Spirit Doll

Stella is a Goddess of Authenticity. She is a reminder of how freeing it is to our spirit when we live authentically. Some have asked her, What does it mean to live "authentically"? And her response is always filled with delight and excitement.....

"Living within your Authenticity is when your Walk is equal to your Talk - it is when you are confident of your Truth and have no fear in sharing it with the world - when you don't make excuses for your spirit - and when you don't feel the need to explain or convince the validity of your beliefs.

Living within your Authenticity is living within a place of Balance - when you don't feel the need to behave aggressively in order to share your thoughts - when you don't feel threatened by an opposing viewpoint - when being yourself doesn't need to be a battle - when you feel Peace in your Truth." 

Stella is a miniature Folk Art Spirit Doll, created to honor the truth and beauty in each one of us.

You can learn more about her here on my website Stella the Goddess of Authenticity Miniature Spirit Doll

Butterfly Woman and Spiritual Growth

Olive, this sweet little butterfly woman is Evolving....Emerging....Opening her heart to the Universe. She has been dedicated not only to her Growth, but to actually practicing what she has learned. She does not want to just spit out the  "conscious living" lexicon, for she knows to live Authentically one must keep a strong connection between the spiritual being and the physical being. 

She is not only committed to being the best person that she can be, but is equally focused on where and how she fits in the world. The more she learns, the more modest she becomes.  She strives each day to not only honor her own spirit, but to live each day from a place of compassion for others. 

You can learn more about her here on my website 

Butterfly Woman Miniature Spirit Doll

White Butterfly Woman Beaded Art Doll named Amaryllis with Shabby Chic Birdcage Empowering Art

Dear little Amaryllis ~ You have blossomed into an exquisite butterfly. You traveled far on your journey to arrive here, to this very special place of anticipation. It is time to Fly, to stretch your wings to their fullest, and Fly. The boundaries that you once knew, exist no longer. All the growing pains that you experienced helped to create the beautiful Being that you are now.

It's a big world out there and there is a special place for you in it. You mustn't think in terms of limitations, but in terms of liberation. Your soul knows no bounds, so allow it to lead. Spread those wings of Knowledge and glide into your new world of Opportunity.

Amaryllis is a layered White Butterfly Woman Beaded Art Doll that is accompanied by a Shabby Chic style Birdcage. She was created in support of Women's Empowerment. Amaryllis is an OOAK spirit doll, entirely hand stitched and beaded, artfully crafted of Cloth and Clay with mixed media embellishments. She can be displayed in various ways. She can sit inside the Birdcage in different positions, and the birdcage can either hang from the ceiling, or it can sit on a table of shelf. She can also be seated outside the birdcage, leaning up against it. A printed Story Card comes with her which also serves as her Certificate of Authenticity. 

You can see more of her on my site here White Butterfly Woman Beaded Art Doll with Shabby Chic Birdcage

Retreat to your Sacred Space - Goddess Art Sculpture

"Retreat to your Sacred Space" 

Your spirit is valuable, and you should treat it as a cherished treasure. Taking quality time to care for yourself is essential, just as important as drinking good clean water and eating fresh foods.  . Often we can't go jetting off on mini vacations or trips to the spa when we need to refresh our spirit, but we CAN take a Retreat to our Sacred Space. 

I encourage everyone to have a Sacred Space - a space that is just your own - that is specifically set up as a place of healing energy for you. The components would be different for everyone, but the end result should be that after you have spent time in the space, you feel more Clarity, more Peace in your Heart, a release from Stresses, Renewed, and Spiritually Connected. 

Maybe you spend time in your Sacred Space doing introspective journaling. Or maybe you spend time listening to audio books, or poetry readings. Maybe you listen to soulful violin music that helps you release emotions. Perhaps you listen to wind chimes blow around as you meditate on a large comfy pillow. You might partake in Tea Ceremony or take your beautifully put together healthy lunch and eat it slowly and purposely while thinking on Gratefulness.

You also have a Sacred Space inside yourself. And there are times when we all take a small retreat there to Think...and Listen. 

