Loving Mother Earth Contemporary Folk Art Doll and Symbolism

Mother Earth, Gaia, Mother Nature....the personification of the feminine influence that resides over this beautiful botanical garden that we call Earth and all of it's creatures is in my thought processes every day when I am creating. I have such a strong connection with nature and the animals, a mothering instinct, seeing the beauty in all that exists. My appreciation spans from the smallest butterfly cocoon to the tallest redwood tree. 

Loving Mother Earth, Contemporary Folk Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

She is always creating a balance in this circle of life, many times having to recreate the natural order of things to accommodate our human actions. 

She is the focus of my "Loving Mother Earth" folk art doll. I sculpted her face in attempt to capture the balance that she herself holds....a compassionate serene expression that is full of wisdom and at the same time carrying a strength to do what needs to be done. She may even hold a bit of sadness over how we as humans treat her, but still she creates a bounty of beauty for us to live within. She serves as a reminder to think about how we treat the earth we live on, and how we leave it for those that will come after us.

Close up view of "Loving Mother Earth" sculpt

Loving Mother Earth Contemporary Folk Art Doll

She was created as a wall hanger art doll, to display prominently, as a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us each day.

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Gypsy Magic in her Heart, a Wisdom Keeper Art Doll

Remember when you were a child, and your dreams were bigger than the sky? Do you remember those times when you thought that anything was possible....when you could do everything....when you believed in magic? When we were children we were still innocent. We were in tune with the world around us, and in tune with ourselves. Our intuition was strong. We could see and here and feel things that the adults couldn't.

Growing up we learned other things...pessimism, how to build walls, and black and white. A much smaller population comes into adulthood with the same zest for believing. Many lose their intuitive senses. 

This was the reason I created the my most recent Gypsy Folk Art Doll.

Gypsy Magic in her Heart, Folk Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

 This Wisdom Keeper comes with a little scroll that reads "Don't ever let anyone tell you that magic doesn't exist, for it is always alive in your heart". 

With immense attention to detail, the Gypsy is hand stitched from a beautiful detailed and designed cotton fabric of rich colors. She measures 16 inches tall and is in a semi seated position. Her hair is created from black wool roving and styled loose and wavy with beaded trim as a headband. I sculpted her face from clay, sanded, and then painted with acrylics and sealed with a satin finish. She wears two black beaded long dangle earrings. Around her waist is a wrap around skirt that closes with a leather tie that has small metal charms attached to it. Small metal bells are sewn to the bottom of her skirt. Her gold colored blouse stands out from the rich design, providing a beautiful background for the many beads, charms, and necklaces she is wearing. A shoulder wrap that matches her skirt is worn and secured with a metal scrolled button. 

 "Don't ever let anyone tell you that magic doesn't exist, for it is always alive in your heart". 

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The Story of Drunken Rose Clay Art Doll Sculpted in Glass Bottle

Drunken Rose is a clay art doll that was sculpted within a glass rose water bottle. I collected this bottle a few years ago, and it sat in my studio waiting to be transformed. My great love of flowers and herbs has always been with me from childhood, urging me each year to keep gardens. I could spend hours in the garden or at a plant nursery, running my fingers through the herbs to release their scent, and creating bouquets of flowers. The therapeutic value of the aromatherapy that is offered from them makes one forget their worries and bring such comfort. When I'm in a garden, I can forget everything else, and just be...in the moment...at peace.

This feeling is what inspired Drunken Rose.

Drunken Rose, Clay Sculpted Wisdom Keeper Art Doll by Jeanne Fry

Rose spent every afternoon in her garden. She would wake at 4am, shower, and with coffee cup in hand would spend half her day writing. She was a well known poet, but she was known just as importantly for her gardens.  From Spring until Fall everyone knew that Rose would eat her lunch and immediately retreat to her gardens, rain or shine. Here she found her inspirations, here was her passion. She would lovingly plant, weed, prune, and tend every sprig of life in the rich soil. The breeze would permeate the air with the luxurious scent from the rose bushes that lined her oasis, making her feel and be the beauty that she herself was, and always appreciate the beauty around her. It was an ecstasy for Rose, luring her back each day. This is how she became Drunken Rose, intoxicated with the beauty of life and the magnificence of being Happy.

Drunken Rose, Clay Sculpted Art Doll within a Glass Bottle by Jeanne Fry

Drunk Rose, Clay Sculpted Art Doll Back View Photo

Drunken Rose is a clay sculpted art doll within a Rose Water Glass Bottle. Inside the bottle are blue paper roses. She wears a colorful shawl around her shoulders and  is adorned with leaf vine and burlap. 

You can see more of Rose and collect her in my Etsy Shop here
Drunken Rose Altered Art Doll in Glass Bottle on Etsy 

Tending the Sacred Fire ~ The Spirituality of Sculpture

Tending the Sacred Fire is a new Gourd and Clay Sculpture by Jeanne Fry. 

"The Sisters take their responsibility of tending their sacred fire with great care. Each step, thought, and movement are focused on their intentions and prayers. They carry with them the wisdom of the women before them, carrying on tradition for those who will come after them."

In this artwork, I used as much care in choosing the elements of the sculpture, as the two sisters in the story. I wanted to capture the essence of their spirituality and use Earth element symbolism. 

The sisters are sculpted from gourd and clay. Acrylics of periwinkle blue, greys, and burnt umber were used to represent a soothing sense gathered from being in balance with the Earth. Burlap was used to create their head wraps, that was painted with acrylics and a textile medium that gives them structure. 

The taller sister who is carrying firewood, wears a shoulder bag made of the same burlap that holds a small blue paper flower, symbolic for their ancestral wisdom. The rose colored paper flower at her hip represents the Divine Feminine.

 The shorter sister, who is also wearing blue paper flowers on her head wrap, holds her hands clasped together at her waist, to receive the blessings from their prayers. The sacred fire circle is created with river stones and miniature wood in the center. Each sister has a large dried botanical at her feet, each holding one small dried paper flower or botanical, both gifts back to the Earth for their gratefulness. 

The sculpture sits on a wooden display block that is painted black and is signed, titled, and dated on the bottom by me. In it's entirety the sculpture is 11.5 inches in length, 10 inches in height, and 5.5 inches in width. A story card accompanies the artwork.

Tending the Sacred Fire, a Gourd and Clay Sculpture by Jeanne Fry

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Mother Crow Gourd Art Doll Sculpture

Crows are a highly skilled and beautiful totem, and even though we have learned so much about them they still hold great mystery. We understand that they are intelligent, can use tools, and have adept communication skills, which along with their ability to work as a team make them proficient at manifesting their wants and needs. And even after all of our observing and studying, they still hold a magical sense about them that intrigues us.

It could be there are some stories about them we still do not know....such as who is Mother Crow?

Mother Crow Gourd Art Doll Sculpture by Jeanne Fry

Mother Crow presides over the entire Crow Kingdom. She stands majestically at the Tree of Crows, which is their homeland. It is here where they return to every evening as the sun is setting and the moon is rising, under the safe and loving watchful eye of Mother Crow. They are given reprieve from the constant chore of being watchmen during the day, and can rest safely under her guard. While they rest, she with great care rejuvenates them, spreading her magical sheen of protection and mastery over their feathers. Mother Crow is ever present to them here at the Tree of Crows...waiting nightly...to spread her magic again and again..watching over her clan of Crows.

Mother Crow Gourd Sculpture by Jeanne Fry

Mother Crow Gourd Art Doll Sculpture by Jeanne Fry

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Gaia Earth Turtle Folk Art Doll

When I think of all the animals that walk, fly, or slither in our world, I think of the turtle as one of the most connected to the Earth. She steps slowly and quietly as she moves, feeling the pulse of the ground as she walks, almost as if she is in a meditation. I imagine her in deep conversation with the Earth as she meanders, listening to stories of what used to be,and how things will be in the future. And  I imagine her telling those same stories to her young ones, teaching and guiding them as they grow. 