You can find this OOAK (Original One of a Kind) Gourd and Clay Sculpt on my website here 

https://jeannefryart.indiemade.com/product/goddess-art-womans-face-sphere-titled-retreat-your-sacred-space-gourd-and-clay-ooak-goddess-

The Starfish and Mermaid - the Wisdom of Stella and Ginger Pearl

This particular little pair of friends, Stella and Ginger Pearl, are quite well known under the Waters, but not so much up here by us land dwellers....until now. Recently this beautiful little Starfish and her feisty Mermaid friend were spotted by a kind, dark haired woman sitting at the water's edge. Normally they would have quickly swam back down to the ocean floor in safety, but they were curious about the woman. They felt safe. They could tell that she had a kind heart.

Stella and Ginger Pearl floated at the top of the calm blue waters in the Cove, holding on to the edge of  a tall rock, peaking occasionally at the woman while she occasionally peaked at them. The woman was sad and writing a letter, whispering the words as she wrote. She needed help, and she was sad because the friends that she had had for years, that she had helped and inspired along the way...weren't here for her when she needed them. She was disappointed.

Oh Goodness ! They knew ALL about this! This is how Ginger Pearl had met Stella, and they had became best of friends. Ginger had this same moment in her own life, and later learned that the "friends" that she had had in the past were actually people that had needed her help. There was nothing wrong with that. She was happy to help them with what she had and what she knew. The mistake that was made was that over time, she had thought of them as "friends" when actually there were simply sweet acquaintances. It was then time for Ginger Pearl to create those wonderful friendships that were based on two friends supporting the highest good for one another, unlike the one sided one's from her past.

Mermaids have a unique kind of magic that allows them to communicate with the land dwellers. They can place their whispers inside the bubbles of water on top of the Sea and blow them across to the human. When the bubbles pop, their whispers can be heard.
So, Ginger sent her whispers across, and her and Stella waited. After a few minutes they knew that she had heard, for a slight smile moved across the woman's face. She took a deep breath and they knew that the woman felt better.

The woman stood up and put her paper and pen back in her bag and pulled her things together to leave. She turned for a moment and looked back at the large rock, curiously, and smiled. She pulled her compass out of her pocket and started walking back, a little more confident, now that she had a direction.
She blew a kiss over her shoulder and whispered "Until we meet again", and continued to walk. Stella and Ginger caught the kiss, sent one back, and then dove happily back down  to their home.

****This fun pair of friends, Stella and Ginger Pearl, are a Starfish and Mermaid duo that was completely hand stitched and beaded. You can find them on my website here
https://jeannefryart.indiemade.com/product/starfish-and-mermaid-beaded-art-dolls-stella-and-ginger-pearl-spirit-dolls-story

Sirena and the Healing Waters - Purple Beaded Mermaid Art Doll with Story

Sirena and the Healing Waters

Sirena, one of the most loved Mermaids, lives at the Pink Granite Coast in Brittany, France. Her Mer-family has lived there for generations. She can often be found sitting on one of the magnificent rock formations, but she is somewhat disguised as her own purple hues blend in well with the pink sands and rocks. 

Sirena has a heart of gold and infuses love into everything she does. She knows that the humans often come to the waters for Releasing and Cleansing their emotions. The connection with Mother Earth is strong, and the Water always seems to make one feel better. She quietly sits and listens. 

When she feels a human at the water's edge, someone who is releasing their emotions, she softly dips the tip of her tail in the water and twirls it in circles. The spirals in the water extend out further and further until eventually the spiral will pull in the energy that needs healing...and will push out fresh and vibrant energy to the shore. She continues to watch the human, continuing to twirl her tail in the water. When she finally sees them relax and breathe deep, she stops the water's movement, knowing that the energy was cleansed. Grateful that she was able to help another and share the love, she bends down and slips into the water, swimming all the way to the floor of the cove. She reaches and picks up a pearl and places it within a groove of her tail. She does this each time she helps one of the humans because from that day forward...they are now a part of her heart. She will always be there for them now, whenever they need someone to Listen. 

You can find Sirena on my website here 

Sirena Purple Beaded Mermaid Art Doll

The Thoughts and Symbolism behind this Gourd and Clay Sculpted Spirit Doll titled "No Apologies"

I wanted to talk for a few moments about the symbolism and intention behind my new Figurative Sculpt titled "No Apologies".