Gaia Earth Turtle, a contemporary folk art ornament by Jeanne Fry

"Gaia Earth Turtle is the elder of all the Turtle Family. She holds the wisdom for all and shares her stories daily. Her stories tell of our connection with the Earth, how to care for her, and the importance of our relationship with her. She begins teaching the turtle clan when they are very young, so that as they grow they share the knowledge with others. She steps lightly, with care and respect, as she walks upon our living Earth..grateful for it's gifts."

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Free to be Me, a Woman's Empowerment Spirit Doll

Sometimes those mornings sneak up on you...those mornings when the face staring back at you in the mirror is that of a stranger...those mornings when you just can't get your hair right, or the clothes don't fit right, or you don't even feel right in your own skin. How hard we can be on ourselves as women, always comparing ourselves to the "perceived" notion of what society thinks we should be.

Free to be Me, a contemporary folk art spirit doll by Jeanne Fry

We can spend years going through this drama if we're not careful, judging ourselves so harshly. The constant "fitting" into that box can become mundane and monotonous. And I don't really know what that moment is and can't truly explains when it happens...it's different for each of us...but soon one morning you wake up and feel perfect. Perfect being....YOU.

Was it piles of self help books? Women's Studies? Our circle of friends? For me it was simply the morning that I woke up and decided to give myself a break and ACCEPT myself, Love myself, and Cherish myself for who I am. Pure and Simple...I gave myself permission to be free.

Free to be Me, a woman's empowerment spirit doll

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The Arrival a Women's Empowerment Spirit Doll

The Arrival is one of my most popular spirit dolls, inspired from a poem that I wrote some years ago. 

The Arrival

"It took me all of my life to get to this moment...

This moment of surety in my being...

This moment of reliance in my capabilities..

This moment of loving who I am.

It took me all of my life...

To shed the feeling of inadequacy...

To shed the pressure of trying to measure up...

To shed the relenting voice that I had to do more to compensate.

It took me all of my life to get to this moment...

This moment of relief..

Relief from the thoughts that I had to do for everyone else first...

Relief from the oppressive weight that I was responsible for others..

And take responsibility for the gentle child that lived within.

It took me all of my life to arrive at this moment..

When instead of being the muse for them, I became the muse for ME...

Whispering ideas of inspiration into the many layers of my own soul..

It took me all of my life to arrive at this moment..

This moment when I am the cheerleader for myself...

When I carry an extraordinary pride of who I am and what I stand for..

When I share all the parts of me without fear.

It took me all of my life...

All of my life to arrive at this moment..

When my heart and voice have connected and are able to speak a graceful truth...

It took me all of my life to get here...

Right here at This Moment."

The Arrival Spirit Doll

 (c) Copyright Jeanne Fry

The Arrival Spirit Doll       

This creation has been one of my most popular, maybe because the inspiration behind her is something that so many of us women can relate to. No matter how alike or different we may be, that part of our Journey when we heal and reclaim our power seems almost universal. It's almost like a spiritual graduation when we shed those restrictive narratives and expectations that society placed on us, and  begin to consciously live our most authentic life. 

 Because there has been so much popularity of that first Arrival spirit doll, I continue to offer them as Made To Order. If you would like to learn more about collecting one for yourself or a sister friend, you can visit my website. Made To Order Arrival Art Doll 

While the basic original design of this Art Doll Wall Hanger is used, each one is OOAK (original one of a kind). Each face is an Original Sculpt of Clay, and each body shape is uniquely different. Collectors can have some input on their commissioned spirit doll - Color Choices, Gemstone and Bead preferences, Long or Short hairstyle options, or incorporated symbolism around an additional healing theme.
 Approximately two weeks are needed for the creating. Each Arrival Spirit Doll comes ready to hang as Wall Art, AND with a signed copy of the Arrival Poem that inspired it.


I fashioned this design to reflect the essence of the poem, focused on Women's Empowerment, the Spiritual Journey, and the value of Self Love.

My Art Dolls are all a part of my Wisdom Keeper Art Doll Collection. They are created for adult collectors and not as children's toys. They are meant to be Companions for the Woman's Spirit and intended for empowering and inspiring.

Each Arrival Spirit Doll is approximately 20-22 inches in height. A strong fancy ribbon loop is sewn at the back of their head in order to display as wall art. Their size and detail make them a statement piece, lending the beautiful energy of the Divine Feminine to any space. 

You can learn more about them on my website here
Made to Order The Arrival Spirit Doll Wall Hanger

Della Wheatfield and her Hippy Chick Folk Art Doll

Della Wheatfield and Hippy Chick, her companion chicken, are found at the farmer's market every Saturday morning in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. This is her favorite day of the week, when she brings the beautiful bounty from her farm to market to sell to her neighbors.

Della Wheatfield and her Hippy Chick Folk Art Doll

 Her tables are filled with fresh vegetables and herbs that she tends in her gardens on a daily basis with love and care. Baskets are filled with lavender bundles and soaps that she creates on Tuesday evenings. Hippy Chick, her companion chicken, is always at her side to keep her company and who advises her on the needs of the farm animals. When you meet Della, she always has a smile on her face and a hug for her friends as she fills their baskets with healthy foods. Never a Saturday goes by when she hasn't brightened the day of those she meets.

Folk Art Doll Della Wheatfield at Farmers Market

Hippy Chick Folk Art Doll

This shabby chic style folk art doll is a girl from the farmer's market with her chicken, created by Jeanne Fry. Her name is Della Wheatfield, and she brings a sweet feminine touch wherever she resides. Della is a completely hand stitched cloth art doll. Her body is sewn from a soft brushed tan colored fabric. She wears a white cotton tunic dress with small folk stars, with a jumper over top that is a deep red with cream colored stars. Small wooden star buttons embellish the jumper straps and at the bodice. A cotton beaded lace necklace is draped around her shoulders. Attached to the hop of her jumper is a burlap type of flower. Cream colored flower lace embellishes the trim of the jumper.
Her face is created from clay, painted, and sealed. Her blonde hair is made of spun silk and done in two pigtails, and she wears a head wrap that matched her jumper.A flower is attached to her ankle.
In her arms she holds her companion, "Hippy Chick" chicken, who is hand stitched from a folk art farm fabric. Hippy Chick has a clay face that is painted and sealed, and her tail feathers and front are beaded with seed beads.
Della Wheatfield measures 18 inches tall and is designed to display as a wall hanger, with a loop sewn on her back for hanging display purposes. She could also be displayed in a sitting position.

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Nissa the Gnome from the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina

Nissa the Gnome lives on the edges of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. She is one of the happiest gnomes you could ever meet, and because of that is a sort of guide. When the tourists come to town (the leaf lookers) as they are called, she will come out... especially when they seem lost.

Nissa the Gnome from the Blue Ridge Mountains

When a visitor is getting hungry and looking for a diner, or a place to lay there head down at night...Nissa will appear and whisper suggestions in the wind for them to hear. She wants everyone who visits her mountains to fall in love with them as she has, so she makes sure that they can find everything they need to be comfortable and and content.She will often have brochures tucked in her pocket and will sneak and place them within a visitor's reach so that they can find an abundance of beauty while here. I suppose she is the best little travel agent in the forest.

Gnome Art Doll Ornament

Felt Gnome Art Doll Ornament

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Mrs. Ellette Autumn, a gnome in Spruce Pine, North Carolina

Mrs. Ellette Autumn, is a gnome originally from Llangenny,Wales who now resides in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Ellette is a domestic gnome goddess...taking wonderful care of her family and creating a beautiful home that always smells as if cookies just came out of the oven.

Mrs. Ellette Autumn, a gnome from Spruce Pine, NC

 During her days she checks in on her elderly neighbors, tends the gardens, and rummages through tons of cookbooks finding new and exciting recipes to delight the kids with (who can tend to be picky eaters)...and finally in the evenings when the children have gone to bed, she and her husband spend their evenings sipping cocoa, holding hands, and star gazing.

Ellette Autumn Gnome Art Doll Ornament

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